Cee Pee Johnson
Encyclopedia
Cee Pee Johnson was an American
jazz
drummer and vocalist.
Johnson first appeared in Dallas early in the 1930s, playing in his brother Bert Johnson
's band The Sharps and Flats. Cee Pee Johnson danced and sang with this ensemble, and also played tom-toms
. He moved to Los Angeles
in the middle of the decade, and played with Emerson Scott's band at the Onyx Club in Hollywood. He eventually became the group's bandleader, and played at several high-profile West Coast clubs, including the Paradise Club, the Del Mar Club (1940), the Rhumboogie (1942), and Billy Berg's Swing Club. His sidemen included Teddy Buckner
, Karl George
, Buddy Banks
, Marshal Royal, Jack McVea
, Johnny Miller
, and Buddy Collette
. His backup drummer was Alton Redd. The ensemble appeared in many films, and was active until at least 1954; he toured South America
in 1953.
Johnson worked as a sideman with Slam Stewart
and Slim Gaillard
on their Slim and Slam sessions.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
drummer and vocalist.
Johnson first appeared in Dallas early in the 1930s, playing in his brother Bert Johnson
Bert Johnson
Bert Johnson is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2003....
's band The Sharps and Flats. Cee Pee Johnson danced and sang with this ensemble, and also played tom-toms
Tom-tom drum
A tom-tom drum is a cylindrical drum with no snare.Although "tom-tom" is the British term for a child's toy drum, the name came originally from the Anglo-Indian and Sinhala; the tom-tom itself comes from Asian or Native American cultures...
. He moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in the middle of the decade, and played with Emerson Scott's band at the Onyx Club in Hollywood. He eventually became the group's bandleader, and played at several high-profile West Coast clubs, including the Paradise Club, the Del Mar Club (1940), the Rhumboogie (1942), and Billy Berg's Swing Club. His sidemen included Teddy Buckner
Teddy Buckner
Teddy Buckner was a jazz trumpeter associated with Dixieland music....
, Karl George
Karl George
Karl Curtis George is an American jazz trumpeter.Early in his career George played with McKinney's Cotton Pickers and Cecil Lee. Later in the 1930s he spent time in the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra and then in the orchestras of Teddy Wilson and Lionel Hampton...
, Buddy Banks
Buddy Banks (saxophonist)
Ulysses "Buddy" Banks was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, pianist, and bandleader....
, Marshal Royal, Jack McVea
Jack McVea
Jack McVea was an American swing, blues, and rhythm and blues woodwind player; he played clarinet and tenor and baritone saxophone...
, Johnny Miller
Johnny Miller
John Laurence Miller is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour. He was one of the top players in the world during the mid-1970s; he ranked second in the world on Mark McCormack's world golf rankings in both 1974 and 1975 behind Jack Nicklaus. He is currently the lead golf...
, and Buddy Collette
Buddy Collette
William Marcel "Buddy" Collette was an American tenor saxophonist, flautist, and clarinetist. He was highly influential in the West coast jazz and West Coast blues mediums, also collaborating with saxophonist Dexter Gordon, drummer Chico Hamilton, and his lifelong friend, bassist Charles...
. His backup drummer was Alton Redd. The ensemble appeared in many films, and was active until at least 1954; he toured South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
in 1953.
Johnson worked as a sideman with Slam Stewart
Slam Stewart
Leroy Eliot "Slam" Stewart was an African American jazz bass player whose trademark style was his ability to bow the bass and simultaneously hum or sing an octave higher. He was originally a violin player before switching to bass at the age of 20.-Biography:Stewart was born in Englewood, New...
and Slim Gaillard
Slim Gaillard
Bulee "Slim" Gaillard was an American jazz singer, songwriter, pianist, and guitarist, noted for his vocalese singing and word play in a language he called "Vout"...
on their Slim and Slam sessions.