J. Rosamond Johnson

J. Rosamond Johnson

John Rosamond Johnson (August 11, 1873 – November 11, 1954; usually referred to as J. Rosamond Johnson) was an American composer and singer during the Harlem Renaissance. Born in Jacksonville, Florida, he had much of his career in New York City. Johnson is noted as the composer of the tune for the hymn "Lift Every Voice and Sing”. It was first performed live by 500 Black American students from the segregated Florida Baptist Academy, Jacksonville, Florida, in 1900. The song was published by Joseph W. Stern & Co., Manhattan, New York (later the Edward B. Marks Music Company). J. Rosamond Johnson was the younger brother of poet and activist James Weldon Johnson, who wrote the lyrics for "Lift Every Voice and Sing". The two also worked together in causes related to the NAACP.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 11, 1873 (Jacksonville), Died November 11, 1954

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1901 - 1944

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, songwriter, organ, bass vocal, piano, arranger, lyricist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 101-118 of 118 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
OKeh	S-70067	10-in.	July-Aug. 1921	Sweet daddy (Hold me closer all the time)	Daisy Martin	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	composer, lyricist
OKeh	S-70600	10-in.	ca. 4/10/1922	Nobody knows the trouble I see	Excelsior Quartette	Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied	composer
OKeh	W80962	10-in.	6/2/1927	Chicken, you can't roost too high for me	Tom Collins	Banjo solo, with male vocal solo	songwriter
OKeh	W81710	10-in.	10/7/1927	They don't roost too high for me	Earl Johnson and his Clodhoppers	Instrumental trio, with male vocal solo and talk	songwriter
OKeh	W404627	10-in.	12/9/1930	Didn’t he ramble	Fiddlin' John Carson ; Virginia Reelers	Mixed vocal trio, with fiddle (violin), banjo, and guitar	composer
Brunswick	12153-12156	10-in.	12/20/1923	Li’l gal	Marie Tiffany	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	composer
Brunswick	12270-12271	10-in.	1/11/1924	Li'l gal	Marie Tiffany	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	composer
Brunswick	E28917	10-in.	12/20/1928	Oh didn’t he ramble	Buckle Busters ; Al Hopkins	Male vocal and instrumental ensemble	composer
Brunswick	XE35170	12-in.	1/16/1931	De heab’nly journey	Rosamond Johnson Ensemble	Vocal ensemble, with orchestra	vocalist, bass vocal, composer
Brunswick	XE35171	12-in.	1/16/1931	A spiritual fantasy	Rosamond Johnson Ensemble	Vocal ensemble, with orchestra	vocalist, bass vocal, composer
Brunswick	E3060-E3062	12-in.	5/15/1926	I told my love to the roses	Colin O'More	Male vocal solo, with string quartet, bass, and piano	composer
Brunswick	C4394	10-in.	9/23/1929	Congo love song	Dixie Rhythm Kings ; Omer Simeon	Jazz/dance band	composer
Brunswick	M847	10-in.	11/23/1928	My castle on the Nile	Wonder State Harmonists	Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble	composer
Brunswick	ATL6637	10-in.	11/12/1930	Chicken don’t roost too high	Georgia Pot Lickers	Fiddle (violin) and guitar duet, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Edison	5507	10-in.	4/16/1917	My lady Chlo'	Vernon Dalhart	Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra	composer
Edison	5765	10-in.	9/5/1917	Nobody knows the trouble I see	Vernon Dalhart	Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra	arranger
California Labor School	SSR-1065	10-in.	1944 or later	The negro national anthem	California Labor School Chorus ; Grace King	Vocal chorus	composer
Leeds & Catlin	[L & C cat 230-A]	10-in.	between late 1908 and early 1909	The sweetest gal in town	Collins and Harlan	Male vocal duet	songwriter

(Results 101-118 of 118 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Johnson, J. Rosamond," accessed October 31, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105114.

Johnson, J. Rosamond. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105114.

"Johnson, J. Rosamond." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 31 October 2024.