Jay Johnson

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Jay Herbert Johnson (born March 27, 1928 in New Jersey , † June 13, 1954 in San Fernando Valley ) was an American singer ( baritone ) in the orchestra of Stan Kenton .

Johnson made recordings from 1946 to 1953; In 1946 he recorded in Los Angeles with the Bobby Sherwood Orchestra for Capitol . He was with Stan Kenton from August 1950. Kenton was actually looking for a tour singer; on the recommendation of his trombonist Milt Bernhart , he tried Johnson. On the occasion of their first Capitol recording ( But Then You Kissed Me ), Billboard Magazine spoke of an impressive debut in this heavy ballad , where it would sound like a cross between Billy Eckstine and Herb Jeffries . Their cooperation was successful; In 1950 and 1951, Johnson was rated the best male band singer in the Down Beat reader poll.

He died at the age of 26 in a motorcycle accident in the San Fernando Valley, which hit Kenton hard at the time.

As an actor, he appeared in a supporting role as a musician in the 1954 film A Star Is Born ( George Cukor , with Judy Garland ).

He should not be confused with trombonist Jay Jay Johnson .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Life dates according to Evelyn Mack Truitt Who was who on screen , 1974. Exact dates of birth according to IMDB.
  2. ^ Tom Lord, Jazz Discography
  3. ^ Billboard Magazine, June 1, 1946, with singer Frances Glenn
  4. ^ William F. Lee, Audree Coke Kenton Stan Kenton. Artistry in Rhythm , Creative Press of Los Angeles 1980, p. 138
  5. ↑ Michael Sparke Stan Kenton , 2010, p. 87
  6. ^ Billboard, October 7, 1950: A new Kenton warbler, Jay Johnson, makes an Impressive debut In his singing of this heavy ballad. Johnson, sounding much like a cross between Eckstine and Jeffries, should please the loyal Kentonites.
  7. ↑ See Michael Sparke Stan Kenton , 2010, p. 87
  8. ↑ A new star in the sky. Internet Movie Database , accessed June 10, 2015 .
personal data
SURNAME Johnson, Jay
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Johnson, Jay Herbert (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American big band singer
DATE OF BIRTH March 27, 1928
PLACE OF BIRTH New Jersey
DATE OF DEATH June 13, 1954
Place of death San Fernando Valley