George Henry Johnson (April 25, 1913 – June 26, 1987) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

reedist. Johnson, who was born in

Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids is a city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 198,917 which ranks it as the List of municipalities in Mi ...

, played in the United States with Benny Carter and

Zack Whyte Zack Whyte (sometimes spelled Zach Whyte) (1898 – March 10, 1967) was an American jazz bandleader, best known for leading the territory band the Chocolate Beau Brummels. Biography Whyte was born in 1898 in Richmond, Kentucky. He studied at Wilbe ...

, then toured Europe as a member of

Freddy Taylor Frederick Taylor (24 February 1920 – 1983) was an English professional association footballer who played as a winger. He played more than 100 matches in the Football League for Burnley Burnley () is a town and the administrative centr ...

's band in 1935; he remained in Paris for several years, playing with

Garnet Clark Garnet Clark, sometimes credited as Garnett Clark (February 16, 1917 – November 30, 1938), was an American jazz pianist. Clark began playing professionally in his birthplace of Washington, D.C., United States, at age 16 in Tommy Myles's band. ...

, Django Reinhardt and

Willie Lewis William T. Lewis ''(né'' Willie Meria Tawlton Lewis; 10 June 1905 – 13 January 1971) was an American jazz clarinetist and bandleader. Career Lewis was born Cleburne, Texas, United States. He grew up in Dallas and played in variety shows as ...

in addition to performing with his own bands. After returning to the US in 1939, he played with

Frankie Newton Frankie Newton (William Frank Newton, January 4, 1906 – March 11, 1954) was an American jazz trumpeter from Emory, Virginia, United States. He played in several New York City bands in the 1920s and 1930s, including those led by Sam Wooding, Chic ...

for two years and then with Bill Coleman, John Kirby, Hot Lips Page, Raymond Scott, and Rex Stewart. He returned to Europe in 1946 and lived there the rest of his life, leading ensembles in Spain, France, and Switzerland before moving permanently to the Netherlands. Johnson died on June 26, 1987, at the age of 74.George Henry Johnson
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References

*"George Johnson". '' The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz''. 2nd edition, ed.

Barry Kernfeld Barry Dean Kernfeld (born August 11, 1950) is an American musicologist and jazz saxophonist who has researched and published extensively about the history of jazz and the biographies of its musicians. Education In 1968, Kernfeld enrolled at U ...

. {{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, George American jazz saxophonists American male saxophonists American jazz clarinetists American emigrants to the Netherlands Jazz musicians from Michigan American male jazz musicians 1913 births 1987 deaths 20th-century American male musicians 20th-century American saxophonists