Manzie Johnson

Isham "Manzie" Johnson (August 19, 1906 – April 9, 1971) was an American jazz drummer. Johnson was raised in New York City, and played in Harlem in the 1920s with Fats Waller, James P. Johnson, and other stride pianists, before going on to work with Willie Gant (1926), June Clark, Elmer Snowden (ca. 1927), and Joe Steele. He recorded with Jelly Roll Morton (1928), James P. Johnson, and Horace Henderson (1930) before joining Don Redman's orchestra, where he played from 1931 to 1937, appearing in the film Don Redman and his Orchestra (1934). Johnson then spent time as a freelance musician, recording with Red Allen, Benny Morton, Willie Bryant, Lil Armstrong, Mezz Mezzrow, Redman and James P. Johnson again, Ovie Alston, and Fletcher Henderson. He served in the military during World War II, then played part-time with Sidney Bechet (ca. 1951), Garvin Bushell, and Happy Caldwell. Johnson never led his own recording session.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 19, 1906 (Putnam), Died April 9, 1971 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1928 - 1941

Roles Represented in DAHR: drums, traps

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

Recordings (Results 26-35 of 35 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Role
Decca	62444	10-in.	7/23/1937	Let's call it love	Lil Armstrong and her Swing Band	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	62445	10-in.	7/23/1937	You mean so much to me	Lil Armstrong and her Swing Band	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	63558	10-in.	4/6/1938	Do the Alamo	Willie Bryant Orchestra	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	63559	10-in.	4/6/1938	You'll never remember and I'll never forget	Willie Bryant Orchestra	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	63560	10-in.	4/6/1938	You're gonna lose your gal	Willie Bryant Orchestra	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	63561	10-in.	4/6/1938	Neglected	Willie Bryant Orchestra	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	67331	10-in.	3/18/1940	Sixth Street	Lil Armstrong and her Dixielanders	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	67332	10-in.	3/18/1940	Riffin' the blues	Lil Armstrong and her Dixielanders	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	67333	10-in.	3/18/1940	Why is a good man so hard to find?	Lil Armstrong and her Dixielanders	instrumentalist, drums
Decca	67334	10-in.	3/18/1940	My secret flame	Lil Armstrong and her Dixielanders	instrumentalist, drums

(Results 26-35 of 35 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Johnson, Manzie," accessed November 7, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/107077.

Johnson, Manzie. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/107077.

"Johnson, Manzie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 7 November 2024.