Today we celebrate Francis Johnson, born in Martinque in the West Indies on today’s date in 1792. He emigrated to Philadelphia in 1809 at the age of 17. Even as a teen, Johnson was a master of the violin and the keyed bugle, an early precursor of the trumpet. By his 20s, he was already a popular bandleader around Philadelphia.

Johnson experimented with various combinations of strings, winds, and brass, and composed over 200 arrangements and original works in all the popular forms of the day. In 1817 became the first black composer in America to have his music published.

Johnson’s band toured both here and abroad, and, in 1837, played before Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace. The young queen was so impressed that she gave Johnson a silver bugle as a memento.

Besides entertaining white audiences abroad, Johnson performed at African American churches in Philadelphia, Boston, and New York. In 1841 he organized a performance of Haydn’s Creation at the First African Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia.

Francis Johnson died in 1844 in Philadelphia at the age of 52. During his funeral march, hundreds of mourners, including his brass band, followed his casket, on which his silver bugle was placed.

Francis B. Johnson (1792-1844): The Philadelphia Gray's Quickstep (Symphony Orchestra of America; Matthew Phillips, cond.) Albany TROY-103