Will Johnson
William K. Johnson (died August 13, 1955) was an American jazz banjoist, guitarist, and vocalist. Johnson was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, where he played locally until relocating to New York in 1926. There he worked with the Dixie Ramblers and George Howe, then joined Luis Russell's orchestra in 1927. He remained with Russell until 1932 and during this time recorded with King Oliver, Red Allen, and Jack Purvis. He worked with Fess Williams in 1933-1934 and continued working actively until the end of the 1930s. After retiring from music he moved back to Lexington; in 1955 he died in a house fire. He is often confused with William Manuel Johnson, a jazz bassist, in published works. |
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 1-25 of 49 records)
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | BVE-48333 | 10-in. | 2/1/1929 | Call of the freaks | King Oliver Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo, guitar | |
Victor | BVE-48334 | 10-in. | 2/1/1929 | The trumpet's prayer | King Oliver Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo, guitar | |
Victor | BVE-49649 | 10-in. | 1/16/1929 | Freakish light blues | King Oliver Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo, guitar | |
Victor | BVE-49650 | 10-in. | 1/16/1929 | West End blues | King Oliver Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo, guitar | |
Victor | BVE-53929 | 10-in. | 7/17/1929 | Feeling drowsy | Henry Allen ; New York Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
Victor | BVE-53930 | 10-in. | 7/17/1929 | Swing out | Henry Allen ; New York Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
Victor | BVE-55133 | 10-in. | 7/16/1929 | It should be you | Henry Allen ; New York Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
Victor | BVE-55134 | 10-in. | 7/16/1929 | Biff'ly blues | Henry Allen ; New York Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
Victor | BVE-55852 | 10-in. | 9/24/1929 | Make a country bird fly wild | Henry Allen ; Four Wanderers ; New York Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet | instrumentalist, banjo | |
Victor | BVE-55853 | 10-in. | 9/24/1929 | Funny feathers blues | Henry Allen ; New York Orchestra ; Victoria Spivey | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, banjo | |
Victor | BVE-55854 | 10-in. | 9/24/1929 | How do they do it that way | Henry Allen ; New York Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, banjo | |
Victor | BVE-55855 | 10-in. | 9/24/1929 | Pleasing Paul | Henry Allen ; New York Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
Victor | BVE-56732 | 10-in. | 10/1/1929 | Blood hound blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BVE-56733 | 10-in. | 10/1/1929 | Dirty T. B. blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BVE-56734 | 10-in. | 10/1/1929 | Moaning the blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BVE-56735 | 10-in. | 10/1/1929 | Telephoning the blues | Victoria Spivey | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BVE-57080 | 10-in. | 11/13/1929 | Sweet Peter | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BVE-57081 | 10-in. | 11/13/1929 | Jersey Joe | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BVE-57082 | 10-in. | 11/13/1929 | Mississippi Mildred | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BVE-57083 | 10-in. | 11/13/1929 | Mint julep | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, guitar | |
Victor | BVE-57554 | 10-in. | 11/25/1929 | Day breakin' blues | Sweet Peas Spivey | Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet | instrumentalist, tenor guitar | |
Victor | BVE-57555 | 10-in. | 11/25/1929 | Heartbreakin' blues | Sweet Peas Spivey | Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet | instrumentalist, tenor guitar | |
Victor | BVE-57556 | 10-in. | 11/25/1929 | Leavin' you baby | Sweet Peas Spivey | Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet | instrumentalist, tenor guitar | |
Victor | BVE-57557 | 10-in. | 11/25/1929 | Longin' for home | Sweet Peas Spivey | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, tenor guitar | |
Victor | BVE-57927 | 10-in. | 12/18/1929 | Ridin' but walkin' | Fats Waller’s Buddies | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, guitar |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Johnson, Will," accessed October 31, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/100886.
Johnson, Will. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/100886.
"Johnson, Will." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 31 October 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Johnson, Will (Guitarist) - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n2004079861
Wikidata: Bill Johnson (banjoist) - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q862206
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