Gus Johnson (jazz musician)

Gus Johnson (November 15, 1913 – February 6, 2000) was an American swing drummer in various jazz bands, born in Tyler, Texas, United States. After learning to play drums from his next-door neighbor, Johnson occasionally played professionally at the age of ten in the Lincoln Theater, and performed in various local groups, most notable McDavid's Blue Rhythm Band. Upon graduating from Booker T. Washington High School, Johnson moved to Kansas City, where he took up drumming full-time. He joined Jay McShann's Orchestra in 1938, with his music career being interrupted by his conscription into the military in 1943.

In 1945, Johnson returned from his stint in the military, and relocated to Chicago to perform in the Jesse Miller Band. Johnson played on Willie Dixon's debut album, Willie's Blues. He subsequently played alongside Count Basie, and was recorded on the album, Basie Rides Again, in 1952. Following a recovery from appendicitis, Johnson was featured in numerous groups and dozens of recordings in the 1960s. In 1972, his former bandmates from Jay McShann's Orchestra reconvened to record Going to Kansas City. Although Johnson continued to tour into the 1980s, he developed Alzheimer's disease in 1989, which he struggled with until his death on February 6, 2000.

Discography
With Manny Albam With Count Basie With Lawrence Brown With Buck Clayton With Al Cohn With Willie Dixon and Memphis Slim With Ella Fitzgerald With Coleman Hawkins With Willis Jackson With Herbie Mann With Gerry Mulligan With Joe Newman With Chico O'Farrill With Oscar Pettiford With Al Sears With Zoot Sims With Rex Stewart and Cootie Williams With Ralph Sutton and Ruby Braff With Ralph Sutton and Jay McShann With Ralph Sutton and Kenny Davern With Buddy Tate With Frank Wess With Lem Winchester With Kai Winding
 * The Drum Suite (RCA Victor, 1956) with Ernie Wilkins
 * Jazz Goes to the Movies (Impulse!, 1962)
 * The Count! (Clef, 1952 [1955])
 * Basie Jazz (Clef, 1952 [1954])
 * Dance Session (Clef, 1953)
 * Dance Session Album (Clef, 1954)
 * Basie (Clef, 1954)
 * The Count Basie Story (Roulette, 1960)
 * Get Together (Pablo, 1979)
 * Inspired Abandon (Impulse!, 1965)
 * With Ray Bryant
 * Dancing the Big Twist (Columbia, 1961)
 * Buck & Buddy Blow the Blues (Swingville, 1961) with Buddy Tate
 * Jam Session (Chiaroscuro, 1974)
 * Son of Drum Suite (RCA Victor, 1960)
 * Either Way (Fred Miles Presents, 1961) with Zoot Sims
 * Willie's Blues (Bluesville, 1959)
 * Ella at Juan-Les-Pins (Verve, 1964)
 * Ella in Rome: The Birthday Concert (Verve, 1958)
 * Ella in Berlin: Mack the Knife (Verve, 1960)
 * Night Hawk (Swingville, 1960)
 * With Johnny Hodges
 * Triple Play (RCA Victor, 1967)
 * Really Groovin' (Prestige, 1961)
 * In My Solitude (Moodsville, 1961)
 * Salute to the Flute (Epic, 1957)
 * The Gerry Mulligan Quartet (Verve, 1962)
 * Spring Is Sprung (Philips, 1962)
 * Gerry Mulligan '63 (Verve, 1963)
 * Salute to Satch (RCA Victor, 1956)
 * Nine Flags (Impulse!, 1966)
 * The Oscar Pettiford Orchestra in Hi-Fi Volume Two (ABC-Paramount, 1957)
 * Rockin' in Rhythm (Swingville, 1960) as The Swingville All-Stars with Taft Jordan and Hilton Jefferson
 * The Modern Art of Jazz by Zoot Sims (Dawn, 1956)
 * Tonite's Music Today (Storyvile, 1956) with Bob Brookmeyer
 * The Big Challenge (Jazztone, 1957)
 * R & R (Chiaroscuro, 1979)
 * Remembered (DVD) (Arbors Records, 2004)
 * Last of the Whorehouse Piano Players (Chaz Jazz, 1980) - originally released on 2 LPs as The Last of the Whorehouse Piano Players: Two Pianos Vol. I & Vol. II
 * Last of the Whorehouse Piano Players (Chiaroscuro, 1989)
 * Ralph Sutton and Kenny Davern (Chiaroscuro)
 * Buddy Tate and His Buddies (Chiaroscuro, 1973)
 * Jazz for Playboys (Savoy, 1957)
 * Opus de Blues (Savoy, 1959 [1984])
 * Another Opus (New Jazz, 1960)
 * The Swingin' States (Columbia, 1958)
 * Solo (Verve, 1963)