George W. Johnson (singer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George W. Johnson
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A photo of Johnson from The Phonoscope, July 1898
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | George Washington Johnson |
| Born | October 29, 1846 Virginia, US |
| Died | January 23, 1914 (aged 67) Queens, New York City, New York, US |
| Genres | Vaudeville |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, valet |
| Instruments | Singing, whistling |
| Years active | 1890–1910 |
| Labels | Berliner Gramophone, Edison, Columbia, Victor Talking Machine Company |
| Associated acts | Len Spencer |
George Washington Johnson (born around October 1846 – died January 23, 1914) was an amazing American singer. He was a pioneer in sound recording. This means he was one of the very first people to record music! George Johnson was also the first African American recording star. He became famous for his songs "The Whistling Coon" and "The Laughing Song".
Contents
George Johnson's Early Life
George Johnson was born in Virginia. He was likely born in either Fluvanna County or near Wheatland in Loudoun County. His father was a slave. George was probably freed in 1853.
From a young age, he grew up near Wheatland. He was a companion and servant to a rich farmer's son. During this time, he became very good at music. He even learned to read and write. This was against the law for a black child in Virginia before the American Civil War. Later, Johnson worked as a laborer. In his late twenties, he moved to New York City. By the late 1870s, he earned money as a street entertainer. He was especially good at whistling.
Starting a Musical Career
Between January and May 1890, George Johnson was discovered. Two different companies that sold phonographs wanted him to record. These companies were looking for artists for their coin-operated machines. Charles Marshall from the New York Phonograph Company and Victor Emerson from the New Jersey Phonograph Company both heard Johnson. He was performing in Manhattan, probably near the ferry terminals.
Both companies asked Johnson to record his loud, lively whistling. He recorded on wax phonograph cylinders. He was paid twenty cents for each two-minute performance. Johnson could whistle many popular tunes. One of his first recordings was a popular song called "The Whistling Coon". Johnson also sang and had a big, musical laugh. From this, he created his second famous song, "The Laughing Song". He recorded other songs, but these two made him famous. He performed and recorded them many times over the years.
How Early Records Were Made
In the early days of recording, every record was a "master". This means each copy had to be recorded individually. A singer with a strong voice could make three or four usable recordings at once. They did this by having several machines running at the same time. The recording horns were pointed at the singer's mouth. Johnson would sometimes sing the same song over and over. He might do this fifty or more times a day in the recording studio.
Johnson's Popularity
By 1895, Johnson's two songs, "The Whistling Coon" and "The Laughing Song", were the best-selling recordings in the United States. "The Laughing Song" was number one for ten weeks in 1891. "The Whistling Coon" was number one for five weeks that same year. Johnson was the first African American to appear on the pop music charts. His song was also the first on the chart written by an African American.
It's estimated that he sold between 25,000 and 50,000 wax cylinders from 1890 to 1895. Each one was recorded by Johnson himself! The New Jersey record company openly marketed Johnson as a black man. This was during a time when much of American life was separated by race. The song "The Whistling Coon" had a light-hearted tune. However, some of its lyrics would be seen as very inappropriate today.
Johnson kept recording for the New York and New Jersey companies. In 1891, he also started recording for their main company, North American Phonograph Company. At least one of his 1891 recording sessions was at Thomas Edison's laboratory. Johnson also performed in Vaudeville shows. His stage performances were mostly limited to his two famous songs. But this was enough to get him many bookings.
Working with Other Artists and New Technology
In 1894, Johnson began recording with Len Spencer. Spencer was a big Vaudeville star at the time. The two became good friends and stayed friends for the rest of Johnson's life. In 1895, Johnson made his first recordings using the new disc technology. He recorded for Berliner Gramophone.
Besides Berliner, Johnson recorded for many other companies. These included Edison Records, Columbia, and the Victor Talking Machine Company. He also recorded for smaller companies. He continued recording through the 1890s until about 1909 or 1910. In 1897, Johnson recorded two new songs: "The Laughing Coon" and "The Whistling Girl". These songs stayed in the Edison and Columbia catalogs for years. However, they were not as popular as his first two hits.
Later Life and Legacy
By 1905, George Johnson's popularity had gone down. New recording technology allowed thousands of copies to be made from one master recording. This meant Johnson was no longer needed to record each copy individually. His friend Len Spencer, who was now a successful artist and agent, hired Johnson. Johnson worked as a doorman in Spencer's office. He lived in the office building for several years. After that, he moved back to Harlem.
Johnson passed away in 1914 at age 67. He died from pneumonia and a heart condition called myocarditis. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York.
Honors and Recognition
In 2013, the Maple Grove historical society started a project to honor Johnson. They received money from the MusiCares Foundation to put a plaque on his grave. On April 12, 2014, a hundred years after his death, Johnson was finally recognized. A ceremony was held with displays, presentations, and a performance. Actor Larry Marshall played Johnson at the event.
Also in April 2014, his recording of "The Laughing Song" from around 1896 was added to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry. This registry keeps important sound recordings.
Images for kids
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Engraving of Johnson from a record catalog (around 1900)
See also
In Spanish: George W. Johnson para niños
