James P. Johnson, Composer of 'Yamekraw: A Negro Rhapsody' was born Feb. 1, 1894 in New Brunswick, New Jersey

[Victory Stride: The Symphonic Music of James P. Johnson; The Concordia Orchestra; Marin Alsop, Conductor; Music Masters 67140 (1994)]

The pianist and composer James Price Johnson (1894-1955) is profiled at AfriClassical.com. He is best known as a stride pianist, but also studied classical music and endeavored to gain recognition as a composer of concert music. Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma wrote the liner notes for the CD Got the Saint-Louis Blues: Classical Music in the Jazz Age, Clarion CLR907 (2004), which includes a performance of Johnson's Yamekraw: A Negro Rhapsody (15:49) by pianist Paul Shaw and the VocalEssence Ensemble conducted by Philip Brunelle.

Dr. De Lerma relates that Johnson's music studies with Bruto Giannini were followed by piano lessons from Eubie Blake. He continues: “Toward the end of the 1920s, Johnson began devoting time to the study of orchestration, counterpoint, and harmony.” Dr. De Lerma writes of two of the strokes Johnson suffered: “His first stroke in 1940 did not prevent him from presenting a concert of his own works at Carnegie Hall in 1944, but a much more serious stroke occurred in 1951, confining him to bed until his death.”

James Price Johnson died on Nov. 17, 1955, we are told by his biographer, Scott E. Brown: “James P. Johnson died as a result of a final massive stroke. He was admitted to Queens General Hospital after having suffered the stroke (his eighth) at home two days earlier. All the major newspapers carried his obituary, but his name probably meant little to the general public. One thing, however, is very interesting about these obituaries. In their headlines and opening paragraphs, they identify Johnson not only as a jazz pianist but also as a prolific composer.”

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Today is also the birthday of Langston Hughes. Dominique-René de Lerma
http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com