Bunk Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bunk Johnson
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1910
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Gary Johnson |
| Also known as | Bunk |
| Born | December 27, 1879 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | July 7, 1949 (aged 69) New Iberia, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Instruments | Trumpet |
| Associated acts | Bunk Johnson & His New Orleans Jazz Band, George Lewis, Louis Armstrong |
Willie Gary "Bunk" Johnson (December 27, 1879 – July 7, 1949) was an important jazz trumpeter from New Orleans, USA. He was known for his amazing trumpet playing. Many people consider him one of the first great jazz musicians.
Contents
Bunk Johnson's Life Story
Early Music Days
Bunk Johnson started learning music from Adam Olivier. He soon began playing trumpet professionally in Olivier's orchestra. He was thought to be one of the best trumpeters in New Orleans between 1905 and 1915. During these years, he often left the city to perform with traveling shows and circus bands.
Around 1915, Bunk decided to leave New Orleans. He toured with different shows. By the early 1920s, he settled down in New Iberia, Louisiana.
In 1931, Bunk had an accident at a dance. He lost his front teeth and his trumpet. This meant he could no longer play music. After this, he worked in other jobs. He also gave music lessons sometimes.
A Comeback in Music
In the late 1930s, some writers were working on a jazz history book called Jazzmen. They talked to famous musicians like Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet. These musicians spoke highly of Bunk Johnson's playing from years ago.
The writers found Bunk and wrote letters to him. Bunk told them he could play again if he had new teeth and a new trumpet. So, musicians and writers collected money for him. He got new false teeth and a brand new trumpet.
Bunk made his first recordings in 1942. These recordings helped him become famous again.
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Touring and Later Years
After his first recordings, Bunk Johnson and his band became very popular. They played in cities like New Orleans, San Francisco, Boston, and New York City. They also made many more recordings. His music from the 1940s showed why other musicians respected him so much. He played with great creativity and skill.
Bunk Johnson had a stroke in late 1948. He passed away the next year in New Iberia, Louisiana.
Bunk Johnson's Legacy
People who love jazz still talk about Bunk Johnson's music. They also discuss how accurate his stories about his early career were. Recently, new information has come out. A jazz historian named Vic Hobson found evidence that Bunk Johnson was indeed a member of Buddy Bolden's early jazz band. This makes Bunk's own stories and recordings very important for understanding early jazz.
Most of Bunk Johnson's recordings are still available today. His trumpet playing has inspired many traditional jazz musicians. Bunk also appears in a children's book called Satchmo's Blues. In the book, he inspires a young Louis Armstrong.
Bunk Johnson was a Catholic. As of 2019, a special Jazz Mass and parade are held each year in his hometown of New Iberia. It starts at St Edward Catholic Church and ends at Bunk Johnson's gravesite.
Selected Music Recordings
1942 Recordings
These songs were recorded in June 1942 and released by Jazz Man Records.
- "Down By The River / Panama": Jazz Man 8. Recorded in New Orleans, 1942.
- "Weary Blues / Moose March": Jazz Man 9. Recorded in New Orleans, 1942.
- "Storyville Blues / Bunk's Blues": Jazz Man 10. Recorded in New Orleans, 1942.
These songs were recorded in October 1942. They were released on Milt Gabler's Jazz Information label.
- "Franklin Street Blues / Weary Blues": Jazz Information 12. Recorded in New Orleans, 1942.
- "Shine / Yaaka Hula Hickey Dula": Jazz Information 15. Recorded in New Orleans, 1942.
- "Sobbin' Blues No. 2 / Sometimes My Burden Is So Hard To Bear": Jazz Information 16. Recorded in New Orleans, 1942.
American Music Records, 1943-1946
These recordings were made for Bill Russell's American Music label.
- Bunk Plays The Blues And Spirituals: American Music 638. Recorded in New Orleans.
- 1944-1946: American Music 644. Recorded in New Orleans and New York.
- New Orleans 1944: American Music 647. Recorded in New Orleans, August 1944.
- Rare And Unissued Masters, Volume 1 (1943-1945): American Music AMCD-139. Includes recordings from New Orleans and San Francisco.
San Francisco, 1944
Bunk Johnson recorded with the Yerba Buena Jazz Band in early 1944.
- Bunk Johnson and the Yerba Buena Jazz Band: Spirituals & Jazz: Good Time Jazz L-17. Recorded in San Francisco, January–February 1944.
New York, 1945
Bunk Johnson recorded for Blue Note, Decca, and RCA Victor in 1945.
- Sidney Bechet and Bunk Johnson: Days Beyond Recall: Blue Note BLP 7008. Recorded in New York, March 1945.
- Hot Jazz: RCA Victor HJ-7. Recorded in New York, December 1945.
- New Orleans Memories: Ace of Hearts AH 140. Includes four songs from a Decca session in New York, November 1945.
New York, 1947
Bunk Johnson's last recordings were made for Columbia in December 1947.
- The Last Testament Of A Great New Orleans Jazzman: Columbia CL 829. Recorded at Carnegie Recital Hall, New York City, December 1947.
See also
In Spanish: Bunk Johnson para niños
