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.

[clifford_thornton]

Great question. 

There are at least two Jimmy Johnsons in jazz drumming circles. One died in 1979 and it would not surprise me if this is the same person who played with Ellington.

A photo on the back cover of Dickerson's "To My Son" (recorded 1978, released 1980) shows a man who could be in his 40s, although I'm not sure if he'd be 48.

The Jimmy Johnson on Discogs credited (perhaps erroneously) with both Sun Ra and Ellington sessions is also credited up to 1986 with the likes of Jeff Lorber, George Benson, and Charlie Haden. Would love to tease out who's who here.

[AndreyHenkin]

Having been in touch with his son, I know Jimmy Johnson died the day after Christmas 1979.

The Benson credit is from 1968. The Lorber is someone playing congas so unlikely to be him.

As far as the Ellington, I can ask the people I know at Ellingtonia about whether it is the same person.

[Niko]

https://en.everybodywiki.com/James_Johnson_Jr._(jazz_drummer)

I would not put too much trust into every detail of this article (especially not the discography which seems to mix things and the birth date), but: it suggests that the Duke Ellington JJ was from Philly, that he did studio work in NY in the 60s and maybe later and, most likely, was still alive in 2018 when someone who new him made this website (which was then likely rejected by the proper wikipedia for lack of relevance...)

what do we know about the one who died in 1979?