Pete Johnson

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Pete Johnson, circa August 1946.
Photograph by William P. Gottlieb .

Peter "Pete" Johnson (* 24 / 25. March 1904 in Kansas City , † 23. March 1967 in Buffalo ) was an American boogie-woogie -Pianist.

Live and act

He began his musical career in 1922 as a drummer in Kansas City ( Missouri ) and did not learn to play the piano until he was 18. From 1926 to 1938 he worked as a pianist, often with Big Joe Turner . In 1938 the two performed in New York's Carnegie Hall . This concert caused a boogie-woogie fever, and Johnson was from then on, with Meade Lux Lewis and Albert Ammons , who had also played at the concert, one of the leading pianists of his time. The three musicians often appeared as a trio . In contrast to the other two, he felt more comfortable as a member of a band than a soloist.

Johnson was also an excellent stride, swing and blues pianist, which numerous publications prove.

In May 1949 he performed at the Paris Festival International 1949 de Jazz . In 1950 Johnson moved to Buffalo and continued to perform despite health problems, notably with Jimmy Rushing and Big Joe Turner . In 1958 he suffered a stroke that partially paralyzed him. When the German jazz fan H. Maurer, whose The Pete Johnson Story came out in 1965, raised money for him, he was pretty impoverished. Pete Johnson died in 1967 at the age of 62.

Discography (selection)

(From left: JC Higginbotham , Pete Johnson, Red Allen, and Lester Young , National Press Club, Washington, DC, circa 1940.
Photograph by William P. Gottlieb .

Important titles

  • 1280 stomp
  • 627 stomp
  • Basement boogie
  • Buss Robinson Blues
  • Cherry Red
  • Death Ray Boogie
  • Goin 'away blues
  • Holler stomp
  • Just for you
  • Lone Star Blues
  • Pete's Blues
  • Pete's Lonsome Blues
  • Rebecca
  • Roll 'Em Pete

Albums

  • 1938-1939 Classics , 1938
  • King of Boogie Milan , 1939
  • Master of Blues and Boogie Woogie, Vol. 3 Oldie Blues , 1939
  • Boogie Woogie Mood (1940-1944) , MCA around 1970
  • Pete's Blues Savoy , 1946
  • Central Avenue Boogie || Delmark , 1993
  • Master of Blues and Boogie Woogie Oldie Blues , 1975
  • 1939-1941 Classics , 1996
  • 1944-1946 Classics , 1997
  • Blues & Boogie Woogie Master 1938/1946 , EPM Musique 1998
  • St. Louis Parties of July 20 & August 1 , 1954 Document 1999
  • Roll 'Em Pete Pearl , 1999
  • 1947-1949 Classics , 2000
  • Atomic Boogie: The National Recordings 1945–1947 , Savoy Jazz 2001

collection

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Carlo Bohländer , Karl Heinz Holler, Christian Pfarr: Reclams Jazzführer . 3rd, revised and expanded edition. Reclam, Stuttgart 1989, ISBN 3-15-010355-X ; Martin Kunzler : Jazz Lexicon. Volume 1: A – L (= rororo-Sachbuch. Vol. 16512). 2nd Edition. Rowohlt, Reinbek bei Hamburg 2004, ISBN 3-499-16512-0 give March 25th.
  2. ^ Tony Russell: The Blues. From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray . Carlton Books, London 1997, ISBN 1-85868-255-X , p. 127.
personal data
SURNAME Johnson, Pete
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Johnson, Peter (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American boogie woogie pianist
DATE OF BIRTH March 24, 1904 or March 25, 1904
PLACE OF BIRTH Kansas City (Missouri)
DATE OF DEATH March 23, 1967
Place of death Buffalo