The Johnson Brothers James Robinson, MA, CSP AAFSA Historian
No, not these guys
James and Rosamond Johnson
James Weldon Johnson born June 17, 1871 John Rosamond Johnson born August 11, 1873 Both born in a frame house at the corner of Lee and Houston Street, on the border of the Durkeeville and La Villa neighborhoods in Jacksonville. Both attended the Stanton School, where their mother was a teacher. Both became teachers at Stanton School. They became partners on many musical numbers, and coauthored books together.
The two brothers teamed with composer/entertainer Bob Cole in New York, and were quite successful. Bob Cole provided the innovations, James Weldon Johnson provided the lyrics, and Rosamond Johnson provided the music. They are credited with creating music that changed public interests away from standard degrading minstrel fare to a more refined black music, avoiding stereotypes. The team produced two operettas, Shoo-Fly Regiment and Red Moon, as well as dozens of popular songs, many of which were included in other shows. The song, Under the Bamboo Tree, sold over 400,000 copies.
J. Rosamond Johnson Rosamond was a genuine prodigy, teaching himself piano by age 4. In 1890, he attended the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. He then later studied music in London as well. He returned to Jacksonville, and briefly taught music at the Stanton School. In 1900, he put the words of his brother s poem, Lift Ev ry Voice and Sing to music. This became first the unofficial, then official Black National Anthem. In 1902, he and his brother moved to Harlem, New York, to pursue a musical career. There, he met and teamed with another performer, Bob Cole, and the three men were very successful and productive. After Coles death in 1911, Rosamond acted, danced, and sang in vaudeville troupes and Broadway musicals.
J. Rosamond Johnson In 1915, Rosamond founded the New York Music School Settlement for Colored People in Harlem. In 1917, Rosamond joined the Army, and served as a second lieutenant. After the war, he starred in Broadway shows like Porgy and Bess and Cabin in the Sky. Over his career, Rosamond arranged over 150 Negro Spirituals and wrote over 160 theater songs. He also authored four books, two in collaboration with his brother. J. Rosamond Johnson s works are enshrined in a Special Collection at Yale University
James Weldon Johnson Lawyer and Educator Graduated from Atlanta University in 1894, and in 1897, became the first African-American in Florida to pass the State Bar Exam. Taught at Stanton School, and was responsible for making it the first High School for African-Americans in Florida. Became the first black principal of an African-American high school in Florida. Was instrumental in convincing the City Council to rebuild Stanton High School as a brick building after the Great Fire in 1901. In 1934, he became the first African-American professor at New York University. In 1936, he was honored with the Spence Chair of Literature at Fisk University.
James Weldon Johnson Diplomat and Civil Rights Was appointed as U.S. consul to Venezuela and Nicaragua by President Theodore Roosevelt. In 1916, he joined the NAACP as a national organizer, and in 1920, was chosen to be the first black executive secretary (essentially the Chief Operating Officer) of the NAACP, until 1930. Coined the term Red Summer to describe the series of violent race riots during the summer of 1919. His articles drew national attention to the problem. Lobbied for the Dawes Bill, which would have made lynching a Federal crime. Unfortunately, the bill was killed by Senate Democrats.
James Weldon Johnson Poet and Author In 1900, he wrote the poem Lift Ev ry Voice and Sing, which was first performed by the Stanton Chorus in honor of a visit by Booker T. Washington. The poem was later set to music by his brother, Rosamond, and became first the unofficial, then official Black National Anthem. After a successful collaboration with Bob Cole and his brother writing over 200 popular songs, he turned to other writing. His book, Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, was a runaway best seller, while his poetry, essays, and articles earned him the unofficial title of the Voice of the Harlem Renaissance. Authored five books of poetry, a novel, three anthologies of music and poetry, several articles, and an autobiography.
Lift Every Voice and Sing Lift Every Voice and Sing
The Brothers Johnson James Weldon Johnson J. Rosamond Johnson Jacksonville s favorite sons!