Osie Johnson

James "Osie" Johnson (January 11, 1923 in Washington, D.C. – February 10, 1966 in New York City) was a jazz drummer, arranger and singer.

He first worked with Sabby Lewis and then, after service in the United States Navy freelanced for a time in Chicago. From 1951 to 1953 he worked in Earl Hines's band.^[1]

He can be heard on albums by Paul Gonsalves, Zoot Sims, and Mose Allison. He recorded an album as a singer, "A Bit of the Blues," and had arranged at a "hit" for singer Dinah Washington. His final recordings as a singer were on a J J Johnson album, now compiled as a collection called "Goodies."

Discography

As leader

• 1955: Johnson's Whacks
• 1955: Osie's Oasis with Henry Coker, Charlie Fowlkes, Milt Hinton, Bill Hughes, Thad Jones, Dick Katz, Wendell Marshall, Frank Wess, Ernie Wilkins
• 1955: Swingin' Sounds
• 1957: The Happy Jazz of Osie Johnson

As sideman

• Oscar Pettiford: Another One, 1955
• Bennie Green: Bennie Green Blows His Horn (Prestige, 1955)
• Phineas Newborn, Jr.: Phineas Newborn Plays Jamaica (September 7, 8 & 9, 1957) (RCA Victor LPM 1589)
• Curtis Fuller: Cabin in the Sky (Impulse!, 1962)
• Ben Webster: See You at the Fair, 1964
• Shirley Scott: Great Scott!! (Impulse!, 1964)
• Johnny Hartman: The Voice That Is! (Impulse!, 1964)
• Lionel Hampton: You Better Know It!!! (Impulse!, 1965)
• J J Johnson: Goodies (RCA, 1965)

References

External links

• Worlds Records