George W. Johnson

Real Name:

George Washington Johnson

Profile:

American comedian, singer and pioneer sound recording artist, he is best known for being the first African-American recording star.
Born: c. October 1846 in Virginia, United States
Died: January 23, 1914 in Queens, New York City, New York, United States

Johnson had a small repertoire that he performed and recorded extensively in the 1890s. Five pieces were recorded, beginning in 1892 for New Jersey Phonograph Co. "The Whistling Coon", "The Laughing Song", "Laughing Coon" and "Whistling Girl", constituted his principal menu. They were made over and over again, for E. Berliner's Gramophone, Bettini, Columbia, Kansas City Talking Machine Co., Chicago Talking Machine Co., U.S. Everlasting Record, Zonophone Record, Victor and others. A fifth number , recorded only for Berliner, was the "Mocking Bird." The story that Johnson had been hanged for murdering his wife was disproved by Walsh, who documented that Johnson had been acquitted of that charge.

Sites:

findagrave.com, Wikipedia, loc.gov, adp.library.ucsb.edu

Variations:

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Geo. W. Johnson, Johnson

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Image	Title	Label	Catalog Number	Year	In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory	Actions
Singles & EPs
	404 W		George W. Johnson	The Laughing Song	E. Berliner's Gramophone	404 W	US	1896	Sell This Version
Image	Title	Label	Catalog Number	Year	In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory	Actions
	403		George W. Johnson	The Mocking Bird ‎(Shellac, 7", S/Sided)	E. Berliner's Gramophone	403	US	1896	Sell This Version
Image	Title	Label	Catalog Number	Year	In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory	Actions
	196Z		George W. Johnson	Whistling Coon ‎(Shellac, 7", S/Sided)	E. Berliner's Gramophone	196Z	US	1897	Sell This Version
Image	Title	Label	Catalog Number	Year	In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory	Actions
	644		Unknown Artist / George W. Johnson	Unknown Artist / George W. Johnson - Minstrels / The Laughing Song ‎(Shellac, 10", S/Sided)	Columbia	644	US	1902	Sell This Version
Image	Title	Label	Catalog Number	Year	In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory	Actions
	582		George W. Johnson	The Whistling Coon ‎(Shellac, 10", S/Sided)	Monarch Record	582	US	1903	Sell This Version
Image	Title	Label	Catalog Number	Year	In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory	Actions
	No. 332		George W. Johnson, Len Spencer	George W. Johnson, Len Spencer - The Merry Mail Man ‎(Shellac, 10", S/Sided)	Silver Tongued Record	No. 332	US	1905	Sell This Version
Image	Title	Label	Catalog Number	Year	In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory	Actions
	A297		George W. Johnson / George J. Gaskin	George W. Johnson / George J. Gaskin - Negro Laughing Song / Little Alabama Coon ‎(Shellac, 10")	Columbia	A297	US	1908	Sell This Version
Image	Title	Label	Catalog Number	Year	In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory	Actions
	584		George W. Johnson	The Laughing Coon ‎(Shellac, 7", S/Sided)	Victor	584	US	Unknown	Sell This Version