J. Rosamond Johnson

J. Rosamond Johnson, right, with Bob Cole
J. Rosamond Johnson, photo by Carl Van Vechten (1933)

John Rosamond Johnson (August 11, 1873 – November 11, 1954; usually referred to as J. Rosamond Johnson)[1] was an American composer and singer during the Harlem Renaissance. Born in Jacksonville, Florida, he had much of his career in New York City. Johnson is noted as the composer of the tune for the hymn "Lift Every Voice and Sing". It was first performed live by 500 Black American students from the segregated Florida Baptist Academy, Jacksonville, Florida, in 1900.[2] The song was published by Joseph W. Stern & Co., Manhattan, New York (later the Edward B. Marks Music Company).[3]

J. Rosamond Johnson was the younger brother of poet and activist James Weldon Johnson,[4] who wrote the lyrics for "Lift Every Voice and Sing".[5] The two also worked together in causes related to the NAACP.[6]

  1. ^ Black Past
  2. ^ Audio recording, Atlanta Music Festival. Archived February 10, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Edward B. Marks Music Company". Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  4. ^ Davies, Carol Boyce (2008). Encyclopedia of the African Diaspora: Origins, Experiences, and Culture. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 596. ISBN 9781851097005. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  5. ^ Johnson, J Weldon (1899). Lift Every Voice and Sing. Scholastic. ISBN 9780439351065. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  6. ^ "NAACP's Crisis Magazine" (PDF). Brown University Library. September 1, 1917. Retrieved July 31, 2017.