J. ROSAMOND JOHNSON

ADVANCING THE LEGACY

Pioneering Composer and Cultural Advocate

J. Rosamond Johnson was a pioneering composer, performer, and cultural advocate whose contributions to American music and African American heritage remain significant to this day.

Born in Jacksonville, Florida, to James Johnson and Helen Louise Dillet Johnson, J. Rosamond was raised in a household that valued education, creativity, and cultural advancement. His early musical talent was nurtured through formal education at the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music and advanced studies in London, where he refined his classical training.

J. Rosamond Johnson, James Weldon Johnson and Grace Nail Johnson Papers. Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

Composers James Weldon Johnson, J. Rosamond Johnson and Bob Cole, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library.

Milestones and Achievements

“Lift Every Voice and Sing:” Crafting a Timeless Hymn of Hope and Unity

In collaboration with his brother, James Weldon Johnson, J. Rosamond composed the music for “Lift Every Voice and Sing” in 1899 to accompany James’s lyrics. First performed in February 1900 by 500 schoolchildren for Lincoln’s birthday, the song became known as the “Black National Anthem,” symbolizing hope, resilience, and unity. It remains one of his most enduring legacies.

"Lift Every Voice and Sing," Sheet Music from the Carl Van Vechten Collection

James Wedlon Johnson, J. Rosamond Johnson and Bob Cole, James Weldon Johnson and Grace Nail Johnson Papers. Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

Revolutionizing Broadway with Cole and Johnson Brothers

J. Rosamond moved to New York City in 1902, where he co-founded the musical trio Cole and Johnson Brothers with James Weldon Johnson and Bob Cole. Together, they wrote over 200 songs, including the popular hit “Under the Bamboo Tree.” Their work was groundbreaking, as it challenged racial stereotypes and elevated the presence of African American composers in the Broadway music scene.

Bob Cole and J. Rosamond Johnson, possibly publicity photos for "The Shoo-Fly Regiment," Photographs of Prominent African Americans. James Weldon Johnson Collection in the Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

J. Rosamond Johnson with Taylor Gordon, James Weldon Johnson and Grace Nail Johnson Papers. Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

Preserving Cultural Heritage: The Legacy of Negro Spirituals

J. Rosamond co-authored The Book of American Negro Spirituals with his brother, James Weldon Johnson. This seminal collection preserved and celebrated African American spirituals as essential elements of American cultural heritage. He followed this with The Second Book of American Negro Spirituals in 1926, further ensuring the spirituals’ recognition and preservation.

JWJBilly Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library. _Publicity photograph of Cole

Publicity photograph of Cole and Johnson, The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1900 - 1910.

Cover, The Book of American Negro Spirituals, Two Volumes in One.

Breaking Barriers in Music and Theater

Throughout the 1930s, J. Rosamond Johnson performed extensively as a vocalist and educator. He became a vocal coach and mentor, fostering a new generation of artists. He also broke barriers in theater as one of the first African Americans to join the Actor’s Equity Association, advocating for the fair treatment of Black performers.

J. Rosamond Johnson, "Syncopation." Publicity card for J. Rosamond Johnson, Inimitable Five.

JWJSchomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The Ne

The Frogs, an organization for African American theater professionals, 1908. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library.

Bob Cole and J. Rosamond Johnson, 1909. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library.

Family Life

J. Rosamond married Nora Ethel Floyd in London in 1913. Together, they had two children: Mildred Louise Johnson (1914–2007) and Donald McQuivey Johnson (1934–1955). Mildred Louise Johnson, a trailblazer in her own right, founded Harlem’s first private school, the Modern School, in 1934.

J. Rosamond Johnson, Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

James Weldon Johnson, Grace Nail Johnson, J. Rosamond Johnson and Nora Ethel Floyd At 5 Acres, Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

J. Rosamond Johnson, Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

A Legacy of Music and Advocacy: The Passing of J. Rosamond Johnson

J. Rosamond Johnson passed away on November 11, 1954, at the age of 81. His death marked the end of a remarkable career that bridged classical music, African American spirituals, and Broadway.

jwjJ. Rosamond Johnson, Todd Duncan and Anne Brown in the stage production Porgy and Bess.

Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library. “J. Rosamond Johnson, Todd Duncan and Anne Brown in the stage production Porgy and Bess.”

J. Rosamond Johnson, Carl Van Vechten Papers Relating to African American Arts and Letters. James Weldon Johnson Collection in the Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

Legacy

J. Rosamond Johnson’s work remains a cornerstone of American cultural history. His ability to blend classical training with the rhythms and melodies of African American spirituals helped elevate the spirituals to a place of reverence in American music. His Broadway compositions broke barriers, bringing African American artistry to new audiences and setting a standard for excellence. Through his preservation efforts, teaching, and compositions, he ensured that the contributions of African Americans would be celebrated for generations.

J. Rosamond Johnson’s life and legacy are inextricably linked to his brother, James Weldon Johnson, with whom he shared a mission to uplift African American culture through music, literature, and advocacy. Together, they created timeless works that continue to inspire and unify, leaving an enduring legacy of resilience, creativity, and cultural pride.