Jazz Music has been bestowed and granted with some of the finest musicians and artists that the world has even seen. The list of artists who have excelled this genre of music is rather big, but one name that can never be missed while talking of incredible and exceptional Jazz artists and musicians is that of James P. Johnson. A gifted jazz pianist, he is considered to be the finest when it comes to stride pianists. An artist who had grip over many genres including Early Jazz, Ragtime and Stride, James left his mark on the music world. He is still renowned and famous for his magical and commendable performances, which shot him to instant fame.
James Price Johnson, the famous American pianist and composer, was born on 1st February 1894 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. His mother, Josephine, who sang and performed in the Methodist choir and also held and conducted Saturday night parties, became his first mentor or teacher. James used to hear her playing guitars and mandolins and that is where his interest for music originally developed. His mother taught him piano at very early and young age. Her mother is often regarded his inspiration behind him picking up music and being a world revered piano artist. As a very small and young child, he wrote Kappler in Giants of Jazz and played with pedals since he was too short to reach a keyboard. He started showing the signs of true brilliance at a very early age. His first performance came at the age of eight when he played gig at a parlor in the suburb of Jersey City. Johnson played many popular and entertaining tunes, hymns and nursery. Exposed to the opulently dressed ticklers, he decided to become and first class pianoman, which he in all proportions marveled at.
James career took off when his family relocated to San Juan section of New York City on Manhattan’s west side. He attended P.S. 69 and performed at school assemblies and sang soprano in the choir under the direction of Frank Dam-rosch, Johnson’s first official teacher (answers 2010).
His professional debut as a pianist came in 1904 and by 1910 Johnson had started working as a pianist in summer resorts, theatres and many nightclubs. Johnson worked at Street cellar club that was owned by a professional and able ragtime player and sharpened and improved his skills a lot. By the fall of 1912, Johnson had given up his school. The time was important as far as his career was concerned. He was exposed to many workplaces and artists during 1910s and got a chance to learn a lot. Johnson attended his first formal piano lessons in 1913, courtesy his friend’s mother who showed immense faith in Johnson’s abilities and talent. During his piano lessons, Johnson excelled at and learned harmony, counterpoint and, many formal finger positions required by pianists.
It was in 1916 that Johnson recorded his debut piano rolls. Between 1916 and 1918, his compositional and recorded output included famous compositions like ‘Caprice Rag’, ‘Steeplechase Rag’ and ‘Carolina Shout’ and set the foundation for the stride technique (allmusic 2010). He went on to become as a famous piano player and produced numerous piano rolls under his name starting 1916. It was ‘Carolina Shout’ that proved to be life changer for Johnson. As a demanding piece of music, Carolina shout portrayed the finest of stride style and became an instant hit. The composition was primarily responsible for getting Johnson as famous as he became so early in his career. The song almost became an anthem in rent parties across the United States of America.
In 1917, Johnson got married to Lilli Mae Wright, a singer and dancer. The marriage was indeed successful and took the couple places. Between 1917 and 1919, Johnson and his wife visited his first tour called musical revue, Salem Tutt Whitney’s and J. Homer tutt’s Smart Set. The tours were very successful and helped Johnson further his already flourishing and prospering musical career. By this time Johnson had become adept and expert at ragtime, blues, Jazz and other musical forms of the modern day. But Jazz remained his forte for much of his career.
Johnson turned a master in 1919 when he started coaching a teen called Fats Waller. Johnson gave him piano lessons for years. The lessons ultimately benefitted the lad, who later went on to have an astonishing and extraordinary career as a pianist. Through these years Johnson continued recording loads of solos and also accompanied and was part of many orchestras. 1920s formed an important and rather significant phase in the life of Johnson. It was during this period that Johnson became the acknowledged and famous master of stride piano. His career in 20s roared off and became a household name in New York.
His compositions were sparked by Harlem Renaissance and had the hint of African American music. Johnson pumped in new life into Jazz music and the era or the decade not only proved a landmark for Johnson but for Jazz music too. The genre gained immense popularity and huge flowering of talent was seen and observed in Jazz music, but Johnson remained the undisputed king. In 1921 Johnson recorded his first stride and went on to record famous strides like ‘Carolina Shout’. The composition as a piano roll had become a craze among young and budding piano players.
He came up with many more compositions in 1940s and gave many memorable performances at concerts organized across the states. In 1951 Johnson suffered a serious and life-threatening stroke that rendered him bed ridden for rest of his life. It was on November 17 in 1955 that Johnson breathed his last at Queens Hospital in New York City. Another stroke in 1955 became the prime and ultimate reason of his death. It was not only the death of a composer and an artist but an era in itself. Johnson gave a lot to music world and especially to the Jazz music, which blossomed due to his talent and expertise.
Johnson was a true patriot too and contributed to the country’s preparedness campaign upon its entrance into World War I. He also gave various patriotic performances in a band led by Happy Rhone. His contribution to the American musical world and the society is indeed very significant. He not only brought laurels to the country through his musical talents, but also used it to fight social issues like Racism. Despite his memorable performances and extraordinary achievements, Johnson was regarded an invisible man. Though his compositions became famous throughout the world and across the globe, he was in himself hardly famous. It was because of the racial boundaries during his era, and shifts in focus since, James P. Johnson is largely unknown to the general public (Teichroew 2011).
As a pianist Johnson was outstanding and exceptional, not only for his different and dazzling technique but also for the construction of his solos. His solos were not only logical but were non-repetitive and incorporated much of his catholic musical background (oldies 2008). He brought diversity and originality to the music and gave new life to Jazz music. He was and till date remains one of the finest and fastest piano players who remained devoid of all the fame and attention that he deserved.
Johnson was recognized and rewarded mush later. In 1995, he was honored with a U.S. Postal stamp and there is also a non-profit organization called the James P. Johnson Foundation for music and the arts, which offers programs for schools right from elementary to high school level (Burlingame 2008). The acclamation was rather late for a legend that had the kind of talent each musician and composer would crave for. He was one-in-a million kinds of God gifted musicians and did complete justice to the field of music. Though he is not present in person today, but his creations, compositions, solos and songs continue to entertain and amaze many and will probably always do, for the kind of masterpieces he produced.
References
answers (2010). James P. Johnson. Answers.com.
Retrieved May 4, 2013,
allmusic (2010). James P. Johnson. allmusic.com.
Retrieved May 4, 2013,
Teichroew, Jacob (2011). Jazz Pianist James P. Johnson. About.com.
Retrieved May 4, 2013,
oldies (2008). James P. Johnson Biography. oldies.com.
Retrieved May 4, 2013,
Burlingame, Sandra (2008). James P. Johnson. Jazzbiographies.com.
Retrieved May 4, 2013,
