Find a Grave Howard Johnson (1941-2021)
Howard Johnson
Birth 7 Aug 1941
Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama, USA
Death 11 Jan 2021 (aged 79)
New York, New York County (Manhattan), New York, USA
Burial Details Unknown
Jazz Musician
Where Was Howard Johnson born?
He is mainly known for his work on tuba and baritone saxophone, although he also played the bass clarinet, trumpet, and other reed instruments. He was known for his sideman work with notable people like George Gruntz, Hank Crawford, and Gil Evans.
As a leader, he fronted the tuba ensemble Gravity and released three albums during the 1990s for Verve Records. In the 1960s, he played with the Band on their Rock of Ages live album, The Last Waltz. During the 1970s, he was the live band conductor of the Saturday Night Live Band; he can be seen in several musical numbers, including playing bass saxophone in the “King Tut” sketch. He had a minor role in the 1983 film, Eddie and the Cruisers as Wendell’s replacement.
Where is Howard Johnson buried?
He has also appeared in episodes of Matlock and Hill Street Blues. In 1984, he appeared as part of the Gil Evans Orchestra, accompanying Jaco Pastorius at the Live Under The Sky Festival in Japan. He accompanied James Taylor in a performance of Jelly Man Kelly on Sesame Street in 1983, and also on tin whistle when Taylor sings to Oscar the Grouch. As a sideman, he appeared on numerous albums and as a leader, he made Arrival: A Pharoah Sanders Tribute (1994), Gravity!!! (1995), 1998: Right Now (1998), and Testimony (2017).
