Gus Johnson (November 15, 1913 – February 6, 2000) was an American swing

drummer A drummer is a percussionist who creates music using drums. Most contemporary western music ensemble, bands that play Rock music, rock, Pop music, pop, jazz, or Contemporary R&B, R&B music include a drummer for purposes including timekeepi ...

in various

jazz band A jazz band (jazz ensemble or jazz combo) is a musical ensemble that plays jazz music. Jazz bands vary in the quantity of its members and the style of jazz that they play but it is common to find a jazz band made up of a rhythm section and a ho ...

s, born in

Tyler, Texas Tyler, officially the City of Tyler, is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, United States. As of 2020, the population is 105,995. Tyler was the List of municipalities in Texas, 38th most populous city in Texas (as well as the m ...

, United States. After learning to play

drums The drum is a member of the percussion instrument, percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophones, membranophone. Drums consist of at least one Acoustic membrane, membrane, c ...

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 James Columbus "Jay" McShann (January 12, 1916 – December 7, 2006) was an American jazz pianist, vocalist, composer, and bandleader. He led bands in Kansas City, Missouri, that included Charlie Parker, Bernard Anderson, Walter Brown, and B ...

's Orchestra in 1938, with his music career being interrupted by his

conscription Conscription, also known as the draft in the United States and Israel, is the practice in which the compulsory enlistment in a national service, mainly a military service, is enforced by law. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it conti ...

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 William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and the ...

, and was recorded on the

album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...

, ''Basie Rides Again'', in 1952. Following a recovery from

appendicitis Appendicitis is inflammation of the Appendix (anatomy), appendix. Symptoms commonly include right lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever and anorexia (symptom), decreased appetite. However, approximately 40% of people do not have these t ...

, Johnson was featured in numerous groups and dozens of recordings in the 1960s. In 1972, his former bandmates from Jay McShann's Orchestra reconvened to record ''Going to Kansas City''. Although Johnson continued to tour into the 1980s, he developed

Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems wit ...

in 1989, which he struggled with until his death on February 6, 2000.

Discography

With Manny Albam *'' The Drum Suite'' (RCA Victor, 1956) with

Ernie Wilkins Ernest Brooks Wilkins Jr. (July 20, 1922 – June 5, 1999) was an American jazz saxophonist, conductor and arranger who spent several years with Count Basie. He also wrote for Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, and Dizzy Gillespie. He was musical direct ...

*'' Jazz Goes to the Movies'' ( Impulse!, 1962) With

*'' Dance Session'' (Clef, 1953) *'' Basie Jazz'' (Clef, 1954) *'' Dance Session Album#2'' (Clef, 1954) *'' Basie'' (Clef, 1954) *'' The Count!'' (Clef, 1955) *'' The Count Basie Story'' (Roulette, 1960) * '' Get Together'' ( Pablo, 1979) With Lawrence Brown *'' Inspired Abandon'' (Impulse!, 1965) With Ray Bryant *'' Dancing the Big Twist'' (Columbia, 1961) With

Buck Clayton Wilbur Dorsey "Buck" Clayton (November 12, 1911 – December 8, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter who was a member of Count Basie's orchestra. His principal influence was Louis Armstrong, first hearing the record " Confessin' that I Love You" ...

*'' Buck & Buddy Blow the Blues'' (Swingville, 1961) with Buddy Tate *''Jam Session'' (

Chiaroscuro In art, chiaroscuro ( , ; ) is the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition. It is also a technical term used by artists and art historians for the use of contrasts of light to ach ...

, 1974) With

Al Cohn Al Cohn (November 24, 1925 – February 15, 1988) was an American jazz saxophonist, arranger and composer. He came to prominence in the band of clarinetist Woody Herman and was known for his longtime musical partnership with fellow saxophonist ...

*'' Son of Drum Suite'' (RCA Victor, 1960) *'' Either Way'' (Fred Miles Presents, 1961) with

Zoot Sims John Haley "Zoot" Sims (October 29, 1925 – March 23, 1985) was an American jazz saxophonist, playing mainly tenor but also alto (and, later, soprano) saxophone. He first gained attention in the "Four Brothers" sax section of Woody Herman's big ...

With

Willie Dixon William James Dixon (July 1, 1915January 29, 1992) was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was proficient in playing both the upright bass and the guitar, and sang with a distinctive voice, but he ...

and

Memphis Slim John Len Chatman (September 3, 1915 – February 24, 1988), known professionally as Memphis Slim, was an American blues pianist, singer, and composer. He led a series of bands that, reflecting the popular appeal of jump blues, included saxopho ...

*'' Willie's Blues'' ( Bluesville, 1959) With

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April25, 1917June15, 1996) was an American singer, songwriter and composer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phra ...

*'' Ella at Juan-Les-Pins'' ( Verve, 1964) *'' Ella in Rome: The Birthday Concert'' ( Verve, 1958) *'' Ella in Berlin: Mack the Knife'' ( Verve, 1960) With

Coleman Hawkins Coleman Randolph Hawkins (November 21, 1904 – May 19, 1969), nicknamed "Hawk" and sometimes "Bean", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.Yanow, Scot"Coleman Hawkins: Artist Biography" AllMusic. Retrieved December 27, 2013. One of the first ...

*'' Night Hawk'' (Swingville, 1960) With

Johnny Hodges Johnny Hodges (July 25, 1907 – May 11, 1970) was an American alto saxophone, alto saxophonist, best known for solo work with Duke Ellington's big band. He played lead alto in the saxophone section for many years. Hodges was also featured on sop ...

*''

Triple Play In baseball or softball, a triple play (denoted as TP in baseball statistics) is the act of making three out (baseball), outs during the same play. There have only been 739 triple plays in Major League Baseball (MLB) since 1876, an average of ju ...

'' (RCA Victor, 1967) With Willis Jackson *'' Really Groovin''' (Prestige, 1961) *'' In My Solitude'' (Moodsville, 1961) With

Herbie Mann Herbert Jay Solomon (April 16, 1930 – July 1, 2003), known by his stage name Herbie Mann, was an American jazz Flute, flute player and important early practitioner of world music. Early in his career, he also played tenor saxophone and clarinet ...

*'' Salute to the Flute'' (Epic, 1957) With

Gerry Mulligan Gerald Joseph Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996), also known as Jeru, was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, pianist, composer and arranger. Though primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists—playing t ...

*'' The Gerry Mulligan Quartet'' (Verve, 1962) *'' Spring Is Sprung'' (Philips, 1962) *'' Gerry Mulligan '63'' (Verve, 1963) With Joe Newman *'' Salute to Satch'' (RCA Victor, 1956) With Chico O'Farrill *'' Nine Flags'' (Impulse!, 1966) With

Freda Payne Freda Charcilia Payne (born September 19, 1942Some sources give a birth year of 1945, but this appears to be an error as all sources agree that she is older than her sister Scherrie, born 1944.) is an American singer and actress. Payne is best ...

*'' After the Lights Go Down Low and Much More!!!'' (Impulse!, 1964) With

Oscar Pettiford Oscar Pettiford (September 30, 1922 – September 8, 1960) was an American jazz double bassist and composer. He was one of the earliest musicians to work in the bebop idiom. Jazz bassist Christian McBride called Pettiford "probably the most imp ...

*'' The Oscar Pettiford Orchestra in Hi-Fi Volume Two'' (ABC-Paramount, 1957) With Al Sears *'' Rockin' in Rhythm'' (Swingville, 1960) as The Swingville All-Stars with Taft Jordan and Hilton Jefferson With

*'' The Modern Art of Jazz by Zoot Sims'' (Dawn, 1956) *'' Tonite's Music Today'' (Storyvile, 1956) with

Bob Brookmeyer Robert Edward "Bob" Brookmeyer (December 19, 1929 – December 15, 2011) was an American jazz valve trombone, valve trombonist, Jazz piano, pianist, arranger, and composer. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Brookmeyer first gained widespread public ...

*''Zoot Sims Plays Alto, Tenor, and Baritone'' (ABC-Paramount) With

The Staple Singers The Staple Singers were an American Gospel music, gospel, soul music, soul, and Rhythm and blues, R&B singing group. Pops Staples, Roebuck "Pops" Staples (December 28, 1914 – December 19, 2000), the patriarch of the family, formed the group w ...

*''Hammer and Nails'' (Rivers, 1962) With

Rex Stewart Rex William Stewart Jr. (February 22, 1907 – September 7, 1967) was an American jazz cornetist who was a member of the Duke Ellington orchestra. Career As a boy he studied piano and violin; most of his career was spent on cornet. Stewart dro ...

and

Cootie Williams Charles Melvin "Cootie" Williams (July 10, 1911 – September 15, 1985) was an American jazz, jump blues, and rhythm and blues trumpeter. Biography Born in Mobile, Alabama, Williams began his professional career at the age of 14 with the Yo ...

*'' The Big Challenge'' (Jazztone, 1957) With

Ralph Sutton Ralph Earl Sutton (November 4, 1922 – December 30, 2001) was an American jazz pianist born in Hamburg, Missouri. He was a stride pianist in the tradition of James P. Johnson and Fats Waller. Biography Sutton was born in Hamburg, Missour ...

and

Ruby Braff Reuben "Ruby" Braff (March 16, 1927 – February 9, 2003) was an American jazz trumpeter and cornetist. Jack Teagarden was once asked about him on the Garry Moore television show and described Ruby as "the Ivy League Louis Armstrong". Bra ...

*''R & R'' (

, 1979) *''Remembered'' (DVD) ( Arbors Records, 2004) With

and

* '' Last of the Whorehouse Piano Players'' (Chaz Jazz, 1980) - originally released on 2 LPs as ''The Last of the Whorehouse Piano Players: Two Pianos Vol. I & Vol. II'' *'' Last of the Whorehouse Piano Players'' (Chiaroscuro, 1989) With

and Kenny Davern *''Ralph Sutton and Kenny Davern'' (Chiaroscuro, 1998) With

Buddy Tate George Holmes "Buddy" Tate (February 22, 1913 – February 10, 2001) was an American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist. Biography Tate was born in Sherman, Texas, United States, and first played the alto saxophone. According to the website All Ab ...

*'' Buddy Tate and His Buddies'' (Chiaroscuro, 1973) With

Frank Wess Frank Wellington Wess (January 4, 1922 – October 30, 2013) was an American jazz saxophonist and flutist. He was renowned for his extensive solo work; however, he was also remembered for his time playing with Count Basie, Count Basie's band duri ...

*'' Jazz for Playboys'' (Savoy, 1957) *'' Opus de Blues'' (Savoy, 1984) With Lem Winchester *'' Another Opus'' (New Jazz, 1960) With

Kai Winding Kai Chresten Winding ( ; May 18, 1922 – May 6, 1983) was a Danish-born American trombonist and jazz composer. He is known for his collaborations with fellow trombonist J. J. Johnson. His version of " More", the theme from the movie ''Mondo Ca ...

*'' The Swingin' States'' (Columbia, 1958) *''

Solo Solo or SOLO may refer to: Arts and entertainment Characters * Han Solo, a ''Star Wars'' character * Jacen Solo, a Jedi in the non-canonical ''Star Wars Legends'' continuity * Kylo Ren (Ben Solo), a ''Star Wars'' character * Napoleon Solo, fr ...

'' (Verve, 1963) With

Rosemary Clooney Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 – June 29, 2002) was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the song "Come On-a My House", which was followed by other pop numbers such as "Botch-a-Me (Ba-Ba-Baciami Piccin ...

*'' Rosemary Clooney Sings the Music of Irving Berlin'' (Concord, 1984)

References

External links

Gus Johnson Interview
NAMM Oral History Library (1985) {{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Gus 1913 births 2000 deaths Musicians from Tyler, Texas American jazz drummers Count Basie Orchestra members 20th-century American drummers American male drummers American male jazz musicians World's Greatest Jazz Band members 20th-century American male musicians Drummers from Texas