Lem Johnson

Lemuel Charles "Lem" Johnson (August 6, 1909 – April 1, 1989) was an American jazz saxophonist who played both tenor and soprano saxophones.

Johnson was born in Oklahoma City. He played clarinet in local ensembles in the 1920s and picked up saxophone in 1928, playing with Walter Page's Blue Devils. Early in the 1930s he played in the band of Grant Moore (1931–35) in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area, and then worked with Eli Rice and Earl Hines. In 1937 he moved to New York, where he played with Fess Williams, Luis Russell and Louis Jordan, and joined Skeets Tolbert's band in 1939. In Tolbert's group Johnson sang in addition to playing sax. He recorded with Buster Harding, Eddie Durham, Edgar Hayes, Sidney Bechet, Claude Hopkins, St. Louis Jimmy, Sam "The Man" Taylor and Sammy Price, and also cut some sessions as a leader, which have subsequently been released on compact disc. He also recorded with Johnny Long and his Orchestra on Coral Records (9-61478). After the 1940s he went into semi-retirement and occasionally played into the 1960s. Johnson died in New York City.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 6, 1909 (Oklahoma City), Died April 1, 1989

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1938 - 1955

Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor saxophone, vocalist, clarinet, saxophone

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

Recordings (Results 26-44 of 44 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 67102 10-in. 1/24/1940 Hole holy roly - poly Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 67103 10-in. 1/24/1940 Raz-ma-taz Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 67104 10-in. 1/24/1940 Harlem ain't what it usta be Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 68336 10-in. 11/11/1940 I want a little girl Eddie Durham and his Band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 68337 10-in. 11/11/1940 Moten's swing Eddie Durham and his Band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 68338 10-in. 11/11/1940 Fare Thee honey, fare Thee well Eddie Durham and his Band vocalist, instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 68339 10-in. 11/11/1940 Magic carpet Eddie Durham and his Band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 68457 10-in. 12/6/1940 Thinking Sam Price and his Texas Bluesicians instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 68458 10-in. 12/6/1940 Queen Street blues Lem Johnson ; Sam Price and his Texas Bluesicians vocalist, instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 68459 10-in. 12/6/1940 Jumpin' the boogie Sam Price and his Texas Bluesicians instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 68460 10-in. 12/6/1940 Louise Louise Lem Johnson ; Sam Price and his Texas Bluesicians vocalist, instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 70760 10-in. 5/19/1942 Going down slow Lem Johnson vocalist  
Decca 70761 10-in. 5/19/1942 Candy blues Lem Johnson vocalist  
Decca 84481 5/11/1953 I wanna know Johnny Long Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 84482 5/11/1953 Till the moon turns green Johnny Long Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 84483 5/11/1953 The girl that I marry Johnny Long Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 86590 7/19/1954 Sally May Johnny Long Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 86591 7/19/1954 Say hey Willie Mays Johnny Long Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 88386 7/14/1955 Maybellene Johnny Long Orchestra vocalist  
(Results 26-44 of 44 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Johnson, Lem," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/108316.

Johnson, Lem. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/108316.

"Johnson, Lem." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/108316

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