Arnold Johnson
Arnold Johnson (March 23, 1893 in Chicago – July 15, 1975 in St. Petersburg, Florida) was an American big band pianist, arranger, composer, and leader during the swing jazz era. He was orchester leader on the popular The Majestic Theater of the Air program on the CBS radio network beginning in 1929. Johnson worked in a Chinese restaurant in Chicago as a pianist when he was fourteen years old, and also worked as an accompanist for vaudeville revues. He studied at the Chicago College of Music and the American Conservatory of Music. He took a job as a pianist in Rudy Wiedoeft's New York-based Frisco Jass Band in the early 1920s, and also worked briefly in real estate around this time. He formed his own band in the middle of the 1920s, which recorded for Brunswick Records and Vocalion Records; Freddy Martin and Harold Arlen were sidemen in the group. Later, Vic Berton, Bob Chester, and Danny Polo would join the band, which played in the Broadway musicals George White Scandals, Greenwich Village Follies, and Earl Carroll's Sketchbook in 1928-1929. The group performed frequently in dance halls in New York and Chicago. Johnson disbanded the group in the early 1930s, and became involved in the broadcasting business, working as a director and producer of radio programs such as National Amateur Night. |
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | B-23378 | 10-in. | 12/16/1919 | Oh! | Paul Biese’s Novelty Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Victor | B-24524 | 10-in. | 10/14/1920 | Ping pong poo | Vernon Trio | Instrumental trio, with oboe | composer | |
Victor | B-24863 | 10-in. | 2/17/1921 | My mammy | Paul Whiteman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with piano duet | instrumentalist, piano | |
Victor | C-25005 | 12-in. | 3/16/1921 | All for you | Paul Whiteman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, piano, composer | |
Victor | B-25350 | 10-in. | 6/16/1921 | Sweetheart | Paul Whiteman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Victor | B-28882 | 10-in. | 11/6/1923 | The only girl | Jack Chapman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | songwriter | |
Victor | BVE-50553 | 10-in. | 3/22/1929 | Tear drops | Henry Halstead Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Victor | BVE-56107 | 10-in. | 8/23/1929 | Don't hang your dreams on a rainbow | Bernie Cummins ; New York Biltmore Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
Victor | BVE-57236 | 10-in. | 12/7/1929 | Hollywood | Ted Weems Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
Victor | BSHQ-72838 | 10-in. | 6/2/1932 | Good-bye blues | Roane's Pennsylvanians | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solos and vocal chorus | composer | |
Victor | BS-040689 | 10-in. | 8/28/1939 | Does your heart beat for me? | Carl Lorch Orchestra ; Shirley Dean | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | composer | |
Victor | MBS-094353 | 10-in. | before 12/22/1953 | O | Orquesta Luis Arcaraz | Jazz/dance band | songwriter | |
Victor | [Trial 1924-11-12-01] | 10-in. | 11/12/1924 | I'm a little black bird looking for a blue bird | Florence Mills | Female vocal solo, with piano | instrumentalist, piano | |
Victor | [Trial 1924-11-12-02] | 10-in. | 11/12/1924 | Dixie dreams | Florence Mills | Female vocal solo, with piano | instrumentalist, piano | |
Columbia | 78824 | 10-in. | 11/21/1919 | "O" (Oh!) | Straight's Trio | Instrumental trio | composer | |
Columbia | 78826 | 10-in. | 11/24/1919 | "O" (Oh!) | Ted Lewis Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Columbia | 78851 | 10-in. | 12/9/1919 | "O" (Oh!) | Jack Kaufman ; Ted Lewis Jazz Band | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
Columbia | 79759 | 10-in. | 3/7/1921 | Dreaming | Columbia Saxophone Sextette | Saxophone sextet | composer | |
Columbia | 79763 | 10-in. | 3/25/1921 | Sweetheart | Yerkes Jazarimba Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Columbia | 79792 | 10-in. | 3/22/1921 | All for you | Happy Six | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Columbia | 80754 | 10-in. | 12/29/1922 | The lovelight in your eyes | Edwin Dale | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Columbia | 80819 | 10-in. | 1/31/1923 | The lovelight in your eyes | Manhattan Dance Orchestra [i.e., Hotel Pennsylvania Orchestra] | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Columbia | 81484 | 10-in. | 1/13/1924 | The only girl | Leo Reisman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | songwriter | |
Columbia | 148006 | 10-in. | 2/28/1929 | Tear drops | Lester Cortes ; Jerome Conrad Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
Columbia | W148597 | 10-in. | 6/19/1929 | Tear drops | Hotel Mark Hopkins Orchestra ; Anson Weeks | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio | composer | |
Columbia | W148771 | 10-in. | 7/1/1929 | Don't hang your dreams on a rainbow | Fred Rich Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
Columbia | 148797 | 10-in. | 7/11/1929 | Don't hang your dreams on a rainbow | Sam Lanin Orchestra ; Arthur Seelig | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
Columbia | W149487 | 10-in. | 11/25/1929 | Hollywood | Art Gillham | Male vocal solo | composer | |
Columbia | W152206 | 10-in. | 6/7/1932 | Goodbye blues | Art Jarrett | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | composer | |
OKeh | S-7146 | 10-in. | Jan. 1920 | "O"—(Oh!) | Jack Kaufman ; Rega Dance Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
OKeh | S-7922 | 10-in. | May 1921 | All for you | Hotel Pennsylvania Orchestra [Leo Erdody] | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
OKeh | S-70030 | 10-in. | July 1921 | Sweetheart | Benny Krueger’s Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
OKeh | S-72065 | 10-in. | 11/15/1923 | The only girl | Glantz and his Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | songwriter | |
Brunswick | [8767a] | approximately Sept. 1922 | [Unknown title(s)] | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | ||
Brunswick | [8806a] | approximately Sept. 1922 | [Unknown title(s)] | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | ||
Brunswick | [8981a] | approximately Oct. 1922 | [Unknown title(s)] | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | ||
Brunswick | 5696-5697 | 10-in. | approximately May 1921 | All for you | Erdody Pennsylvania Hotel Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Brunswick | 8765-8766 | 10-in. | approximately Sept. 1922 | Tomorrow | Arnold Johnson's Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
Brunswick | 8811-8812 | 10-in. | approximately Sept. 1922 | I wish I knew | Arnold Johnson's Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
Brunswick | 8929-8931 | 10-in. | approximately Oct. 1922 | You remind me of my mother | Arnold Johnson's Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
Brunswick | 8932-8934 | approximately Oct. 1922 | [Unknown title(s)] | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | ||
Brunswick | 8978-8980 | 10-in. | approximately Oct. 1922 | When the leaves come tumbling down | Arnold Johnson's Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
Brunswick | 9214-9216 | 10-in. | approximately Nov. 1922 | One night in June | Arnold Johnson's Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
Brunswick | 9217-9219 | approximately Nov. 1922 | [Unknown title(s)] | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | ||
Brunswick | 9246-9248 | 10-in. | approximately Nov. 1922 | China boy | Arnold Johnson's Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
Brunswick | 9250-9252 | 10-in. | approximately Nov. 1922 | Babylon | Arnold Johnson's Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
Brunswick | 9389-9391 | 10-in. | approximately Dec. 1922 | Away down East in Maine | Arnold Johnson's Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
Brunswick | 9392-9394 | 10-in. | approximately Dec. 1922 | Crinoline days | Arnold Johnson's Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
Brunswick | 9753-9755 | 10-in. | approximately Jan. 1923 | The lovelight in your eyes | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader, composer | |
Brunswick | 9756-9758 | 10-in. | approximately Jan. 1923 | Pale Venetian moon | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
Brunswick | 9998-10001 | 10-in. | 2/27/1923 | Kiss me | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
Brunswick | 10002-10005 | 10-in. | 2/27/1923 | Sweet lovin’ mamma | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
Brunswick | 10184-10186 | 10-in. | 3/27/1923 | Dreams of India | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
Brunswick | 10187-10189 | 10-in. | 3/27/1923 | Don’t be too sure | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
Brunswick | 10190-10193 | 10-in. | 3/28/1923 | Someday you’ll cry over someone as I have cried over you | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
Brunswick | 10197-10199 | 10-in. | 3/28/1923 | Gone | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
Brunswick | 15433-15435 | 10-in. | 4/3/1925 | Headin’ for home | Isham Jones Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | songwriter | |
Brunswick | [E27116a] | 10-in. | 3/23/1928 | Together | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | leader | |
Brunswick | E27311 | 10-in. | 4/9/1928 | What’s the reason? | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio; without vocal (take G) | leader | |
Brunswick | E27312 | 10-in. | 4/9/1928 | Get your man | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio; without vocal (take G) | leader | |
Brunswick | E27693 | 10-in. | 6/12/1928 | Georgie Porgie | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio; without vocal (take G) | leader | |
Brunswick | E27709 | 10-in. | 6/14/1928 | I’m on the crest of a wave | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with vocal effects; without vocal (take G) | leader | |
Brunswick | E27710 | 10-in. | 6/14/1928 | Pickin’ cotton | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with vocal effects; without vocal (take G) | leader | |
Brunswick | E27711 | 10-in. | 6/14/1928 | Radio impressions | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with vocal and instrumental effects | leader, composer | |
Brunswick | E27846 | 10-in. | 7/12/1928 | What d’ya say? | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) | leader | |
Brunswick | E27847 | 10-in. | 7/12/1928 | Georgie Porgie | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio; without vocal (take G) | leader | |
Brunswick | E28127 | 10-in. | 8/22/1928 | Rainy day | Arnold Johnson’s Hot Band | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
Brunswick | E28128 | 10-in. | 8/22/1928 | Kisses from you | Arnold Johnson’s Hot Band | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
Brunswick | E28129 | 10-in. | 8/22/1928 | Burlap | Arnold Johnson’s Hot Band | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
Brunswick | E28331 | 10-in. | 10/5/1928 | That’s how I feel about you | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) | leader | |
Brunswick | E28332 | 10-in. | 10/5/1928 | Was it love? | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) | leader | |
Brunswick | E28449 | 10-in. | 10/5/1928 | Memories of France | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) | leader | |
Brunswick | E28450 | 10-in. | 10/5/1928 | You’re in love and I’m in love | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) | leader | |
Brunswick | E28660 | 10-in. | 11/9/1928 | Me and the man in the moon | Arnold Johnson ; Paramount Hotel Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) | leader | |
Brunswick | E28661 | 10-in. | 11/9/1928 | Ev’rybody loves you | Arnold Johnson ; Paramount Hotel Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) | leader | |
Brunswick | E29002 | 10-in. | 12/20/1928 | My Tonia | Arnold Johnson ; Paramount Hotel Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) | leader | |
Brunswick | E29003 | 10-in. | 12/20/1928 | My inspiration is you | Arnold Johnson ; Paramount Hotel Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) | leader | |
Brunswick | E29220 | 10-in. | Feb. 1929 | Tear drops | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with vocal; without vocal (take G) | leader, composer | |
Brunswick | E29221 | 10-in. | Feb. 1929 | That’s music to my ears | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with vocal; without vocal (take G) | leader | |
Brunswick | E29599 | 10-in. | Apr. 1929 | Breakaway | Arnold Johnson Orchestra ; Scrappy Lambert | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) | leader | |
Brunswick | E29700 | 10-in. | Apr. 1929 | Big city blues | Arnold Johnson Orchestra ; Scrappy Lambert | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) | leader | |
Brunswick | E29701 | 10-in. | Apr. 1929 | Tear drops | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) | leader, composer | |
Brunswick | E29808 | 10-in. | May 1929 | Breakaway | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
Brunswick | E29809 | 10-in. | May 1929 | Big city blues | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
Brunswick | E30096 | 10-in. | June 1929 | Don’t hang your dreams on a rainbow | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with vocal; without vocal (take G) | leader, composer | |
Brunswick | E30097 | 10-in. | June 1929 | Pretty little maid of old Madrid | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) | leader, songwriter | |
Brunswick | E26534-E26536 | 10-in. | 2/16/1928 | I‘m riding to glory | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quintet; without vocal (take E26536) | leader | |
Brunswick | E26723-E26726 | 10-in. | 2/28/1928 | After my laughter came tears | Harold Arluck ; Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with vocal sextet; without vocal (take E26726) | leader, arranger | |
Brunswick | E27035-E27037 | 10-in. | 3/17/1928 | Ma belle | Arnold Johnson Orchestra ; Lewis James | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take E27037) | leader, instrumentalist, piano | |
Brunswick | E27038-E27040 | 10-in. | 3/17/1928 | March of the musketeers | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio; without vocal (take E27040) | instrumentalist, piano, leader | |
Brunswick | E27127-E27129 | 10-in. | 3/26/1928 | Happy Go Lucky Lane | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal effects; without vocal (take E27129) | arranger, leader | |
Brunswick | E27130-E27132 | 10-in. | 3/26/1928 | Together | Arnold Johnson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal effects; without vocal (take E27132) | arranger, leader | |
Brunswick | C4708 | 10-in. | 11/6/1929 | Hollywood | Oriole Orchestra ; Dan A. Russo | Jazz/dance band, with vocal; without vocal (take G) | composer | |
Brunswick | C4757 | 10-in. | 11/27/1929 | Hollywood | Oriole Orchestra ; Dan A. Russo | Jazz/dance band, with vocal; without vocal (take G) | composer | |
Edison | 5553 | 10-in. | 5/10/1917 | Johnson "jass" blues | Frisco "Jass" Band | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Edison | 7155 | 10-in. | 2/10/1920 | "O" (Oh!) | Billy Murray | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Edison | 7782 | 10-in. | 2/8/1921 | All for you | Harry Raderman's Jazz Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Edison | 8013 | 10-in. | 5/24/1921 | Sweetheart | Max Fells' Della Robbia Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Edison | 19198 | 10-in. | 5/17/1929 | Tear drops | Oreste Queensland Orchestra ; The Rollickers [Edison] | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet | composer | |
Edison | 19284 | 10-in. | 7/9/1929 | Don't hang your dreams on a rainbow | Waldo Mayo | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble and mixed vocal ensemble | composer | |
Edison | N-902 | 10-in. | 5/17/1929 | Tear drops | Oreste Queensland Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet | composer | |
Edison | N-1009 | 10-in. | 7/9/1929 | Don't hang your dreams on a rainbow | Waldo Mayo | Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble and mixed vocal ensemble | composer | |
Gramophone | 0PC1038 | 10-in. | 12/16/1954 | '0" | Conjunto Mário Simôes | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | composer |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Johnson, Arnold," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/110539.
Johnson, Arnold. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/110539.
"Johnson, Arnold." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Johnson, Arnold, 1893-1975 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no97048106
Wikidata: Arnold Johnson - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q695510
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/43905496
MusicBrainz: Arnold Johnson - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/e1c0f5de-8978-497c-aff6-fc81f5632cbf
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