Born in Jacksonville, FL, Aug 11, 1873
Died in New York, NY, Nov 11, 1954
- J. (John) Rosamond Johnson was a versatile composer who wrote concert music, church music, opera and musicals.
- Johnson studied music with his mother, a singer and teacher, and at the New England Conservatory.
- Johnson wrote and acted in musicals co-authored with his brother, lyricist, writer, and actor James Weldon Johnson. Their shows were remarkable for their caricature-free depictions of African-American and Native American characters. The Johnson Brothers also wrote Tin Pan Alley songs and appeared in a duo vaudeville act.
- J. Rosamond Johnson is the composer of the African-American anthem Lift Every Voice and Sing.1
Biography from the Library of Congress
Sources
- Sandra Jean Graham, “Johnson, J(ohn) Rosamond,” Grove Music Online (January 31, 2014), accessed August 19,2021, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-1002256944.