Conrad O. Johnson Collection
Collection
Identifier: MSS 0039
Content Description
The Conrad O. Johnson Collection contains papers that highlight his career accomplishments. This collection evidences the life and legacy of the African American band and music director during the 1960s and the long-term impact of mentorship on youth. Includes funeral programs, newspaper clippings, event programs, promotion DVDs related to Kashmere Reunion Stage Band and Thunder Soul and posters.
Dates
- 1991-2011
- Majority of material found in 2008
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish or reproduce materials from the Conrad O. Johnson Collection must be obtained from African American Library at the Gregory School or the appropriate copyright holder.
Biographical / Historical
Conrad O. Johnson was a musician, composer, and educator, and band director in Houston during mid-twentieth century.
Johnson attended Jack Yates High School, where he played saxophone in the band. After graduation he played in various clubs around Houston, which continued through the 1950s. He attended the Houston College for Negroes and graduated from Wylie College in Marshall, Texas. Johnson started his 37-year teaching career in public schools as the band director in Carnack, Texas. He later taught jazz at Booker T. Washington High School until 1969 when he became music director at Kashmere High School in north Houston and created the Kashmere High School Stage Band.
High School stage bands competitions were popular during the early 1970s. Johnson, known as “Prof” broke the color barrier and helped his students enter the competitions by rearranging the band’s music to include funk arrangements and introduced showmanship. As director of the Kashmere High School Stage band won 42 out of the 46 contests he competed I from 1969 to 1977. The band traveled around Europe, Japan and the United States. In 1972, they won Most Outstanding Stage Band in the nation at the All-American High School Stage Band Festival. The band recorded eight albums featuring 20 of Johnson’s composition. Conrad Johnson retired in 1978 but continued to teach privately and hold workshops. In 2000 he was inducted into the Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame. In 2008, the Kashmere Stage Band performed to reunion concerts in “Prof’s” honor shortly before his death on February 3, 2008.
Taken from collection materials and The Handbook of Texas Online
Johnson attended Jack Yates High School, where he played saxophone in the band. After graduation he played in various clubs around Houston, which continued through the 1950s. He attended the Houston College for Negroes and graduated from Wylie College in Marshall, Texas. Johnson started his 37-year teaching career in public schools as the band director in Carnack, Texas. He later taught jazz at Booker T. Washington High School until 1969 when he became music director at Kashmere High School in north Houston and created the Kashmere High School Stage Band.
High School stage bands competitions were popular during the early 1970s. Johnson, known as “Prof” broke the color barrier and helped his students enter the competitions by rearranging the band’s music to include funk arrangements and introduced showmanship. As director of the Kashmere High School Stage band won 42 out of the 46 contests he competed I from 1969 to 1977. The band traveled around Europe, Japan and the United States. In 1972, they won Most Outstanding Stage Band in the nation at the All-American High School Stage Band Festival. The band recorded eight albums featuring 20 of Johnson’s composition. Conrad Johnson retired in 1978 but continued to teach privately and hold workshops. In 2000 he was inducted into the Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame. In 2008, the Kashmere Stage Band performed to reunion concerts in “Prof’s” honor shortly before his death on February 3, 2008.
Taken from collection materials and The Handbook of Texas Online
Extent
.5 Linear Feet (1)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into two series by format and subject.
Series I: Printed Materials
Series II: Thunder Soul
Series I: Printed Materials
Series II: Thunder Soul
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Ronald Johnson, August 2010
Processing Information
Processed by Sheena Wilson December 2018
- Big band music Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Jazz -- Musicians -- Houston (Tex) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Johnson, Conrad O. (Conrad Oberon), 1915-2008
- Kashmere Stage Band
- Music Teachers -- Texas -- Houston Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- MSS 0039 Conrad O. Johnson Collection
- Subtitle
- An inventory of his records at the African American Library at the Gregory School, Houston Public Library
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Sheena Wilson
- Date
- December, 2, 2018
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
Repository Details
Part of the Gregory School Repository
