James P. Johnson

1894–1955 (age 61)

Pianist and composer

Biography

James P. Johnson (1894-1955) was a pioneering pianist and composer whose inventive stride piano helped define the sound of America’s jazz age. His compositions expanded the language of jazz, blending classical forms with spirited improvisation.

Johnson’s life is honored at Mount Olivet Cemetery, where admirers still recall the joy and brilliance of his music that continues to inspire new generations of artists.

Did you know James P. Johnson?

Help us tell their story. Share a memory, upload a gravestone photo, or correct any details.

Also buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery

John Catron
1786–1865 (age 79)
Mount Olivet Cemetery
John Catron was a Tennessee jurist and U.S. Supreme Court justice who served for three decades before his death.
Richard Potts
1753–1808 (age 55)
Mount Olivet Cemetery
Richard Potts was an American lawyer, judge, and congressman from Maryland.
Barbara Fritchie
1766–1862 (age 96)
Mount Olivet Cemetery
Barbara Fritchie was an American patriot known for her defiance during the Civil War, famously waving the Union flag in ...
Gideon B. Smith
1793–1867 (age 74)
Mount Olivet Cemetery
Gideon B. Smith was a 19th-century American businessman and community figure.
Joseph Alexander Smith Acklen
1816–1863 (age 47)
Mount Olivet Cemetery
Joseph Alexander Smith Acklen was a Huntsville resident and planter who lived from 1816 to 1863.
Francis Asbury
1745–1816 (age 71)
Mount Olivet Cemetery
Francis Asbury (1745-1816) was a Hamstead native buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery.