Johnson's first professional job was playing at a local sporting house for two hours straight. After taking lessons to improve his technique and spending years honing it, Johnson soon emerged as the best piano player on the East Coast. He played cabarets, rent parties, jams and toured in vaudeville. Johnson made over 400 recordings and wrote some 230 popular tunes including The Charleston and If I Could Be With You, One Hour Tonight. His recording of Carolina Shout, in 1921, is considered the first jazz piano solo on record. His fame spread via piano rolls, at his peak he recorded a new one every other week. As an accompanist on recordings of early blues singers, Johnson backed up such talented blues divas as Ida Cox, Ethel Waters and Bessie Smith.

Johnson also had a great interest in classical music, composing many works including Yamecraw: A Negro Rhapsody that premiered at Carnegie Hall in 1928. Overall, he wrote nineteen symphonic pieces and scored eleven musicals, an impressive amount for someone who is considered primarily a jazz pianist. Johnson continued to play piano into the 1950s despite health problems.

Songs

• Some of the many tunes James P. recorded, arranged by year.

• GRP/Decca Records: James P. Johnson: Snowy Morning Blues