Biography
1792
Francis Johnson's birth was registered as 16th June 1792. He was baptised on 23rd September 1792 at St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Philadelphia by the assistant rector Reverend Samuel Magaw.
1807 – 1810
The teenaged Frank Johnson began performing regularly around Philadelphia during this period. His piece 'Bingham’s Cotillion' was published by George Willig in early 1810, making him the first known African American composer.
1811 – 1813
Johnson began playing the Kent keyed Bugle in 1811. He was playing fluidly by 1813, and this became the instrument that on which he was recognised as a virtuoso performer.
1814
At the age of 22, Johnson put together his first group of musicians for the local militia. The Washington's Guards Company Three Band comprised bugle, fife, bass drum and small drum. The members were Frank Johnson, Aaron J. R. Connor, James Hemmenway, and Isaac Hazzard. Johnson began composing music regularly for the group and was one of the first to stylistically consolidate the American march and quickstep.
1817 – 1818
During this period, Johnson began a partnership with Robert Bogle – a successful Philadelphia mortician, chef, and caterer. They were in great demand, resulting in a professional collaboration lasting around 25 years. Following his death, Robert Bogle was later memorialised in the poem an 'Ode to Bogle' by Nicholas Biddle (1786–1844).
1819
Francis Johnson and Helen (Ellen) Appo were married at Christ Church, Philadelphia on 8th March.
1820
Johnson paid his first visit to Ballston Spa and Saratoga Springs, popular New York summer destinations for the elite and fashionable. In the fall of this year, Johnson gifted a set of manuscripts to Phoebe Ridgway Rush. These manuscripts are kept at The Library Company of Philadelphia.
1821
Frank Johnson and his band began their regular summer performances at Saratoga Springs. The first of these was held at the Pavilion Hotel on 31st July 1821 and these concerts further popularised Johnson across the USA as a performer, bandleader, and performer.
1824
On 2nd October 1824, A Grand Concert and Civic Ball was held in honour of General Lafayette at The New Theatre on Chestnut Street. Later that month, on 14th October, Johnson and his band performed in 'The Catarct of the Ganges or The Rajah’s Daughter' at the Circus (now Walnut Street Theatre). Johnson’s 'March in the Cataract of the Ganges', was written for this show which ran for 27 performances.
1830
Musician Richard Willis died on 1st February 1830. Willis was the first music teacher at the United States Military Academy at West Point and, like Johnson, had been feted for his performances on the keyed bugle. J. Tranor wrote 'The Death of Willis', which Johnson then set to music.
1837
Local supporters began raising money for Johnson and some members of his band to travel to Europe on tour. They traveled by ship from New York, ariving in Liverpool, England in November 1837.
1838
Following success in Europe, Johnson and his band returned to New York on The Philadelphia on 14th May 1838.
1840
After some time spent developing the material composed and arranged from his time in London and Paris, Johnson announced his first Grand Soiree Musicale. This was to be a benefit performance in the style of Phillippe Musard’s promenade concerts that had inspired him on his travels. Over the next few years, Johnson continued to present concerts in this format.
1844
Frank Johnson fell seriously ill in late March 1844. He died on April 6th and his funeral was held on April 9th at the Church of St Thomas, Philadelphia.
References
- Beyond My Ken (2013) Old St. Paul’s (Episcopal) Church at 225 S. 3rd Street between Thomas Paine and St. James Places at Willings Alley in the Society Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia, was built in 1761 by William Dilworth, and altered in 1830 by William Strickland. It now houses Episcopal Community Services. (Source: Philadelphia Architecture: A Guide’; (2nd ed.)). Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Old_St._Paul%27s_Church.jpg (Accessed: 11 December 2023).
- Biddle, N. (1889) An Ode to Bogle. Philadelphia : [s.n.]. Available at: http://archive.org/details/odetobogle00bidd (Accessed: 11 December 2023).
- Edouart, A. (1842) Frank Johnson, Leader of the Brass Band of the 128th Regiment in Saratoga, with his wife, Helen [Cut paper silhouettes mounted on board]. Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frank_Johnson,_Leader_of_the_Brass_Band_of_the_128th_Regiment_in_Saratoga,_with_his_wife,_Helen_MET_DP246963.jpg (Accessed: 6 September 2022).
- Johnson, F. (1819) Bingham’s Cotillion. George Willig.
- Johnson, F. (1820) Presented to Mrs. A. Rush by Frank Johnson, a Black Musician of our Balls and parties, in 1820. Library Company of Philadelphia Digital Collections. Available at: https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora:65782 (Accessed: 11 December 2023).
- Johnson, F. (1824) ‘March’ in the Catarct of the Ganges. George Willig.
- Johnson, F. (1839) Grand Soiree Musicale, Frank Johnson’s Benefit [Poster].
- Ngwe, U. (2022) Photograph of Kent Keyed Bugle taken in April 2022 [Photography].
- The Columbia Democrat (1838) ‘The New York Gazette says – Frank Johnson, the celebrated colored musician, arrived with his band from London in the Philadelphia.’, 2 June.
- The North American and Daily Advertiser (1844) ‘Funeral – Frank Johnson the late celebrated musician was buried yesterday afternoon at the St. Thomas African church’, 10 April.
- Whaites, E.F. (no date) Pavilion Hotel by by Edward F. Whaites. From the archives of the Saratoga Room, Saratoga Springs Public Library.