Gus Johnson (jazz musician)


Gus Johnson 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. Following a recovery from appendicitis 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 in 1989, which he struggled with until his death on February 6, 2000.

Discography

With Manny Albam
With Count Basie
With Lawrence Brown
  • Inspired Abandon
;With Ray Bryant
With Buck Clayton
With Al Cohn
With Willie Dixon and Memphis Slim
  • Willie's Blues
With Ella Fitzgerald
With Coleman Hawkins
;With Johnny Hodges
With Willis Jackson
With Herbie Mann
  • Salute to the Flute
With Gerry Mulligan
  • The Gerry Mulligan Quartet
  • Spring Is Sprung
  • Gerry Mulligan '63
With Joe Newman
  • Salute to Satch
With Chico O'Farrill
  • Nine Flags
With Oscar Pettiford
With Al Sears
With Zoot Sims
With Rex Stewart and Cootie Williams
  • The Big Challenge
With Ralph Sutton and Ruby Braff
  • R & R
  • Remembered
With Ralph Sutton and Jay McShann
  • Last of the Whorehouse Piano Players - 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
With Ralph Sutton and Kenny Davern
  • Ralph Sutton and Kenny Davern
With Buddy Tate
  • Buddy Tate and His Buddies
With Frank Wess
  • Jazz for Playboys
  • Opus de Blues
With Lem Winchester
  • Another Opus
With Kai Winding'