Hall Johnson(1888-1970)
- Music Department
- Actor
- Composer
Composer, author, conductor and arranger, educated at the Knox
Institute, Atlanta University, Allen University, USC, the Hahn School
of Music, the University of Pennsylvania and the New York Institute of
Musical Art. He also studied with Percy Goetschius and was awarded an
Honorary Music Degree from the Philadelphia Musical Academy. In 1925,
he formed the Hall Johnson Choir, appearing in concerts, films,
theater, radio, television and recordings. He arranged and directed the
music for the Broadway production of "Green Pastures" (in which his
choir appeared), and wrote the Broadway stage score for "Run, Little
Chillun". In 1936, he organized the Festival Negro Chorus of Los
Angeles, and appeared in the International Festival of Fine Arts in
Berlin. In 1951, he toured Germany and Vienna through the auspices of
the US State Department, and won the New York City Citation in 1962. He
was also a member of the New York City Citizens Advisory Commission for
Cultural Affairs.
