Description
Johnson was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1894. He began playing piano at the age of seven, and by the time he was twelve had already developed a style that would become known as stride. His skills as a pianist were such that he was able to tour with various jazz bands and orchestras, including the orchestras of James Reese Europe, Duke Ellington, and Fletcher Henderson.
Throughout his career, Johnson wrote and performed a number of highly influential compositions, including “Carolina Shout,” “Old-Fashioned Love,” and “Charleston.” He is also credited with the development of the “Charleston” dance, which became a huge hit in the 1920s.
In addition to his piano playing, Johnson was a prolific composer and arranger. He wrote over 400 compositions, including pieces for Broadway shows, operas, and symphonies. His compositions were often performed by some of the most influential jazz musicians of the day, including Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington.
Johnson was inducted into the Downbeat Jazz Hall of Fame in 1983, and in 1995, the United States Postal Service issued a 32-cent postage stamp in his honor.
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