Howard E. Johnson

• Born: January 01, 1908
• Died: December 28, 1991
• Active: '30s, '40s, '50s, '60s, '70s
• Genres: Jazz
• Instrument: Sax (Alto)

Biography

Not to be confused with the tuba player of the same name, Howard Johnson was a top swing altoist who was flexible enough to play in both bop and dixieland settings. Johnson worked in Boston early in his career and then, after moving to New York, he was with Fess Williams, Billy Cato and James P. Johnson's bands. He had stints with Charlie Johnson, Chick Webb, Elmer Snowden, Benny Carter (1932) and Teddy Hill (1934-37). Johnson worked with Claude Hopkins, Benny Carter and Maxine Sullivan in the first half of the 1940's and during 1946-48 was a member of Dizzy Gillespie's Orchestra. Not a major soloist, Johnson always had an appealing tone and he remained active into the 1980's. Among his more notable later associations were with Lem Johnson, Clyde Bernhardt's Harlem Blues and Jazz Band and Panama Francis' Savoy Sultans. Howard Johnson recorded through the years as a sideman with a wide variety of artists including Bessie Smith, Red Norvo and Dizzy Gillespie although never as a leader. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

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