Pete Johnson spent part of his childhood in an orphanage, doing odd jobs, and
learned to play the drums at the age of 10, then the piano a little later
(1920). That same year, he made his debut as a pianist at the Hawaian Gardens
club in Kansas City. Often playing solo (1924-1930), he met Joe Turner, who was
working as a bartender. The duo became a popular attraction with New York's
black public. Pete Johnson became the star of the Famous Door club in New York
in 1935. His fame took on a new dimension with the famous "Spirituals To Swing"
concert at Carnegie Hall in 1938. With Al...