Will Johnson

William K. Johnson (died August 13, 1955) was an American jazz banjoist, guitarist, and vocalist. Johnson was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, where he played locally until relocating to New York in 1926. There he worked with the Dixie Ramblers and George Howe, then joined Luis Russell's orchestra in 1927. He remained with Russell until 1932 and during this time recorded with King Oliver, Red Allen, and Jack Purvis. He worked with Fess Williams in 1933-1934 and continued working actively until the end of the 1930s. After retiring from music he moved back to Lexington; in 1955 he died in a house fire. He is often confused with William Manuel Johnson, a jazz bassist, in published works.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1905 (Lexington), Died 1955 (Lexington)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1929 - 1931

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, banjo, tenor guitar, vocalist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 49 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BVE-48333	10-in.	2/1/1929	Call of the freaks	King Oliver Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, banjo, guitar
Victor	BVE-48334	10-in.	2/1/1929	The trumpet's prayer	King Oliver Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, banjo, guitar
Victor	BVE-49649	10-in.	1/16/1929	Freakish light blues	King Oliver Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, banjo, guitar
Victor	BVE-49650	10-in.	1/16/1929	West End blues	King Oliver Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, banjo, guitar
Victor	BVE-53929	10-in.	7/17/1929	Feeling drowsy	Henry Allen ; New York Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, banjo
Victor	BVE-53930	10-in.	7/17/1929	Swing out	Henry Allen ; New York Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, banjo
Victor	BVE-55133	10-in.	7/16/1929	It should be you	Henry Allen ; New York Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, banjo
Victor	BVE-55134	10-in.	7/16/1929	Biff'ly blues	Henry Allen ; New York Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, banjo
Victor	BVE-55852	10-in.	9/24/1929	Make a country bird fly wild	Henry Allen ; Four Wanderers ; New York Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet	instrumentalist, banjo
Victor	BVE-55853	10-in.	9/24/1929	Funny feathers blues	Henry Allen ; New York Orchestra ; Victoria Spivey	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, banjo
Victor	BVE-55854	10-in.	9/24/1929	How do they do it that way	Henry Allen ; New York Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, banjo
Victor	BVE-55855	10-in.	9/24/1929	Pleasing Paul	Henry Allen ; New York Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, banjo
Victor	BVE-56732	10-in.	10/1/1929	Blood hound blues	Victoria Spivey	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	instrumentalist, guitar
Victor	BVE-56733	10-in.	10/1/1929	Dirty T. B. blues	Victoria Spivey	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	instrumentalist, guitar
Victor	BVE-56734	10-in.	10/1/1929	Moaning the blues	Victoria Spivey	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	instrumentalist, guitar
Victor	BVE-56735	10-in.	10/1/1929	Telephoning the blues	Victoria Spivey	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	instrumentalist, guitar
Victor	BVE-57080	10-in.	11/13/1929	Sweet Peter	Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, guitar
Victor	BVE-57081	10-in.	11/13/1929	Jersey Joe	Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, guitar
Victor	BVE-57082	10-in.	11/13/1929	Mississippi Mildred	Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, guitar
Victor	BVE-57083	10-in.	11/13/1929	Mint julep	Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, guitar
Victor	BVE-57554	10-in.	11/25/1929	Day breakin' blues	Sweet Peas Spivey	Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet	instrumentalist, tenor guitar
Victor	BVE-57555	10-in.	11/25/1929	Heartbreakin' blues	Sweet Peas Spivey	Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet	instrumentalist, tenor guitar
Victor	BVE-57556	10-in.	11/25/1929	Leavin' you baby	Sweet Peas Spivey	Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet	instrumentalist, tenor guitar
Victor	BVE-57557	10-in.	11/25/1929	Longin' for home	Sweet Peas Spivey	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	instrumentalist, tenor guitar
Victor	BVE-57927	10-in.	12/18/1929	Ridin' but walkin'	Fats Waller’s Buddies	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, guitar

(Results 1-25 of 49 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Johnson, Will," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/100886.

Johnson, Will. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/100886.

"Johnson, Will." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/100886

External Sources

Wikipedia: Bill Johnson (banjoist)

Discogs: Will Johnson

Allmusic: Will Johnson

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Johnson, Will (Guitarist) - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n2004079861

Wikidata: Bill Johnson (banjoist) - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q862206

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/5729276

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

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