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Gus Johnson

Gus Johnson (November 15, 1913 – February 6, 2000) was an American swing drummer in various jazz bands, born in Tyler, Texas, United States. After learning to play drums from his next-door neighbor, Johnson occasionally played professionally at the age of ten in the Lincoln Theater, and performed in various local groups, most notable McDavid's Blue Rhythm Band. Upon graduating from Booker T. Washington High School, Johnson moved to Kansas City, where he took up drumming full-time. He joined Jay McShann's Orchestra in 1938, with his music career being interrupted by his conscription into the military in 1943.

In 1945, Johnson returned from his stint in the military, and relocated to Chicago to perform in the Jesse Miller Band. Johnson played on Willie Dixon's debut album, Willie's Blues. He subsequently played alongside Count Basie, and was recorded on the album, Basie Rides Again, in 1952. Following a recovery from appendicitis, Johnson was featured in numerous groups and dozens of recordings in the 1960s. In 1972, his former bandmates from Jay McShann's Orchestra reconvened to record Going to Kansas City. Although Johnson continued to tour into the 1980s, he developed Alzheimer's disease in 1989, which he struggled with until his death on February 6, 2000.

Birth and Death Data: Born November 15, 1913 (Tyler), Died February 6, 2000 (Denver)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1941 - 1959

Roles Represented in DAHR: drums

= 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
Atlantic 67 10-in. 12/6/1947 Blues in the dark Melrose Colbert ; Clifton "Cliff" Smalls instrumentalist, drums  
Atlantic 68 10-in. 12/6/1947 Heart and soul Melrose Colbert ; Clifton "Cliff" Smalls instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81739 10/20/1951 Buttermilk and beans Hal Singer Orchestra ; The X-Rays instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81740 10/20/1951 Charmaine Hal Singer Orchestra ; The X-Rays instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81741 10/20/1951 I've got a pocketful of dreams Hal Singer Orchestra ; The X-Rays instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81742 10/20/1951 Blue velvet Hal Singer Orchestra ; The X-Rays instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88744 10/7/1955 O dem bums Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88745 10/7/1955 Nutty Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88746 10/7/1955 Zanzy Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88747 10/7/1955 Ida bridges falling down Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 89749 4/10/1956 Frank, but Ernest Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 89750 4/10/1956 Close cover before striking Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 89751 4/10/1956 From A to Z Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 89752 4/10/1956 It looks like rain Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 89753 4/11/1956 we three Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 89754 4/11/1956 The flat cap Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 89755 4/11/1956 The Sonn also rises Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 89756 4/11/1956 Lmeon twist Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 93730 10-in. 4/30/1941 Swingmatism Jay McShann Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 93731 10-in. 4/30/1941 Hootie blues Jay McShann Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 93732 10-in. 4/30/1941 Dexter blues Jay McShann Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 93733 10-in. 4/30/1941 Vine Street boogie Jay McShann instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 93734 10-in. 4/30/1941 Confessin' the blues Jay McShann instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 93735 10-in. 4/30/1941 Hold 'em Hootie Jay McShann instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 93809 10-in. 11/18/1941 One woman's man-1 Jay McShann Quartet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 93810 10-in. 11/18/1941 'Fore day rider Jay McShann Quartet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 93811 10-in. 11/18/1941 So you won't jump Jay McShann Quartet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 93812 10-in. 11/18/1941 New confessin' the blues (Confessin' the blues, part 2 De.48008) Jay McShann Quartet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 93813 10-in. 11/18/1941 Red River blues Jay McShann Quartet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 93814 10-in. 11/18/1941 Baby heart blues Jay McShann Quartet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 93815 10-in. 11/18/1941 Cryin' won't make me stay Jay McShann Quartet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 93816 10-in. 11/18/1941 Hootie's ignorant oil Jay McShann Quartet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 100986 11/14/1956 Coquette Johnny Costa instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 100987 11/14/1956 Cherokee Johnny Costa instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 100988 11/14/1956 From this moment on ; Who cares Johnny Costa instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 100989 11/14/1956 Whispering Johnny Costa instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 100990 11/14/1956 I'll be around Johnny Costa instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 100991 11/14/1956 Everything I've got Johnny Costa instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 100992 11/14/1956 Willow weep for me Johnny Costa instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 100993 11/14/1956 It's all right with me Johnny Costa instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 100994 11/14/1956 The boy next door Johnny Costa instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 100995 11/15/1956 The most beautiful girl in the world Johnny Costa instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 100996 11/15/1956 Night and day Johnny Costa instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 100997 11/15/1956 This can't be love Johnny Costa instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 100998 11/15/1956 I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter Johnny Costa instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 100999 11/15/1956 By a waterfall Johnny Costa instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101000 11/20/1956 Desert sunrise Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101001 11/20/1956 Congo mambo Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101002 11/20/1956 My heart stood still Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101003 11/20/1956 Nice work if you can get it Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101456 1/23/1957 If I'm lucky Nat Pierce Quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101457 1/23/1957 Dicty Nat Pierce Quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101458 1/23/1957 By the way Nat Pierce Quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101459 1/23/1957 Blues for Jean Nat Pierce Quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101460 1/24/1957 Hi-Fitz Nat Pierce Quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101461 1/24/1957 Moten swing Nat Pierce Quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101462 1/24/1957 Far East Nat Pierce Quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101463 1/25/1957 No love, no nothing Nat Pierce Quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101464 1/25/1957 Shake down the stars Nat Pierce Quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101465 1/25/1957 Pizzicato swing Nat Pierce Quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101466 1/25/1957 Society jump Nat Pierce Quintet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101529 2/1/1957 Cha cha for Gia Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101530 2/1/1957 Madrid Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101531 2/1/1957 Sing something simple Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101532 2/1/1957 You're driving me crazy Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101538 2/4/1957 This time the dream's on me Art Farmer Quintet ; Hal McKusick instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101539 2/4/1957 Isn't it romantic? Art Farmer Quintet ; Hal McKusick instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101540 2/4/1957 Alone together Art Farmer Quintet ; Hal McKusick instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101541 2/4/1957 That old devil moon Art Farmer Quintet ; Hal McKusick instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101542 2/5/1957 Criss cross Art Farmer Quintet ; Hal McKusick instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101543 2/5/1957 For Art's sake Art Farmer Quintet ; Hal McKusick instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101544 2/5/1957 Down and dirty Art Farmer Quintet ; Hal McKusick instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101545 2/5/1957 Gone with the wind Art Farmer Quintet ; Hal McKusick instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101546 2/6/1957 When your lover has gone Art Farmer Quintet ; Hal McKusick instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101547 2/6/1957 Makin' whoopee Art Farmer Quintet ; Hal McKusick instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101548 2/6/1957 Ponsu Art Farmer Quintet ; Hal McKusick instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101549 2/6/1957 This time the dream's on me Art Farmer Quintet ; Hal McKusick instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102212 4/8/1957 Darn that dream Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102213 4/8/1957 My baby just cares for me Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102214 4/8/1957 Hi-ho Steverino-1 Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102215 4/8/1957 I gotta run-1 Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 106805 3/16/1959 Cherry pink Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 106806 3/16/1959 Azure Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 106807 3/16/1959 Little white lies Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 106808 3/18/1959 Coral rock Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 106809 3/18/1959 Aqua-tonic Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 106810 3/18/1959 Maroon Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 106811 3/18/1959 Black and tan fantasy Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 106812 3/18/1959 Mood indigo Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 106813 3/18/1959 Blue serge Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 106814 3/18/1959 Golden cress Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 106815 3/18/1959 The moon was yellow Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 106816 3/18/1959 Down of a greenhorn Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Johnson, Gus," accessed November 2, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/323849.

Johnson, Gus. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/323849.

"Johnson, Gus." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/323849

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