Kermit H. Johnson was born 25th March, 1904 in Kansas City, Missouri and was raised by his mother after his father left. He temporarily was in an orphanage at three years old, as money was so tight, but he ran away and returned home. By twelve, needing money so bad he was did work in factories or as a shoe-shiner, dropping out of school in the fifth grade.
1922 saw Johnson begin his career as a drummer, although he was learning the piano at the same time, and by 1926 on, he was working as a pianist, often with ‘Big Joe Turner’. In 1938, he appeared in the ‘From Spirituals to Swing’ concert at the Carnegie Hall, along with Albert Ammons and Mead Lux Lewis. After the success there, the three of them often performed and recorded together.
The song ‘Roll ‘Em Pete’ is probably he most well know title, due in part to it’s self naming. It originally featured Big Joe Turner on vocals. He did do another self titled song ‘Johnson And Turner Blues’. The 1950’s saw him move to Buffalo, where he had health and financial problems. He both lost a part of a finger in an accident and was partially paralysed by a stroke. To make a living, he was doing things like washing trucks and cars, while playing weekends at a local club to help. 1954 did see things improve though slightly when he had a residency at Circus Snack Bar, St. Louis Forest Park Hotel, but it was still bleak for him most of the time. In 1958 he toured with the ‘Jazz At The Philharmonic’ ensemble and also appeared at the ‘Newport Jazz Festival’. His health was deteriorating though, with a bad heart and diabetes, several strokes followed, leaving him with a loss of mobility in his hands.
His last appearance was at the ‘Spiritual To Swing’ concert in 1967 (his eighth appearance), he hadn’t played for years at this point, and wasn’t there to perform as such, but as Turner dedicated ‘Roll ‘Em Pete’ to his friend, instead of leaving, he sat down at the piano next to Raphael Bryant and began to play the right-hand, while Bryant then handled the bass for him. Two months later, Pete Johnson died in Meyer Hospital, Buffalo, New York, March !967 at sixty-two years old.
| Pete Johnson – 8 To The Bar | 1941 |
| Cuttin’ The Boogie Barrel House Boogie Boogie Woogie Man Walkin’ The Boogie | Sixth Avenue Express Pine Creek Foot Pedal Boogie Movin’ The Boogie |
| Pete Johnson – Boogie Woogie Classics | 1952 |
| Barrelhouse Breakdown Some Day Blues You Don’t Know My Mind | Holler Stomp Kansas City Farewell Vine Street Bustle |
| Erroll Garner And Pete Johnson – Jazz Piano Starring Erroll Garner And Pete Johnson | 1956 |
| Erroll Garner : What Is This Thing Called Love These Foolish Things Lover Man Erroll Garner In Paris | Pete Johnson : Minuet Boogie Yancy St. Blues Central Avenue Drag 66 Stomp Pete Kay Boogie Hollywood Boogie |
| Pete Johnson – Jumpin’ With Pete Johnson | 1957 |
| Climbin’ And Screamin’ Let ‘Em Jump Re-Pete Blues B. And O. Blues | Shuffle Boogie Pete’s Blues How Long, How Long Buss Robinson Blues |
| Pete Johnson – Hadda Brooks – Swings The Boogie | 1958 |
| Swingin’ The Boogie Teen Age Boogie Honky Tonk Boogie Variety Boogie Hip Shakin’ Boogie Boogie Celeste | Rock And Roll Boogie Stompin’ The Boogie Lazy Boogie Chop Chop Boogie Boogie Dance Blusin’ The Boogie |
| Pete Johnson – Pete’s Blues | 1958 |
| Pete’s Lonesome Blues Mr. Drum Meets Mr. Piano Mutiny In The Doghouse Mr. Clarinet Knocks Twice Ben Rides Out Page Mr. Trumpet | J.C. From K.C. Pete’s Housewarming Back Room Blues 1280 Stomp I May Be Wonderful Man Wanted |
| Albert Ammons/ Pete Johnson / Jimmy Yancey – Boogie Woogie Man | 1969 |
| Barrel House Boogie Boogie Woogie Man Cuttin’ The Boogie Pine Creek Sixth Avenue Express Foot Pedal Boogie Movin’ The Boogie Walkin’ The Boogie | Yancey Stomp State Street Special Tell ‘Em About Me Five O’Clock Blues Yancey’s Bugle Call Death Letter Blues 35th And Dearborn Crying In My Sleep |
| Pete Johnson – Boogie Woogie Mood 1940-1944 | 1980 |
| 627 Stomp Basement Boogie Death Ray Boogie Just For You Pete’s Mixture Kaycee Feeling Lights Out Mood | Dive Bomber Answer To The Boogie Mr. Freddie Blues Zero Hour Bottomland Boogie Rock It Boogie |
| Albert Ammons, Pete Johnson, Meade Lux Lewis – Boogie Woogie Trio | |
| Pinetop Blues G Flat Blues Whistling Blues Jesse James Has Anyone Seen Corrine St. Louis Blues Woo Woo Saturday Night Struggle | Hersal Blues Bear Cat Crawl Pete’s Blues Try Again Mama’s Blues Shout For Joy Boogie Woogie Prayer |