Johnson, Buddy (Woodrow Wilson)

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Johnson, Buddy (Woodrow Wilson)

Johnson, Buddy (Woodrow Wilson), jazz pianist, leader, arranger/composer, vocals; b. Darlington, S.C., Jan. 10, 1915; d. N.Y., Feb. 9, 1977. Brother of Ella Johnson. He toured Europe withthe Cotton Club Revue before World War II, and returned to N.Y. in 1939 to begin his recording career. He led his own small band during the early 1940s, and then formed his own big band. This band had long residencies at the Savoy Ballroom, N.Y., and with regular touring, achieved wide success in the R&B market. In the 1960s he led a small band, and was active in church welfare work.

Discography

Rock “n” Roll Stage Show (1956); Wails (1957); Swing Me (1958); Go Ahead and Rock and Roll (1958); Rockin’ “n” Rollin’ (1995).

—John Chilton, Who’s Who of Jazz /Lewis Porter

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