Freddy Johnson
FameRank: 4

"Freddy Johnson" was an American jazz jazz piano/pianist and singer who gained popularity in the 1930s playing mostly Swing music/swing style.

He began playing professionally as Florence Mills comping/accompanist, and formed his own band in 1924. In 1925 he worked with Elmer Snowden, and in 1926 he worked with Billy Fowler. He briefly worked with Henri Saparo and Noble Sissle, and then he joined Sam Woodings band and traveled to Europe in June 1928.

Wooding and Johnson parted ways in 1929, and Johnson returned to Paris to do solo work. While he was in Paris, he with Arthur Briggs (musician)/Arthur Briggs and put together a band. Between late 1933 and 1934 Johnson worked with Freddy Taylor (musician)/Freddy Taylor's band, and then in February 1934 Johnson left Paris to work in Belgium and The Netherlands. In the mid 30's he made some recordings with the Quintette du Hot Club de France.

More Freddy Johnson on Wikipedia.

I use his name all the time with my players. Here's a kid who knew what he wanted to do and he made all the sacrifices to do it. He worked extremely hard to get there. A lot of people didn't think he could do it.

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We're able to pick up man-to-man full court, three-quarters court, and that's been a key to our season so far is our defensive intensity. The guys who have come in off the bench have really given us a lift throughout the year.

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