Alonzo Pookie Johnson

Alonzo "Pookie" Johnson (* 1927 in Indianapolis ; † September 3, 2005 ibid) was an American jazz musician ( alto and tenor saxophone , vocals ) and music teacher.

Johnson graduated from Crispus Attucks High School and then studied at the Jordan Conservatory of Music at Butler University . He has since been an integral part of the Indiana Avenue jazz scene in his hometown. After completing his military service in the US Air Force from 1945, he went on tour with the Eddie Byrd Sextet and with the King Kolax Band and finally from 1955 to 1957 with the Montgomery-Johnson Quintet , which was also his brother Robert and the three Montgomery brothers Monk , Buddy and Wes Montgomery belonged to. He also participated in some recordings for Pacific Jazz by Wes Montgomery with his brothers and Freddie Hubbard , which were made in 1957.

When many of his fellow musicians moved to New York or Chicago, Johnson stayed in his hometown. He worked full-time for over thirty years for the US Postal Service , but was occasionally involved in albums, such as the production of Together Again by the funk jazz group Uncle Funkenstein around Larry Ridley with Melvin Rhyne and Charles Tolliver . In his later years, he remained a regional celebrity through his appearances at the Indy Jazz Fest , who also acted as a mentor for younger musicians. With his friend, saxophonist Russell Webster, he volunteered as a music teacher in a church building on the East Side and in public schools. He also played in the big band of Jimmy Coe and in the quartet of the Hampton Sisters , on whose 2003 album he was involved.

Web links

• Jazz & Ragtime in Indiana ( Memento from January 1, 2011 in the Internet Archive )