Howard Johnson (jazz musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Howard Johnson
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Howard Johnson in 2013
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Howard Lewis Johnson |
| Born | August 7, 1941 Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | January 11, 2021 (aged 79) New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | tuba, baritone saxophone |
Howard Lewis Johnson (born August 7, 1941 – died January 11, 2021) was an American jazz musician. He was famous for playing the tuba and baritone saxophone. He also played other instruments like the bass clarinet and trumpet. Howard Johnson was known for making the tuba a more important instrument in jazz music.
He often played with other famous musicians like George Gruntz and Gil Evans. He also led his own tuba band called Gravity. This band released several albums in the 1990s.
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About Howard Johnson's Life
Howard Johnson was born in Montgomery, Alabama, in the United States. When he was two years old, his family moved to Massillon, Ohio. He taught himself how to play music. He started playing the baritone saxophone and tuba when he was in high school.
After finishing school in 1958, he joined the U.S. Navy. Later, he lived in Boston and then Chicago. In Chicago, he met another famous musician, Eric Dolphy. In 1963, Howard moved to New York City.
Playing with Famous Musicians
In the 1960s, Howard Johnson played with many jazz legends. These included Charles Mingus, Hank Crawford, and Archie Shepp. He also started working with Gil Evans in 1966. This was a long and important partnership.
Howard also helped arrange music for other artists. He arranged horn parts for Taj Mahal's live album, The Real Thing, in 1971. He also played with the famous rock group the Band on their live albums Rock of Ages and The Last Waltz. He continued to play with Levon Helm's band into the 2000s.
TV Appearances and His Band Gravity
During the 1970s, Howard Johnson was the conductor for the live band on the TV show Saturday Night Live. You could see him in many musical parts. For example, he played bass saxophone in the "King Tut" sketch. His all-tuba band, Gravity, even had a special performance on the show. Gravity was probably his most well-known band.
He led three tuba bands: Substructure, Tuba Libre, and Gravity. He also played with Tomasz Stańko. In 1981, he performed at the Woodstock Jazz Festival. This festival celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Creative Music Studio.
Howard Johnson also had a small role in the 1983 movie, Eddie and the Cruisers. He appeared in episodes of TV shows like Matlock and Hill Street Blues. In 1984, he played with the Gil Evans Orchestra in Japan.
He even appeared on Sesame Street in 1983. He played "Jelly Man Kelly" with James Taylor. He also played the tin whistle when Taylor sang to Oscar the Grouch.
Family Life
Howard Johnson had two children, David and Nedra. David (1964–2009) was an actor in New York. Nedra is a blues singer and musician. Howard Johnson passed away on January 11, 2021, at his home in New York.
His Music (Discography)
Howard Johnson released several albums as a band leader. He also played on many albums with other musicians.
As a Leader
- 1994: Arrival: A Pharoah Sanders Tribute (Verve)
- 1995: Gravity!!! (Verve)
- 1998: Right Now (Verve)
- 2017: Testimony (Tuscarora)
Playing with Others (Selected)
- Hank Crawford: Dig These Blues (1965), After Hours (1966)
- Charles Mingus: Music Written for Monterey 1965 (1965), Charles Mingus and Friends in Concert (1972)
- Gil Evans: Blues in Orbit (1969–71), Svengali (1973)
- Taj Mahal: The Real Thing (1972)
- The Band: Rock of Ages (1972), The Last Waltz (1978)
- John Lennon: Walls and Bridges (1974)
- Jaco Pastorius: Jaco Pastorius (1975)
- Muddy Waters: The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album (1975)
- James Taylor: "Jellyman Kelly" (on Sesame Street, 1983)
- Miles Davis: Miles & Quincy Live at Montreux (1991)
Images for kids
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Howard Johnson with Pharoah Sanders (2013)
