Cee Pee Johnson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cee Pee Johnson
Making his regrettably belated but highly impactful first credited screen appearance in Mystery in Swing (1940).
Background information
Birth name	Clifton Byron Johnson
Also known as	C. B. Johnson, prior to Mystery in Swing (1940); Byron Johnson, on 1946 Gladys Bentley session
Born	February 21, 1910 Marshall, Texas, U.S.
Died	After October 1954 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Jazz, Afro-Cuban jazz, Blues
Occupation(s)	Composer, arranger, bandleader, singer
Instruments	Drums, piano, guitar, banjo
Years active	1929–1954
Labels	Apollo Records, Atomic Records, Black & White Records
Associated acts	Gladys Bentley, Billie Yarbo

Cee Pee Johnson was an American jazz musician. He was born Clifton Byron Johnson on February 21, 1910. He was a talented composer, bandleader, singer, and could play many instruments. He was active in music from 1929 until at least 1954.

Early Life and Musical Start

Cee Pee Johnson was born in Marshall, Texas in 1910. He grew up in Algiers, New Orleans. In the early 1930s, he started his music career in Dallas. He was known as C. B. Johnson back then. He played in his brother Bert Johnson's band, called The Sharps and Flats. Cee Pee was a dancer and singer in the band. He also played the banjo and tom-toms.

Moving to Los Angeles

In the mid-1930s, Johnson moved to Los Angeles. He joined Emerson Scott's band at the Onyx Club in Hollywood. Eventually, Cee Pee Johnson became the leader of this band.

His band played at many famous clubs on the West Coast. These included the Paradise Club, the Del Mar Club, the Rhumboogie, and Billy Berg's Swing Club. Some of the talented musicians who played with him were Teddy Buckner, Karl George, Buddy Banks, Marshal Royal, Jack McVea, Johnny Miller, and Buddy Collette. Alton Redd was his backup drummer.

Johnson's band appeared in many films. They were active until at least 1954. In 1953, he even toured South America. Johnson also worked with other musicians like Slam Stewart and Slim Gaillard on their recording sessions.

Cee Pee Johnson in Movies

Cee Pee Johnson and his band appeared in many films and short musical movies called "soundies." Sometimes he was credited, but often he was not.

• Fox Movietone Follies of 1929 (1929) – Uncredited role
• The Music Goes 'Round (1936) – Uncredited role
• Woodland Café (1937) – Uncredited chorus voice
• Mystery in Swing (1940) – Appeared with his orchestra
• Citizen Kane (1941) – Uncredited drummer in a beach party scene
• Tom, Dick and Harry (1941) – Uncredited role
• Birth of the Blues (1941) – Uncredited role
• Hellzapoppin' (1941) – Appeared with his orchestra
• Swing for Your Supper (soundie; 1941) – Led his orchestra, with Dorothy Dandridge dancing
• Jump In (soundie; 1942) – Appeared with his orchestra
• The Desert Song (1943) – Percussionist in Moroccan cafe scenes
• Jungle Jig (soundie; 1944) – Appeared with his orchestra, with Dorothy Dandridge
• To Have and Have Not (1944) – Uncredited drummer in a club
• The Jolson Story (1946) – Uncredited drum solo in a nightclub scene
• The Razor's Edge (1946) – Uncredited bandleader and drum soloist in a nightclub
• The Foxes of Harrow (1947) – Uncredited drummer in a voodoo scene

See also

In Spanish: Cee Pee Johnson para niños