The Pittsburgh jazz community and the community in general was delivered sorrowful news on Monday, March 16. Dr James T Johnson, Jr died that morning at the age of 76.
If you follow social media, you have possibly seen the great outpouring of condolences to his friends and family - there are many, many stories of his influence, talent and kindness.
Pamela Johnson, Dr. James Johnson, Terri Bell and Deryck Tynes at the Greer Cabaret Theater, April 26, 2022
He was a world traveling musician and educator for nearly 50 years. He also taught at the Lakeside School of Music In Shreveport, LA, and at Wright State University in Dayton, OH. Fortunately for us in Pittsburgh, he settled here. After graduate and Doctoral work at Pitt, Dr. J. and his wife, vocalist and educator Pamela Johnson, founded the Afro American Music Institute in 1982.
There will be a viewing and funeral toward the end of March at St James AME Church.
We could fill this hour with testimonials from colleagues, friends and students of Dr. J - perhaps another time. This time on the Scene, we celebrate his life with music from him, his friends and students, and also celebrate the fairly recent award received by Dr. J and Pam in April 2022 - the BNY JazzLive Legacy Award presented just before a performance by Christian Sands at the Greer Cabaret Theater, Downtown. Terri Bell and Deryck Tines are also on the stage for that event.
If you’ve heard jazz in Pittsburgh, you’ve heard someone connected to Dr. J. He was a stalwart friend of our at WZUM, urging on the creation and development of this station and its hopes and ambitions for a better world through music.
Dr. James T. Johnson Jr. and Pamela Johnson received the 2022 JazzLive Legacy Award for their work as performers and teachers, and especially for the 40 years of impact leading the Afro American Music Institute - a stalwart institution in Homewood that has taught thousands of youth and students of all ages, including Jazz Lab, the AAMI Boys Choir, and individualized instruction.
On the Scene, we celebrate Dr. J’s life with some music from an AAMI jam session of a few years ago, plus sound from instructors and students from the AAMI and others who treasured his gifts of music and kindness, such as Jeff Grubbs, Calvin Stemley, Nelson Harrison, Paul Thompson, Howie Alexander, Tony Campbell, Aaron J Johnson and Phat Man Dee and Deanna Witkowski.
Read Dr. Aaron J. Johnson’s tribute to Dr. James T. Johnson at this link. https://www.music.pitt.edu/news/remembering-dr-j?
The Afro American Music Institute has this chronicle of Dr. J’s career and life’s work, here: https://afroamericanmusic.org/james-t-johnson-jr
The Scene - Thursdays at 6pm, Friday at Saturdays at noon, Sundays at 5pm on WZUM.
Dr J and Pam Johnson - April 20222