ENDEIT
Gus Johnson
Photo: Brianmcmillen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Drummers · 1913–2000

Gus Johnson

American musician (1913–2000)

Born
15 November 1913
Tyler
Died
6 February 2000
Denver
Country
United States
Active
1922–

Biography

Gus Johnson was a jazz musician who played drum kit. Gus Johnson was born on 15 November 1913 in Tyler and died on 6 February 2000 in Denver. The music is usually filed under jazz.

Gus Johnson (November 15, 1913 – February 6, 2000) was an American swing drummer in various jazz bands, born in Tyler, Texas, United States. After learning to play drums from his next-door neighbor, Johnson occasionally played professionally at the age of ten in the Lincoln Theater, and performed in various local groups, most notable McDavid's Blue Rhythm Band. Upon graduating from Booker T. Washington High School, Johnson moved to Kansas City, where he took up drumming full-time. He joined Jay McShann's Orchestra in 1938, with his music career being interrupted by his conscription into the military in 1943. In 1945, Johnson returned from his stint in the military and relocated to Chicago to perform in the Jesse Miller Band. Johnson played on Willie Dixon's debut album, Willie's Blues. He subsequently played alongside Count Basie and was recorded on the album, Basie Rides Again, in 1952.

Read the full article on Wikipedia ↗ · From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Also plays on

Albums where Gus Johnson is credited as a sideman

1952 Blazing Ballads — Dinah Washington drums (drum set)
1953 An Evening With Billie Holiday — Billie Holiday drums (drum set)
1956 The Modern Art of Jazz — Zoot Sims drums (drum set)
1957 Blues for Night People — Charlie Byrd membranophone
1957 The Big Challenge — Cootie & Rex drums (drum set)
1961 Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! — Ella Fitzgerald drums (drum set)
1961 Night Hawk — Coleman Hawkins drums (drum set)
1961 Either Way — Zoot Sims and Al Cohn membranophone
1961 Buck & Buddy Blow the Blues — Buck Clayton With Buddy Tate drums (drum set)
1963 '63: The Concert Jazz Band — Gerry Mulligan drums (drum set)
1973 Buddy Tate and His Buddies — Buddy Tate drums (drum set)
1973 Swingin' — Jimmy McPartland, Vic Dickenson, Buddy Tate, Marian McPartland, Rusty Gilder & Gus Johnson drums (drum set)
1979 One to Blow On — Zoot Sims drums (drum set)
1987 Triple Play — Johnny Hodges drums (drum set)
1987 Close as Pages in a Book — Maxine Sullivan & Bob Wilber drums (drum set)
1988 In a Mellow Tone — Coleman Hawkins drums (drum set)
1990 Tonite's Music Today — Zoot Sims & Bob Brookmeyer membranophone
1994 My Man — Lionel Hampton drums (drum set)
1998 Mullenium — Gerry Mulligan drums (drum set)
1999 Rhythm Is My Business — Ella Fitzgerald drums (drum set)
2009 The Midnight Roll — Herb Ellis membranophone
2011 The Complete 1960 Jazz Cellar Session — Ben Webster/Johnny Hodges drums (drum set)
2013 Young Woods — Phil Woods drums (drum set)
2020 Anthology: The Deluxe Collection (Remastered) — Benny Carter drums (drum set)
2025 Jukebox Ella: The Complete Verve Singles, Volume 2 — Ella Fitzgerald drums (drum set)

Historic 78 rpm records

  • GREEN IS BLUE THE BIRDLAND QUINTET · Eugene Rainey · Vice Prez · Freddie Green ·… · 1952 archive.org ↗
  • YOU BELONG TO ME THE BIRDLAND QUINTET · Eugene Rainey · Vice Prez · Freddie Green ·… · 1952 archive.org ↗

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did Gus Johnson play?

Gus Johnson is known for playing drum kit.

When and where was Gus Johnson born?

Gus Johnson was born 15 November 1913 in Tyler.

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.