{"id":126,"date":"2015-02-22T22:23:10","date_gmt":"2015-02-23T04:23:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/?p=126"},"modified":"2015-03-18T17:34:49","modified_gmt":"2015-03-18T22:34:49","slug":"frank-johnson-successful-black-musicians-pre-civil-war-era","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/2015\/02\/22\/frank-johnson-successful-black-musicians-pre-civil-war-era\/","title":{"rendered":"Frank Johnson: Successful Black Musicians Pre-Civil War Era"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"[Francis<\/p>\n

Although the America of the Pre-Civil War Era presented racial discrimination and bias in most career paths, music was one of the few platforms in which both white and black musicians could successfully perform. Francis “Frank” Johnson (1792-1844) was among one of these musicians. As a composer, bandleader, and trumpeter, Johnson possessed a diverse range of musical talents and ability which he drew upon for his concerts. His musicians were also multi-talented and would often switch instruments halfway through their concerts.<\/p>\n

\"johnson<\/a><\/p>\n

This brief concert review from the Boston Musical Gazette on Oct 31, 1838 gives an insight into the positive reception that Frank Johnson and his band received after their performances. The song mentioned in the review,\u00a0The Last Rose of Summer\u00a0<\/em>is based off of a poem by Thomas Moore. Though\u00a0nearly 70 years later, this recording of soprano Elizabeth Wheeler from 1909 is the same basic melody that was performed at Johnson’s concert.<\/p>\n