Johnson, James P.

James P. Johnson African-American composer and pianist New Brunswick, New Jersey, February 1, 1894; New York City, November 17, 1955. He was called the “Father of Stride Piano” and composed the most famous stride rag, “Carolina Shout,” which was used as a cutting contest piece. He recorded it twice, first in 1921 (Okeh 4495) and again in 1944 (Decca 24885). Johnson also had a career as a Broadway songwriter. Notably, he composed the song that defined the Roaring Twenties, “The Charleston.” He…