Bill Johnson (saxophonist)
William Luther "Bill" Johnson (* the 30th September 1912 in Jacksonville (Florida) , † 5. July 1960 in New York City ) was an American jazz - saxophonist , clarinetist and arranger .
Johnson learned the piano and, at the age of 16, the alto saxophone. He attended music schools in Wisconsin and Illinois and Marquette University . In Milwaukee he played with Jabbo Smith . He played with Baron Lee and Tiny Bradshaw before joining the band of Erskine Hawkins in 1936 , to which he was a member until 1943 and with whom he recorded (Uptown Shuffle 1939, Bear Mash Blues 1942, Uncle Budd 1941). With Hawkins he composed Tuxedo Junction , a hit for Hawkins and an even bigger hit for Glenn Miller in 1940. He also appeared with Hawkins in the 1937 short film Deviled Hams. After Hawkins' departure, he founded Bill Johnson and his Musical Notes . Around 1946 he recorded for Alert Records . In 1947 he came into the [[List of Singles in the Race Records Charts 1947 | R&B Charts]] with Don't You Think I Ought to Know .
He is not to be confused with bassist Bill Johnson and banjo player Bill Johnson .
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| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Johnson, Bill |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Johnson, William Luther |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American jazz saxophonist and arranger |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 30, 1912 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Jacksonville, Florida |
| DATE OF DEATH | 5th July 1960 |
| Place of death | New York City |