Edwin Lawrence Johnson (December 11, 1920 – April 7, 2010) was an American jazz and blues tenor saxophonist.

Early life

Johnson was born in Napoleonville, Louisiana, and moved with his family to Chicago at the age of two.^[1] As a teenager, Johnson sang in a vocal group. He graduated from Englewood High School and attended Wilson Junior College. In 1938, he and his bandmates were recruited to play for Kentucky State College, where Johnson received a scholarship and attended for eight months.^[2]

Career

In 1946, Johnson joined trumpeter Cootie Williams and His Orchestra, appearing on several Capitol and Majestic recordings, until leaving to join Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five. He also played with Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington. In 1981 and 1999, he released albums of new material, the latter on Delmark.^[3]

Discography

• Indian Summer (Nessa, 1981)
• Love You Madly (Delmark, 1999)

With Jodie Christian

• Front Line (Delmark, 1996)

With James Moody

• Last Train from Overbrook (Argo, 1958)

References

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