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James Price Johnson was born on
February 1, 1894 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. One of America's most
noted Jazz Artists, he was known as the King of the Stride Piano
during the 1920s. His early music training included the study of
classical techniques under an Italian piano instructor.
James combined elements of ragtime,
blues, popular music, ring-shout dance rhythms and his own inimitable
style to create the first distinctive jazz piano style, Harlem Stride.
His 1921 composition, Carolina Shout was the first
recorded jazz piano solo.
In 1923 James became the first African
American musician on the staff of the QRS Piano Roll Company. He also
wrote Running Wild that year, a Broadway production
which featured the Charleston, the tune that became the
theme for the Roaring Twenties.
James wrote many other jazz standards
including: If I Could Be With You, Old Fashioned
Love, Snowy Morning Blues and You Can't
Lose a Broken Heart. He wrote Harlem Symphony
and Jazzamine Piano Concerto which were performed during
his lifetime and have recently been rediscovered. He also collaborated
with poet Langston Hughes on an opera production.
Both Bessie Smith and Ethel Waters used
James as an accompanist. Duke Ellington and Fats Waller were both
taught by James.
During the 1940s James suffered several
strokes but remained active. He suffered a major stroke in 1951 which
forced his retirement. James P. Johnson died in New York city on
November 17, 1955.
Sources:
Encyclopedia
Britannica
Encyclopedia
Africana
Atlanta
Music Group (AMG)
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