Johnson, GUS (Jr.)
Johnson, GUS (Jr.)
Johnson, GUS (Jr.), jazz drummer; b. Tyler, Tex., Nov. 15, 1913; d. Westminster, Colo., Feb. 6, 2000. Johnson began playing piano, then studied drums and bass. While still at school in Dallas, he was featured on drums at the age of 10 at the Lincoln Theatre, Houston. He played with McDavid’s Blue Rhythm Boys c. 1925 and joined the Lloyd Hunter Band in Omaha, Nebr. (on drums); he later played bass with the band, then reverted to drums. He worked for two years in a band led by pianist Ernest “Speck” Redd, then joined Jay McS-hann in Kansas City (1938). There he remained until joining the army in 1943; after his release, he was with the Jesse Miller Band in Chicago from spring 1945 until 1947. He worked with Earl Hines and Cootie Williams before joining Count Basie from late 1949-December 1954 (he appeared on film with Basie’s sextet in 1950). After an appendectomy, he began regular studio and session work. In 1957-early 1960s, he worked regularly with Ella Fitzgerald. He was featured on hundreds of recording sessions throughout the 1960s, and in 1969 appeared regularly with The World’s Greatest Jazz Band in N.Y. During the 1970s, he moved to Denver, Colo.
—John Chilton/Lewis Porter