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Bill Johnson

 


Bill Johnson | Copyright control | tc719

The Bill Johnson listed as a session player for recordings issued by Chess is understood to be the entrepreneur and double bass player William Manuel “Bill” Johnson who was born on August 10, 1872.  He is considered the father of the “slap” style of double bass playing and originally came to prominence in New Orleans, was the founder and manager of the first jazz band to leave New Orleans and tour widely, and migrated to Chicago in the 1920s. Bill Johnson died in New Braunfels, Texas on December 3, 1972.

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