James Johnson, Jimmy Johnson, Jimmi Johnsun

[Alex Potts]

Wondering whether anyone may be able to pin down the identit(ies) of the drummer(s) who recorded under James Johnson, Jimmy Johnson, Jimmi Johnsun.

I've seen various references to them all being the same man, James Leroy Johnson Jr., born 1930 in Philadelphia. However the wide contextual range of record dates with Duke Ellington, Sun Ra, Walt Dickerson, various 70s pop sessions gives me pause. The heterodox spelling of Jimmhi/Jimmi Johnsun seems to make more sense in a Sun Ra/Walter Dickerson context, less so in some of the earlier dates.

As an added wrinkle Osie Johnson's birth name is also James Johnson. While he has record dates with Johnnny Hodges, might he also be the James Johnson to have recorded with Duke Ellington in the late 50s/early 60s? 

Are these the names of 1, 2, perhaps even 3 drummers? Would be interested to learn more, from anyone who knows.