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.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 22, 1893 (Chicago), Died July 25, 1975 (Florida)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1917 - 1954

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, composer, piano, songwriter, arranger

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 103 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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  
(Results 26-50 of 103 records)

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

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/110539

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