The J. Rosamond Johnson Papers

John Rosamond Johnson was born in Jacksonville, Florida, on August 11, 1873. He was a composer, pianist, actor, singer, lyricist, author, and educator. Rosamond began playing the piano at the age of four under the tutelage of his mother, Helen Louise Dillet Johnson. His musical training continued with enrollment at the New England Conservatory of Music and with special instruction in piano, organ, composition, and voice. He studied piano with Charles Dennée and Mme. Dietrich Strong, organ with George Whiting, harmony with Carl Reissman and Davenport Kerrison, and voice with William and Clarence B. Ashenden. He also received an honorary M.A. from Atlanta University in 1917.

Rosamond collaborated with his brother James Weldon Johnson and with Bob Cole on more than 200 songs during their seven years of existence as the Cole and Johnson Brothers. Songs such as "Under the Bamboo Tree," "The Maiden with the Dreamy Eyes," "Congo Love Song," and "My Castle on the Nile," were interpolated into several shows and sung by such people as Bert Williams, Anna Held, Marie Cahill, and Lillian Russell. Rosamond and his brother James Weldon composed and wrote the lyrics to "Lift Every Voice and Sing," considered to be the "black national anthem." Rosamond is also the author of two books containing his arrangements of spirituals, which he popularized in his recitals with Taylor Gordon in 1925/1926.

Rosamond appeared in vaudeville with various circuits, and in 1933 he, as well as W.C. Handy, returned in Joe Laurie, Jr.'s, "Memory Lane" review. His acting career sky-rocketed in the 30s and 40s with roles in Porgy and Bess, Mamba's Daughters, Cabin in the Sky, and A Young American.

Johnson held two administrative positions in educational institutions. He was Supervisor of Music in the Jacksonville public schools from 1896 to 1898 and was the Music Director and a trustee at the Music School Settlement for Colored People in New York from 1914 to 1918.

1873

Born 1873 August 11

1877

Piano lessons with mother begin

1890

To New England Conservatory, Boston

1896

In Oriental America

1896

Supervisor of Music, Jacksonville public schools, 1896-1899

1900

Writes "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" with brother James Weldon, while in Jacksonville.

1901

Cole and Johnson Bros. formed, 1901-1908

1902

"Under the bamboo tree"

1903

Evolution of Ragtime

1904

Campaign song for Roosevelt, "You're all right Teddy"

1906

Shoo-fly Regiment

1906

James Weldon Johnson becomes U.S. consul at Puerto Cabello, Venezuela.

1909

Mr. Lode of Koal with Bert Williams

1910

Bob Cole drowns, suicide?

1912

In the vaudevill circuit with Charles Hart

1912

Director of Oscar Hammerstein's London Opera House

1913

Married to Nora Ethel Floyd

1914

ASCAP formed; 170 members, 6 were black. Rosamond and his brother Jim were among those 6

1914

Returns to the U.S.A. to the New Standard Theatre in Philadelphia

1914

Music Director and trustee at the Music School Settlement for Colored People in New York, 1914-1918

1917

Back with the Orpheum and Keith circuits with the "Rosamond Johnson Quintet"

1918

Becomes 2nd Lieutnant, 15th Infantry, National Guard

1921

Made sub-chief of the Iroquois at Caughawaga, Province of Quebec, Canada

1925

The Book of American Negro Spirituals

1925

Toured with Taylor Gordon, 1925-1926

1926

The Second Book of American Negro Spirituals

1929

Jazz, motion picture including the John Rosamond Johnson Singers

1933

Joe Laurie, Jr.'s, "Memory Lane" review

1935

Plays Lawyer Frazier in Porgy and Bess

1936

Lew Leslie's Blackbirds review, Great Britan tour, 1936-1937

1937

Rolling Along in Song

1939

Plays the Reverend Quintus Whaley in Mamba's Daughters, 1939-1941

1940

Plays Brother Green and directs the J. Rosamond Johnson Singers in Cabin in the Sky

1942

Plays Lawyer Frazier in Porgy and Bess, 1942-1943

1946

Plays Prof. Arnold Harmon in A Young American

1954

Dies 1954 November 11