James P. Johnson
American pianist and composer (1894–1955) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about James P. Johnson?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
James Price Johnson (February 1, 1894 – November 17, 1955) was an American pianist and composer. A pioneer of stride piano, he was one of the most important pianists in the early era of recording, and like Jelly Roll Morton, one of the key figures in the evolution of ragtime into what was eventually called jazz.[1] Johnson was a major influence on Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Art Tatum, Thelonious Monk, and Fats Waller, who was his student.[2]
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (May 2015) |
James P. Johnson | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | James Price Johnson |
Born | (1894-02-01)February 1, 1894 New Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S. |
Died | November 17, 1955(1955-11-17) (aged 61) Jamaica, Queens, New York City, U.S. |
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Composer, musician |
Instrument(s) | Piano |
Years active | 1912–1955 |
Johnson composed many hit songs, including the unofficial anthem of the Roaring Twenties, "The Charleston", and he remained the acknowledged king of New York jazz pianists through most of the 1930s. Johnson's artistry, influence on early popular music, and contributions to musical theatre are often overlooked, and as such, he has been referred to by musicologist David Schiff as "The Invisible Pianist."[3]