Pete Johnson

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

Life and work

He began his musical career in 1922 as a drummer in Kansas City (Missouri ) and first learned the age of 18 to play the piano. From 1926 to 1938 he worked as a pianist, often with Big Joe Turner. 1938 were both on the New York's Carnegie Hall. This concert sparked 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 frequently occurred as a trio. In contrast to the other two but he felt as a member of a band more comfortable as a soloist.

Johnson was also an excellent stride, swing and blues pianist, as evidenced by numerous publications sustainable.

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

Discography (selection)

Important Title

• " 1280 Stomp "
• " Stomp 627 "
• "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"

Albums

Collection

• The Pete Johnson / Earl Hines / Teddy Bunn Blue Note Sessions (1939-1940) - ( Mosaic - 1987) - 1 LP with Ulysses Livingston g, Abe Bolar b

Comments

• Jazz Pianist
• Boogie -woogie pianist
• American musician
• Born in 1904
• Died in 1967
• Man