James "Jimmy" Johnson

String bass and tuba player. Born New Orleans, ca. 1876; died ca. 1937. James "Jimmy" or "Jimmie" Johnson is an early ragtime and jazz bass and tuba player. Johnson played in Buddy Bolden's Band (he appears in the famous photo of the band, taken ca. 1905). Around 1911 he was in the Silver Leaf Orchestra. In the late 20s until probably not long before his death he toured with Don Albert's Orchestra, based in San Antonio, Texas (he appears on Albert's recordings from November 1936).