The Rags of Charles L. Johnson
(featuring Golden Spider Rag (1910) and other piano rags
by Charles L. Johnson)
By
Ted Tjaden
Charles L. Johnson was an extremely prolific
composer of ragtime and ragtime-related music. Although not often
mentioned in the group of the "Big Three" – Joplin,
Scott and Lamb – he deserves serious recognition as a leading ragtime
composer, not only due to the volume of his work but the enduring
quality of a number of his compositions.
His most famous or interesting rags include
Apple Jack: Some Rag (below),
Barber Pole Rag (below),
Beedle-Um-Bo: A Slow Drag
(below),
Blue Goose Rag (as Raymond
Birch) (below), Crazy
Bone Rag (below),
Cum-Bac
Rag (below), Dill Pickles Rag (below),
Doc
Brown's Cake Walk: Kansas City Rag (below),
Golden
Spider Rag (below),
Iola:
Intermezzo Two Step (below),
Melody Rag (as Raymond Birch) (below),
Powder Rag (below), Scandalous Thompson (below),
Swanee Rag (below), and Tar
Babies Rag (below).
This page sets out
information on Charles L. Johnson divided into the following five
topics:
1) The Life of Charles L.
Johnson
2) Sheet Music of Charles L.
Johnson
3)
My .MP3 Recordings of Selected Charles L. Johnson Compositions
4)
Commercial Recordings of Charles L. Johnson Compositions
5)
Bibliography
1) The Life of Charles L. Johnson
(December 3, 1875 - December 28, 1950) [top]
Set out below is some basic information about
Charles L. Johnson:
- Charles Leslie Johnson was born in
Kansas City, Kansas, on December 3, 1876 and stayed in the
Kansas City area his entire life. As a young child, he started
to play piano on his neighbour's piano; by age nine, his parents
bought him his own piano: Jasen and Tichenor
(1978:38).
- Johnson took lessons for 3 years with a Mr.
Kreiser, but quit suddenly when his teacher complained about his
playing ragtime music: Jasen and Tichenor
(1978:38).
- Johnson joined several guitar and mandolin
clubs and organized several string orchestras that played in the
Kansas City area. He also demonstrated pianos and music for J.W.
Jenkins & Sons Music Company who would later publish a number of
his compositions, including two of his earlier pieces, Doc
Brown's Cake Walk: Kansas City Rag (below)
and Scandalous Thompson (below):
Jasen and Tichenor (1978:38-39).
 |
Photo of Charles L. Johnson from
cover of Scandalous Thompson (1899)
|
- Blesh and Janis
(1966:119) describe Johnson's explanation of the background to Doc
Brown's Cake Walk: Kansas City Rag (below)
in these terms:
The number . . . was named after an old,
eccentric colored fellow who wore a swallowtail coat,
carried a cane, and wore a plug hat. He would cakewalk on
the street for a nickel or dime. Jenkins photographed him
for the cover.
According to Blesh and Janis, the publisher of
Doc Brown's Cake Walk
–
J.W. Jenkins
–
arranged for
Sousa's band to play the piece when Sousa was passing through
Kansas City.
- According to Jasen and Jones
(2000:61), Johnson helped to arrange the composition Peaceful
Henry, written by his friend Harry Kelly, although there is
no indication on the sheet music that Johnson was the arranger
(the sheet music for Peaceful Henry is available
here from the
Maine Music Box).
- Dill Pickles Rag (below)
was so-named when Johnson was working at Carl Hoffman Music
Company. Apparently, while composing the piece, the company's
bookkeeper asked Johnson what the piece was called; the
bookkeeper was carrying a carton of pickles for his dinner,
which prompted to Johnson to say "I'll call it Dill Pickles
Rag": Jasen and Tichenor (1978:39).
According to Blesh and Janis (1966:120), Dill Pickles Rag was Johnson's favourite piece. According to
Hasse, Johnson's Dill Pickles Rag appeared 31 times on 78
RPM recordings alone.
- Johnson earned $30,000 for his song Sweet and Low (below), which was
his biggest money-maker, according to Jasen and
Tichenor (1978:39).
- According to Jasen and Jones
(2000:60), four of Johnson's rags sold over 1 million copies
during his lifetime. Blesh and Janis
(1966:120) indicate that Johnson sold his entire catalogue
(i.e., compositions published by his company) to Rossiter in
Chicago for a "fine price".
- Johnson's "Indian" hit Iola
was
first published as an intermezzo (below)
with lyrics added to the song (below)
after it became a hit. The irony is that the composition was
initially named after a town in Kansas (Iola,
Kansas) and not an Indian (Jasen and Tichenor
1978:39).
- Even though James Scott
(1885-1938) and Charles L. Johnson (1876-1950) both lived in the
Kansas City area most of their entire lives, they apparently
never met: Blesh and Janis (1966:119).
- Pseudonyms:
It is believed that Johnson used the
pseudonym "Raymond Birch" for a number of his compositions (see
below). Recent
research by Bill Edwards, however, has shown that Fannie B. Woods,
previously thought to have been another pseudonym for Charles L.
Johnson, is in fact a real (female) composer. As such, the
composition called Sweetness
–
previously attributed to Johnson
–
is instead composed by a real person named Fannie B. Woods.
Likewise, Bill Edwards (and Nora Hulse) are currently conducting
research that would suggest that Ethel Earnist, another
pseudonym previously attributed to Johnson (for the composition
Peanuts: A Nutty Rag (1911), available
here from
the The Lester S. Levy Sheet Music
Collection), is also a real (female) composer. As such, I
have removed the entries for Sweetness and
Peanuts from this essay.
- Jasen and Jones (2000:60)
discuss Johnson's willingness to advertise his services as an
arranger for rank amateurs, selling his services to those who
asked for them, despite his commercial success as a composer in
his own right. One example they provide is the French Auto
Cylinder Oil Waltz written by Johnson at the request of an
oil company in
Marshalltown, Iowa.
- At the time Blesh and Janis were researching
They All Played Ragtime (first published in 1950),
Johnson was still alive, for the authors have this to say about
him at that time (Blesh and Janis 1966:119):
He is a respected member of ASCAP, and
today, at seventy-four, maintains an office at 806 Grand
Avenue in the Missouri City, where he is busy with composing
and arranging.
2) Sheet Music of Charles L. Johnson
[top]
Set out below are lists of all known compositions
by Charles L. Johnson, including links to free versions of online
sheet music for Charles L. Johnson rags (and
other instrumental compositions), ragtime songs,
and compositions published by Charles L.
Johnson. Also included are lists of his remaining
compositions available only in print and
a list of his unpublished compositions.
a) Instrumental
piano compositions
b) Songs
c)
As publisher
d)
Additional compositions (print
versions)
e) Unpublished compositions
a)
Instrumental piano compositions
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Alabama
Slide: Fox Trot.
Chicago, IL: F.J.A. Forster, 1915.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
All the Money: March and
Two Step.
Kansas City, MO: Chas. L. Johnson, 1908.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
Apple Jack: Some Rag.
Williamsport, PA: Vandersloot Music Publ.
Co., 1909.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
The E.
Azalia Hackley Collecttion, Detroit Public Library
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
Barber Pole Rag.
Denver, CO: Hal G. Nichols Co., 1911.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Photocopy from
Center for Popular Music [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
Beedle-Um-Bo: A Slow Drag.
Kansas City, MO: Chas. L. Johnson, 1908.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
Belle of
Havana Waltzes. Kansas City, MO: J.W.
Jenkins, 1899.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. (using the
pseudonym Raymond Birch). Blue Goose Rag.
Chicago, IL: Forster Music, 1916.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. The
Blushing Rose Serenade. Kansas City, MO:
Charles L. Johnson, 1910.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Butterflies: Caprice. Chicago, IL: Forster
Music, 1908.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
(as "Raymond Birch"). Cloud Kisser Rag - Two Step.
Kansas City, MO: Johnson Pub. Co., 1911.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Personal photocopy [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
Crazy
Bone Rag. Chicago, IL: Forster Music
Publisher Inc., 1918.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
Cum-Bac
Rag. New York, NY: Jerome H. Remick & Co.,
1911.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
Dill Pickles Rag. Kansas City, MO: Carl Hoffman Music, 1906.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Duke
University: Historic American Sheet Music
[top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Dixie
Twilight: Characteristic March. Boston, MA:
Walter Jacobs, 1909.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920 (from Duke
University) [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
Doc
Brown's Cake Walk: Kansas City Rag. Kansas
City, MO: J.W. Jenkins' Sons, 1899.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Personal copy [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Dream
On: Waltzes. Chicago, IL: Forster Music
Publisher, 1914.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Fairy
Kisses Waltz. Chicago, IL: Harold Rossiter
Music Company, 1908.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Lester S. Levy Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Fawn Eyes:
Intermezzo and Two Step.
Kansas City, MO: Chas. L. Johnson, 1908.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
Fine and Dandy: Two Step. Chicago, IL:
Arnett-Delonais Co., 1908.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Personal copy [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Golden
Hours. New York, NY: Jerome H. Remick, 1912.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Digital scans provided by Adrien Le Gallo [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Golden
Moon. Chicago, IL: Forster Music Publisher,
1916.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
Golden
Spider Rag. Williamsport, PA: Vandersloot
Music, 1910.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
The Harvest Hop: Charles L. Johnson's Barn
Dance. Chicago, IL: Harold Rossiter Music
Company, 1908.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Personal copy [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Heart
Fancies: Waltzes. Cleveland,
OH: Sam Fox Publishing., 1910.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Hen Cackle Rag:
A Barnyard Disturbance.
Kansas City, MO: J.W. Jenkins, 1912.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
Iola:
Intermezzo Two Step. New York, NY: Jerome H.
Remick, 1906.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Kissing
Bug Rag. Louisville, KY: Keith Music Co.,
1909.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
University of Colorado Digital Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson,
Charles L. (as
"Raymond Birch"). Lady Slippers (Two Step Rag).
Chicago, IL: Harold Rossiter Music Company, 1910.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Personal copy [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. (using the
pseudonym Raymond Birch). Melody Rag.
Kansas City, MO: Johnson Pub. Co., 1911.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Pansy
Blossoms Rag. Chicago, IL: American Music
Publishing Co., 1909.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
University of Colorado Digital Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
Pigeon Wing Rag. Chicago, IL: Will
Rossiter, 1909.
[view
sheet music]
Source: Personal
copy [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Porcupine Rag. New York, NY: M. Witmark &
Sons, 1909.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
University of Colorado Digital Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. (using the
pseudonym Raymond Birch). Powder Rag.
Kansas City, MO: Chas. L. Johnson & Co., 1907.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Queen of
Fashion Waltzes. Kansas City, MO: Johnson
Pub. Co., 1911.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
Scandalous
Thompson.
Kansas City, MO: J.W.
Jenkins' Sons Music Co., 1899.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. School
Life: March and Two Step. Cleveland, OH: Sam
Fox Publishing, 1912.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Silver
King Rag. Chicago, IL: Thompson Music Co.,
1909.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Charles H. Templeton Sheet
Music Collection (MSU) [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Silver
Star: Intermezzo. Kansas City, MO: J.W.
Jenkins' Sons Music Co., 1910.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Sneaky Pete:
Characteristic Two Step.
Kansas City, MO:
J.W.
Jenkins' Sons Music Co., 1907.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
Snookums Rag. Chicago, IL: Forster
Music, 1918.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Photocopy from
Center for Popular Music [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
Southern Beauties: March - Two Step.
Chicago, IL: Forster Music, 1907.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Personal copy [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Summer
Breezes Waltzes. Chicago, IL: Forster Music,
1914.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Sunbeam:
Intermezzo.
Kansas City, MO: Chas. L. Johnson & Co.,
1909.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
Swanee Rag. Cleveland, OH: Sam Fox,
1912.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Photocopy from
Center for Popular Music [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. A Tally-Ho
Party: March Two-Step.
Kansas City, MO: J.W. Jenkins' Sons
Music Co., 1900.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
Tar Babies Rag. Kansas City, MO:
Charles L. Johnson, 1911.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Photocopy from
Center for Popular Music [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
Teasing the Cat.
Chicago, IL: F.J.A. Forster
Music Publisher, 1916.
[view
sheet music]
Source: Personal copy [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
Tobasco:
Rag-Time Waltz. New York, NY: Jerome H. Remick,
1909.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Photocopy from
Center for Popular Music [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Under the Southern Moon
Two-Step. Kansas City, MO. Charles L. Johnson, 1910.
[view sheet
music]
Source:
Personal copy [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Wedding
of the Fairies Waltz. Kansas City, MO: Chas.
L. Johnson & Co., 1909.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. A
Whispered Thought: Novelette. Kansas City,
MO: J.W. Jenkins' Sons Music, 1904.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. With
Fire And Sword: March & Two Step. Kansas City, MO: Carl
Hoffman Music Co., 1901.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Yankee
Bird: March and Two Step. Kansas City, MO:
Chas. L. Johnson & Co., 1910.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]
|
b) Songs [top]
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
Beautiful Island of Dreams
(lyrics by Milton G. Harsha). Kansas City, MO: Chas. L. Johnson, 1918.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. By The
Silvery Nile (lyrics by Jack Yellen).
Chicago, IL: Forster Music Pub., 1921.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
UCLA Archive of Popular Music [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. By the
Winding Tennessee (lyrics by Malcolm
Nicolson). Kansas City, MO: J. W. Jenkins' Sons
Music Co., 1899.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
UCLA Archive of Popular Music [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Colorado
and You (lyrics by Carson Jay Robison).
Chicago, IL: Forster Music, 1922.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Croon
Time (lyrics by James Royce Shannon).
Chicago, IL: Forster Music, 1916.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Deep in
My Heart, Beloved (lyrics by Addison
Madeira). Chicago, IL: Ted Browne Music Co., 1920.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
UCLA Archive of Popular Music [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Dill
Pickles Song (lyrics by Alfred Bryan). New
York, NY: Jerome H. Remick, 1910.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
University of Colorado Digital Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Down By
The Old Garden Gate (lyrics by William R.
Clay). Detroit, MI: Jerome H. Remick, 1913.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Dream
Days (song). Kansas City, MO: Chas. L.
Johnson, 1913.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. I Never Thought
I'd Miss You So (Until You Went Away)
(lyrics by Roberts Spencer). Kansas
City, MO: Chas L. Johnson Music Co, 1917.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. If I
Only Had A Sweetheart (lyrics by Robert
Spencer). Kansas City, MO: Charles L. Johnson, 1909.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. I'm Goin',
Goodbye, I'm Gone (song). Chicago, IL:
Forster Music Publisher, 1912.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Indiana State University (Kirk Collection) [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. In the
Hills of OId Kentucky (My Mountain Rose).
Chicago, IL: Forster Music, 1914.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920 (from Duke
University) [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
Iola
(lyrics by James O'Dea). New York, NY: Jerome H.
Remick, 1906.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920 (from Duke
University) [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Little
Star Won't You Twinkle (lyrics by Tell
Taylor). Kansas City, MO: Chas L. Johnson Co., 1910.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Lucinda's
Ragtime Ball. Chicago, IL: Forster Music Pub.,
1913.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Charles H. Templeton Sheet
Music Collection (MSU) [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Lucy Lee
(lyrics by William R. Clay). Kansas City, MO:
Johnson Pub. Co., 1911.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Ma
Pickaninny Babe. Chicago, IL: Forster Music,
1913.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920 (from Duke
University) [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Meet Me
Where The Shadows Fall (song). Kansas City,
MO: Charles L. Johnson, 1912.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. My Dreamy Rose
(lyrics by William R. Clay). Kansas City, MO: J.W. Jenkins
Sons Music Co., 1912.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Only A Faded
Rosebud (lyrics
by William R. Clay). Kansas City, MO: Chas. L. Johnson,
1912.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Rose of
Tennessee (lyrics by Frank Watkins).
Chicago, IL: Forster Music Publisher, Inc., 1918.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Shadow-Time (lyrics by James Royce Shannon).
Chicago, IL: Forster Music, 1913.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Silver Star
(song).
Kansas
City, MO: J.W. Jenkins, 1911.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Someday You'll
Love Me (lyrics by William R. Clay).
Kansas
City, MO: Johnson Pub. Co., 1911.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L.
Sweet
and Low (lyrics by James Stanley Royce).
Chicago, IL: Forster Music, 1919.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. The Sweetheart
Trail (lyrics by Al Neal).
Kansas
City, MO: Neal Pub. Co., 1925.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. That
Little Sunny Southern Girl of Mine (lyrics
by J.E. Jeter). Denver, CO: Tolbert R. Ingram Music
Co., 1907.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
University of Colorado Digital Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Wanda: Fox Trot (lyrics by
Dan Ashba).
Kansas
City, MO: Dan Ashba, 1922.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. When
Clouds Have Vanished And Skies Are Blue
(lyrics by F. Restor and William R. Clay). Chicago,
IL: Forster Music, 1923.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. When I Dream of
You (lyrics by William R. Clay).
Kansas
City, MO: Johnson Pub. Co., 1911.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. When The
War Is Over (lyrics by Robert Spence).
Chicago, IL: Forster, Music Publisher, 1915.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. When The Roses
Fade Away (lyrics by Martha B. Thomas).
Kansas
City, MO: M.B. Thomas, 1913.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. When You
Dream Of The Girl You Love (song). New York,
NY: Ted Snyder, 1914.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. When We Shall
Meet Again (lyrics by R.R.).
Kansas
City, MO: J.W. Jenkins' Music Co.,
1900.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. When You And I
Were Sweethearts Long Ago (lyrics by George H.
McCrary).
Kansas
City, MO: Chas. L. Johnson & Co., 1912.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Where
The Lanterns Glow (lyrics by James Stanley
Royce). Chicago, IL: Forster Music, 1919.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. Why Can't I Make
A Hit (song).
Kansas
City, MO: Chas. L. Johnson & Co., 1909.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. With You (lyrics
by William R. Clay). Chicago, IL: Forster Music
Publisher, 1908.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Indiana State University (Kirk Collection) [top]
|
 |
Johnson, Charles L. You're
The Girl That I've Been Longing For (lyrics
by James Stanley Royce). Cleveland, OH: Sam Fox
Publishing, 1913.
[view
sheet music]
Source:
Maine Music
Box [top]
|
c) As publisher [top]
d) Additional compositions (print versions):
The following list of
compositions was compiled using information from the
Charles L. Johnson papers at the Kansas City Public Library and
other sources. If I am able to obtain copies of any of the
compositions below that are in the public domain, I will digitize
them and add them to the appropriate tables above (many of the
post-1923 works are likely still protected by copyright).
As composer:
-
Charles L. Johnson. Lovey Dovey March & Two Step. Kansas City, MO: Charles
L. Johnson, 1907. Sold to and re-issued by Jerome H. Remick as
Southern Beauties March - Two Step. New York, NY:
Jerome H. Remick, 1907. Sheet music available in
Stewart, Rags and Other Riches
(1995).
As publisher:
- Maude Gilmore. Peach Blossom
Rag. Kansas City, MO: Charles L. Johnson & Co.,
1910.
-
Maude Gilmore. Slivers:
Two-Step. Kansas City, MO: Charles L. Johnson &
Co., 1910. Also published as Splinters: Two-Step.
Kansas City, MO: Charles L. Johnson & Co., 1910.
As arranger:
e) Unpublished compositions
The following titles were compiled from the
Charles L. Johnson Papers at the Kansas City Public Library.
- After the Rain Comes My Sunshine
- Annabella
- The Army, the Navy, and Marines
- Baby Doll
- Because I Love You So
- Cactus Pete
- Carlotta
- The Coppers on Parade
- The Cowboy’s Lament
- Dance of the Midgets
- Dear Little Lady
- Dear Little Rose
- Desert Moon
- Dreamin’ Tonight of My Darlin’
- Ev’ry-Thing I Do Seems Wrong
- Forgive and Forget
- Girls (1923)
- Goin’ Back to My Hometown in Sunny
Tennessee
- Go’ Long Jasper
- Good Morning Mr. Sunshine
- Graceful
- Gunner Bill
- Hand in Hand
- He’s My Pappy
- Hittin’ the Trail
- Hold Me in Your Arms
- Hold Me in Your Arms Again
- Honey Don’t Be Mean to Me
- Honolulu Lou
- I
Got a Gal in Arkansaw
- “I Have No Name for This” (Quote at top of
piece)
- I Love Somebody
- I Love the Ladies
- I Never Thought I’d Miss You So
- I Want a Man (not titled)
- I Wonder if You Ever Think of Me
- Idaho
- I’m a Ho-Bo (not titled)
- In the Cradle of the Rockies
- In the Twilight Glow
- It May Be Just a Notion (That’s All)
- Jesus Will Welcome You Home
- Johnny Don’t Be Mean to Me
- June Time
- Just a Quaint Old Melody
- Just a Sweet Old Melody
- Keep Smiling and
You Can’t Go Wrong
- Let’s Dream Back to the Day We Met
- Let’s Paint the Old Town Red
- Lonesome Little Girl Love
- Mammy Jinny’s Lullaby
- Maybe
- Meet Me By the Haystack
- Memphis Buddy’s Swing-Time Band
- Midgets on Parade
- Mississippi Shore
- Missouri (three parts for male quartet)
- Mother’s Arms
- My Heart’s in Dixie Today
- My Old Home
- Nancy Jane
- Oh You Man
- Old Glory
- On a Honeymoon (Just We Two)
- On Our Golden Wedding Day
- On the Banks of the Winding Tennessee
- One Kiss, and Then Goodnight
- Our Battle Song
- Out in the Golden West
- Overture
- Packin’ My Grip, Headin’ for Home
- Pappy Don’t Care for Onions
- Peace to the World (Good Will Toward All)
- Ploddin' Along
- Roll Deep River Roll
- Roll on Brothers
- Rural Capers
- Send Me a Rose She’s Irish
- Snooty Little Cutie
- Soldier’s Farewell
- Somewhere
- Somewhere on the Deep Blue Sea
- Song of the Bride
- Song of the Soul
- Spooky Blues
- Steppin’ On the Gas
- Sunshine and Moonlight
- Sweet Girl
- Sweet
Ida May
- That Jones Girl
- Tell Your Troubles to the Moon
- There Never Was, There’ll Never Be
- Uncle
Billy
- Untitled (Two different works without
titles or words)
- Up in the Air with Sally
- Voice on the Radio
- Waltz (not titled)
- When I Found You When Mother Rocked Baby
to Sleep
- When the Boys Come
- When the Frost is on the Clover
- When the Toot-Toot, Toots for Memphis
Tennessee
- While I’m Away
- Why Did You Leave Me
- You Don’t Want Me Around Anymore
- You, Just You (words and melody similar
“Just You”)
- You’re the Sweetest Girl I Know
3) My .MP3 Recordings of Selected Charles L. Johnson
Compositions [top]
I hope to add shortly some .MP3 recordings by me
of selected Charles L. Johnson compositions, including the featured
piece, Peanuts: A Nutty Rag.
4) Commercial Recordings of Charles L. Johnson Compositions
[top]
I highly recommend the ragtime playing of Sue
Keller. Her CD entitled
a/k/a
Charles Johnson contains 20 compositions by Charles L. Johnson.
You can sample her playing of these pieces
here.
Amazon has an entry for a CD by pianist Miguel
Pineda-Van Gelder. The CD is entitled
A Ragtime Feast: Forgotten Rags #3, Charles L. Johnson
(2002).
Bill Edwards has a number of MIDI recordings of
Charles L. Johnson in addition to including some of his compositions
on a number of his CDs - see:
Warren Trachtman also has MIDI recordings of 4
Charles L. Johnson compositions - see
http://www.trachtman.org/ragtime/
5) Bibliography [top]
The following resources provide information on
Charles L. Johnson:
- Blesh, Rudi and Harriet Grossman Janis.
1966. They All Played Ragtime. 4th ed. New York, N.Y.: Oak
Publications.
- ‘Charles L. Johnson’, American Musician and
Art Journal (11 June 1909).
- Hasse, John Edward. 'Johnson,
Charles L.', Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed 26
May 2006), <http://www.grovemusic.com.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca>
- Jasen, David A. and Gene
Jones. That American Rag: The Story of Ragtime from Coast to
Coast. New York: Schirmer Books, 2000.
- Jasen, David A. and Trebor Jay Tichenor. 1978.
Rags and
Ragtime: A Musical History. New York, NY: Dover Publications 122-133.
- Philip A. Stewart, ed.
Rags and Other Riches From Charles L. Johnson. Paola, KS:
Philip A. Stewart, 1995.
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