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 51-75 of 103 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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  
(Results 51-75 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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