Johnson, J(ohn) Rosamond
Johnson, J(ohn) Rosamond
Johnson, J(ohn) Rosamond, black American composer and bass, brother of James Weldon Johnson; b. Jacksonville, Fla., Aug. 11, 1873; d. N.Y., Nov. 11, 1954. He studied at Atlanta Univ. and at the New England Cons, of Music in Boston, and took voice lessons with David Bispham. He set his brother’s poem Lift Every Voice and Sing (1900) to music, which later became known as “the Negro National Anthem.” The brothers collaborated on many other songs, selling them to various musical reviews in N.Y.; in 1902 they formed, with Bob Cole, the songwriting team of Cole and Johnson Bros. Johnson also wrote some songs that were accepted on the concert stage, among them Li’I Gal and Since You Went Away.In 1911-12 he was music director of Hammerstein’s Opera House in London; also sang in opera, and later toured the U.S. and Europe in programs of Negro spirituals. With his brother, he compiled two vols, of Negro spirituals (1926, 1927), adding piano accompaniments; wrote a ballet, African Drum Dance, and many vocal works; also Rolling Along in Song (a history of black music with 85 song arrangements). He sang the role of Lawyer Frazier in the early performances of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire