Pete Johnson (musician)

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Pete Johnson
Johnson c. August 1946
Johnson c. August 1946
Background information
Birth nameKermit Holden Johnson
Born(1904-03-25)March 25, 1904
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
DiedMarch 23, 1967(1967-03-23) (aged 62)
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Piano
Years active1922–1967

Kermit Holden "Pete" Johnson (March 25, 1904 – March 23, 1967)[1][2] was an American boogie-woogie and jazz pianist.

Tony Russell stated in his book The Blues – From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray that "Johnson shared with the other members of the 'Boogie Woogie Trio' the technical virtuosity and melodic fertility that can make this the most exciting of all piano music styles, but he was more comfortable than Meade Lux Lewis in a band setting; and as an accompanist, unlike Lewis or Albert Ammons, he could sparkle but not outshine his singing partner".[3] Scott Yanow for AllMusic, wrote: "Johnson was one of the three great boogie-woogie pianists", the others being Lewis and Ammons "whose sudden prominence in the late 1930s helped make the style very popular".[2]

Biography

Johnson was born in Kansas City, Missouri.[2] He was raised by his mother after his father deserted the family. Things got so bad financially, Pete was placed in an orphanage when he was three. He became so homesick, however, that he ran away and returned living at home. By the age of 12, he sought out work to ease some of the financial burden at home. He worked various jobs; in a factory, a print shop, and as a shoe-shiner. He dropped out of school in the fifth grade as a result of his efforts.[4]

Johnson began his musical career in 1922 as a drummer in Kansas City.[3] He began piano about the same time he was learning the drums. His early piano practices took place in a church, where he was working as a water boy for a construction company.[5] From 1926 to 1938, he worked as a pianist, often working with Big Joe Turner.[2] An encounter with record producer John Hammond in 1936 led to an engagement at the Famous Door in New York City. In 1938, Johnson and Turner appeared in the From Spirituals to Swing concert at Carnegie Hall. After this show the popularity of the boogie-woogie style was on the upswing. Johnson worked locally and toured and recorded with Turner, Meade Lux Lewis, and Albert Ammons during this period.[2] Ammons and Johnson appeared in the film short Boogie-Woogie Dream in 1941.[3]

The 1938 song "

first rock and roll records. Another self-referential title was their "Johnson and Turner Blues." In 1949, he also wrote and recorded "Rocket 88 Boogie," a two-sided instrumental, which influenced the 1951 Ike Turner hit, "Rocket 88".[7]

On three dates in January 1946,

stride piano and his ability to work with a group. It was later re-released as Pete's Blues.[9]

At a nightclub in Niagara Falls, the piano was on a platform above the bar, and Johnson had to climb a ladder to get there.[3]

In 1950, he moved to

ASCAP, which finally ensured that some of the royalties would be received on a regular basis.[14]

His final live appearance was the Spirituals to Swing concert at Carnegie Hall in January 1967, his eighth and final appearance at this event.[15][16] A review of the concert by Dan Morgenstern of DownBeat: "Then for the concert's most moving moment, Lieberson (the MC) escorted Pete Johnson on stage and introduced him as one of the participants in the original Spirituals to Swing and the greatest boogie-woogie pianist. Johnson had suffered a series of paralytic strokes and had not played piano for many years. His old buddy, Turner, took him by the hand, and for a moment the two middle-aged men looked touchingly like little boys. Turner dedicated 'Roll 'Em Pete' to his old friend, as Lieberson and Johnson were about to leave the stage. Instead, they stopped and the pianist seated himself next to [Ray] Bryant at the piano and began to play the treble part of his old showpiece, Bryant handling the bass. Johnson was a bit shaky but game, gaining in confidence as the number built in intensity."[17]

Pete Johnson died two months later in Meyer Hospital, Buffalo, New York, in March 1967, two days before his 63rd birthday.[18]

Discography

Selected albums

  • 1941 – Boogie Woogie (compilation), Columbia C44[19]
  • 1941 – 8 to the Bar, with Albert Ammons, RCA Victor[20]
  • 1946 – Pete's Blues, Savoy[21]
  • 1970 – Boogie Woogie Mood (1940–1944), MCA[22]
  • 1974 – Master of Blues and Boogie Woogie, Oldie Blues[23]
  • 1975 – Master of Blues and Boogie Woogie, Vol. 2, Oldie Blues[24]
  • 1982 – Master of Blues and Boogie Woogie, Vol. 3, Oldie Blues[25]
  • 1992 – King of Boogie, Milan[26]
  • 1993 – Central Avenue Boogie, Delmark[27]
  • 1996 – The Chronological Pete Johnson 1938–1939, Classics[28]
  • 1996 – The Chronological Pete Johnson 1939–1941, Classics[29]
  • 1997 – The Chronological Pete Johnson 1944–1946, Classics[30]
  • 1998 – Blues & Boogie Woogie Master 1938/1946, EPM Musique[31]
  • 1999 – Roll 'Em Pete, Pearl[32]
  • 1999 – St. Louis Parties of July 20 & August 1, 1954, Document[33]
  • 2000 – The Chronological Pete Johnson 1947–1949, Classics[34]
  • 2001 – Atomic Boogie: The National Recordings 1945–1947, Savoy Jazz[35]

Anthologies

  • 1983 – Boogie Woogie, Murray Hill three LPs collection, primarily from Columbia Records and its labels[36][37]
  • 1994 – The Boogie Woogie Boys, Magpie Records[38]
  • 1995 – Boogie Woogie Giants, Jazz Hour[39]
  • 2005 – Boogie Woogie, Membran (10 discs)[40]
  • 2008 – Boogie Woogie and Blues Piano, Mosaic Select 30, three discs[41]

See also

References

  1. ISBN 978-0-415-92699-7
    .
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Biography by Scott Yanow". AllMusic. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
  3. ^
    ISBN 1-85868-255-X
    .
  4. ISBN 9780810869332
    .
  5. ^ Silvester, p. 99
  6. ^ "Roll 'Em Pete – Pete Johnson,Big Joe Turner – Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  7. ISBN 9781935106722
    .
  8. ^ "NATIONAL 78rpm numerical listing discography". The Online Discographical Project. Entries 4001, 4003, 4005, 4006A, 4006B, 4007A, 4007B, 4007A, 4008B. Retrieved June 30, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  9. ^ "House Rent Party - Pete Johnson | Release Info". AllMusic. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  10. ISBN 1-904041-96-5
    .
  11. ^ Silvester, p. 228-229
  12. ^ Silvester, p. 229
  13. ^ Silvester, p. 273
  14. ^ Silvester, p. 273–274
  15. ^ Silvester, p. 230
  16. ^ "Boogie-Woogie Artists". History-of-rock.com. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  17. ^ Silvester, p. 230-231
  18. ^ "The Dead Rock Stars Club – New Entries". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  19. ISBN 978-0810886384
    . Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  20. ISBN 9781448132744
    . Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  21. AllMusic
  22. AllMusic
  23. AllMusic
  24. ^ Master of Blues and Boogie Woogie 1904-1967 Vol 2 at Discogs
  25. AllMusic
  26. AllMusic
  27. AllMusic
  28. AllMusic
  29. AllMusic
  30. AllMusic
  31. AllMusic
  32. AllMusic
  33. AllMusic
  34. AllMusic
  35. AllMusic
  36. ^ "Boogie woogie: piano, small group, and big band classics in the boogie woogie style, 1929-1947 - Various - ( LP3枚 )". Cdandlp.jp. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  37. ^ "Various - Boogie Woogie: Piano, Small Group, And Big Band Classics In The Boogie Woogie Style, 1929-1947". Discogs.com. August 28, 1983. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  38. AllMusic
  39. AllMusic
  40. AllMusic
  41. ^ "Jazz news: Mosaic Select: Boogie Woogie & Blues Piano (MS-030)". Allaboutjazz.com. March 5, 2008. Retrieved August 28, 2023.

External links

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