Osie Johnson

Who was Osie Johnson?

James "Osie" Johnson was a jazz drummer, arranger and singer.

He first worked with Sabby Lewis and then, after service in the United States Navy freelanced for a time in Chicago. From 1951 to 1953 he worked in Earl Hines's band.

He can be heard on albums by Paul Gonsalves, Zoot Sims, and Mose Allison. He recorded an album as a singer, "A Bit of the Blues," and had arranged at a "hit" for singer Dinah Washington. His final recordings as a singer were on a J. J. Johnson album, now compiled as a collection called Goodies.