Margaret Johnson
Encyclopedia
Margaret Johnson was an American
blues
and early jazz
vocalist and pianist
.
Johnson's primary era of recording activity as a vocalist was 1925-1927. Prior to this, she had worked in vaudeville
. She recorded with harmonica player Bobby Leecan and guitarist Robert Cooksey, playing country blues
; she also did several recordings with New Orleans jazz
ensembles which included Sidney Bechet
, Clarence Williams, Louis Armstrong
, Bubber Miley, and Tom Morris
. She and Williams also played with the Jazz Rippers, Buddy Christian's ensemble, though Williams was not credited and Johnson was listed under the name Margaret Carter. Her songs were often humorous and sexually suggestive in tone.
After the late 1920s she ceased to record as a vocalist, but worked as an accompanist for Billie Holiday
in the 1930s, when Holiday was performing with Lester Young
.
Most of Johnson's 1920s sides were reissued on CD
by Document Records
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
and early jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
vocalist and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
.
Johnson's primary era of recording activity as a vocalist was 1925-1927. Prior to this, she had worked in vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
. She recorded with harmonica player Bobby Leecan and guitarist Robert Cooksey, playing country blues
Country blues
Country blues is a general term that refers to all the acoustic, mainly guitar-driven forms of the blues. It often incorporated elements of rural gospel, ragtime, hillbilly, and dixieland jazz...
; she also did several recordings with New Orleans jazz
New Orleans Jazz
New Orleans Jazz may refer to:*Dixieland, a style of jazz music*New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park*Utah Jazz, a professional National Basketball Association franchise that was previously based in New Orleans and known as the New Orleans Jazz, in recognition of the jazz music of New Orleans*A...
ensembles which included Sidney Bechet
Sidney Bechet
Sidney Bechet was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer.He was one of the first important soloists in jazz , and was perhaps the first notable jazz saxophonist...
, Clarence Williams, Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
, Bubber Miley, and Tom Morris
Tom Morris
Tom Morris may refer to:*Old Tom Morris , early golf champion*Young Tom Morris , son of the above, also a golf champion*Tom Morris footballer who played for Tottenham Hotspur F.C. in the 1890s and 1900s...
. She and Williams also played with the Jazz Rippers, Buddy Christian's ensemble, though Williams was not credited and Johnson was listed under the name Margaret Carter. Her songs were often humorous and sexually suggestive in tone.
After the late 1920s she ceased to record as a vocalist, but worked as an accompanist for Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
in the 1930s, when Holiday was performing with Lester Young
Lester Young
Lester Willis Young , nicknamed "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and clarinetist. He also played trumpet, violin, and drums....
.
Most of Johnson's 1920s sides were reissued on CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
by Document Records
Document Records
Document Records is a British record label that specializes in early American blues, bluegrass, gospel, spirituals jazz, and other rural American genres , generally made between 1900 and 1945...
.
External links
- [ Margaret Johnson] at Allmusic
- Margaret Johnson at Redhotjazz.com (includes discography)