The Rags of Charles L Johnson by Ted Tjaden

The Rags of Charles L Johnson

Featuring Golden Spider Rag (1910) and other Piano Rags by Charles L Johnson

(originally published June 2006 and updated periodically)

Recommended reading:

Cover of The Music of Charles
Leslie Johnson: A Collector's Journey by
Philip Stewart

Philip Stewart, The Music of Charles Leslie Johnson: A Collector's Journey (Addison, TX: Aquila Media Productions, 2009) [books details]

Recommended recording:

CD Cover for Sue
Keller, a/k/a Charles Johnson

Sue Keller. a/k/a Charles Johnson (CD-ROM containing 20 compositions by Charles Johnson).

Charles Leslie Johnson was an extremely prolific composer of ragtime and ragtime-related music. Although not often mentioned in the group of the "Big Three" – Joplin, Scott and Lamb – he deserves serious recognition as a leading ragtime composer, not only due to the volume of his work but the enduring quality of a number of his compositions.

His most famous or interesting rags include Apple Jack: Some Rag (below), Barber Pole Rag (below), Beedle-Um-Bo: A Slow Drag (below), Blue Goose Rag (as Raymond Birch) (below), Crazy Bone Rag (below), Cum-Bac Rag (below), Dill Pickles Rag (below), Doc Brown's Cake Walk: Kansas City Rag (below), Golden Spider Rag (below), Iola: Intermezzo Two Step (below), Melody Rag (as Raymond Birch) (below), Powder Rag (below), Scandalous Thompson (below), Swanee Rag (below), and Tar Babies Rag (below).

This page sets out information on Charles L Johnson divided into the following four topics:

1) The Life of Charles L Johnson
2) Sheet Music of Charles L Johnson
3) Commercial Recordings of Charles L Johnson Compositions
4) Bibliography

1) The Life of Charles L Johnson (December 3, 1875—December 28, 1950)

Set out below is some basic information about Charles L Johnson:

Charles Leslie Johnson was born in Kansas City, Kansas, on December 3, 1876, and stayed in the Kansas City area his entire life. As a young child, he started to play piano on his neighbour's piano; by age nine, his parents bought him his own piano: Jasen and Tichenor (1978:38).

Johnson took lessons for 3 years with a Mr Kreiser, but quit suddenly when his teacher complained about his playing ragtime music: Jasen and Tichenor (1978:38).

Johnson joined several guitar and mandolin clubs and organized several string orchestras that played in the Kansas City area. He also demonstrated pianos and music for JW Jenkins & Sons Music Company who would later publish a number of his compositions, including two of his earlier pieces, Doc Brown's Cake Walk: Kansas City Rag (below) and Scandalous Thompson (below): Jasen and Tichenor (1978:38-39).

Photo of Charles L. Johnson
from cover of Scandalous Thompson
(1899)

Photo of Charles L Johnson from cover of Scandalous Thompson (1899).

Blesh and Janis (1966:119) describe Johnson's explanation of the background to Doc Brown's Cake Walk: Kansas City Rag (below) in these terms:

The number ... was named after an old, eccentric colored fellow who wore a swallowtail coat, carried a cane, and wore a plug hat. He would cakewalk on the street for a nickel or dime. Jenkins photographed him for the cover.
According to Blesh and Janis, the publisher of Doc Brown's Cake Walk – JW Jenkins – arranged for Sousa's band to play the piece when Sousa was passing through Kansas City.

In 1901, Johnson married Sylvia Hoskin and they had a daughter, Frances. He later married for a second time in the 1920's, to Eva Johnson, who survived him and who donated a large amount of memorabilia to the Charles L Johnson Papers at the Kansas City Public Library.

According to Jasen and Jones (2000:61), Johnson helped to arrange the composition Peaceful Henry, written by his friend Harry Kelly, although there is no indication on the sheet music that Johnson was the arranger (the sheet music for Peaceful Henry is available here from the Maine Music Box).

Dill Pickles Rag (below) was so-named when Johnson was working at Carl Hoffman Music Company. Apparently, while composing the piece, the company's bookkeeper asked Johnson what the piece was called; the bookkeeper was carrying a carton of pickles for his dinner, which prompted to Johnson to say "I'll call it Dill Pickles Rag": Jasen and Tichenor (1978:39). According to Blesh and Janis (1966:120), Dill Pickles Rag was Johnson's favourite piece. According to Hasse, Johnson's Dill Pickles Rag appeared 31 times on 78 RPM recordings alone.

Johnson earned $30,000 for his song Sweet and Low (below), which was his biggest money-maker: Jasen and Tichenor (1978:39).

According to Jasen and Jones (2000:60), four of Johnson's rags sold over 1 million copies during his lifetime. Blesh and Janis (1966:120) indicate that Johnson sold his entire catalogue (i.e., compositions published by his company) to Rossiter in Chicago for a "fine price."

Johnson's "Indian" hit Iola was first published as an intermezzo (below) with lyrics added to the song (below) after it became a hit. The irony is that the composition was initially named after a town in Kansas (Iola, Kansas) and not an Indian (Jasen and Tichenor 1978:39).

Even though James Scott (1885-1938) and Charles L Johnson (1876-1950) both lived in the Kansas City area most of their entire lives, they apparently never met: Blesh and Janis (1966:119).

Pseudonyms: It is believed that Johnson used the pseudonym "Raymond Birch" for a number of his compositions (see below). Recent research by Bill Edwards, however, has shown that Fannie B Woods, previously thought to have been another pseudonym for Charles L Johnson, is in fact a real (female) composer. As such, the composition called Sweetness – previously attributed to Johnson – is instead composed by a real person named Fannie B Woods. Likewise, Bill Edwards (and Nora Hulse) are currently conducting research that would suggest that Ethel Earnist, another pseudonym previously attributed to Johnson (for the composition Peanuts: A Nutty Rag (1911), available here from the The Lester S Levy Sheet Music Collection), is also a real (female) composer. As such, I have removed the entries that were below for Sweetness and Peanuts from this essay.

Jasen and Jones (2000:60) discuss Johnson's willingness to advertise his services as an arranger for rank amateurs, selling his services to those who asked for them, despite his commercial success as a composer in his own right. One example they provide is the French Auto Cylinder Oil Waltz written by Johnson at the request of an oil company in Marshalltown, Iowa.

At the time Blesh and Janis were researching They All Played Ragtime (first published in 1950), Johnson was still alive, for the authors have this to say about him at that time (Blesh and Janis 1966:119):

He is a respected member of ASCAP, and today, at seventy-four, maintains an office at 806 Grand Avenue in the Missouri City, where he is busy with composing and arranging.

Photo of Charles L Johnson in his later years.

Source: Kansas City Public Library

2) Sheet Music of Charles L Johnson

Set out below are lists of all known compositions by Charles Johnson, including (free) links to online versions of his sheet music, divided into the following five categories:

Note: It appears that in 2024 the University of Missouri — Kansas City is in the process of upgrading its Kansas City Sheet Music Collections; as such, the links to sheet music below from their website are currently broken. I will fix those links once their revamped website is launched.

a) Instrumental piano compositions
b) Songs
c) As publisher
d) Additional compositions (print versions)
e) Unpublished compositions

a) Instrumental piano compositions

	Johnson, Charles L. A Black Smoke: Dance Characteristic and Two Step. Kansas City, MO: Carl Hoffman Music Co, 1902. [view sheet music] Source: International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP) [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Alabama Slide: Fox Trot*. Chicago: FJA Forster, 1915. [view sheet music] Source: Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *All the Money: March and Two Step*. Kansas City, MO: Chas L Johnson, 1908. [view sheet music] Source: Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Apple Jack: Some Rag*. Williamsport, PA: Vandersloot Music Publ Co, 1909. [view sheet music] Source: The E Azalia Hackley Collection, Detroit Public Library [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Barber Pole Rag*. Denver, CO: Hal G. Nichols Co, 1911. [view sheet music] Source: Photocopy from Center for Popular Music [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Beedle-Um-Bo: A Slow Drag*. Kansas City, MO: Chas L Johnson, 1908. [view sheet music] Source: Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Belle of Havana Waltzes*. Kansas City, MO: JW Jenkins, 1899. [view sheet music] Source: Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L (using the pseudonym Raymond Birch). *Blue Goose Rag*. Chicago: Forster Music, 1916. [view sheet music] Source: Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. The Blue Jay and the Squirrel: Woodland Chatter. Kansas City, MO: Carl Hoffman Music Co, 1902. [view sheet music] [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *The Blushing Rose Serenade*. Kansas City, MO: Charles L Johnson, 1910. [view sheet music] Source: Maine Music Box [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Butterflies: Caprice*. Chicago: Forster Music, 1908. [view sheet music] Source: Maine Music Box [top]
	Johnson, Charles L (as "Raymond Birch"). *Cloud Kisser Rag – Two Step*. Kansas City, MO: Johnson Pub Co, 1911. [view sheet music] Source: Personal photocopy [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Crazy Bone Rag*. Chicago: Forster Music Publisher Inc, 1918. [view sheet music] Source: Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Cum-Bac Rag*. New York: Jerome H Remick & Co, 1911. [view sheet music] Source: Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Dill Pickles Rag*. Kansas City, MO: Carl Hoffman Music, 1906. [view sheet music] Source: Duke University: Historic American Sheet Music [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Dixie Twilight: Characteristic March*. Boston, MA: Walter Jacobs, 1909. [view sheet music] Source: Duke University: Historic American Sheet Music [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Doc Brown's Cake Walk: Kansas City Rag*. Kansas City, MO: JW Jenkins' Sons, 1899. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Dream On: Waltzes*. Chicago: Forster Music Publisher, 1914. [view sheet music] Source: Maine Music Box [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Fairy Kisses Waltz*. Chicago: Harold Rossiter Music Company, 1908. [view sheet music] Source: Lester S Levy Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Fawn Eyes: Intermezzo and Two Step*. Kansas City, MO: Chas L Johnson, 1908. [view sheet music] Source: Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Fine and Dandy: Two Step*. Chicago: Arnett-Delonais Co, 1908. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. Fun on the Levee: Cake Walk. Chicago: FJA Forster Music Publisher, 1917. [view sheet music] [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Golden Hours*. New York: Jerome H Remick, 1912. [view sheet music] Source: Digital scans provided by Adrien Le Gallo [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Golden Moon*. Chicago: Forster Music Publisher, 1916. [view sheet music] Source: Maine Music Box [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Golden Spider Rag*. Williamsport, PA: Vandersloot Music, 1910. [view sheet music] Source: Maine Music Box [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *The Harvest Hop: Charles L Johnson's Barn Dance*. Chicago: Harold Rossiter Music Company, 1908. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Heart Fancies: Waltzes*. Cleveland, OH: Sam Fox Publishing, 1910. [view sheet music] Source: Maine Music Box [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Hen Cackle Rag: A Barnyard Disturbance*. Kansas City, MO: JW Jenkins, 1912. [view sheet music] Source: Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Hester on Parade*. Kansas City, MO: J.W. Jenkins Sons Music Co., 1899. [view sheet music] [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. Honeysuckle: Tango. Chicago: Forster Music Publisher, 1914. [view sheet music] Source:York University Libraries, Sheet Music Collections (Toronto) [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Iola: Intermezzo Two Step*. New York: Jerome H Remick, 1906. [view sheet music] Source: Maine Music Box [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Kissing Bug Rag*. Louisville, KY: Keith Music Co, 1909. [view sheet music] Source: University of Colorado Digital Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L (as "Raymond Birch"). *Lady Slippers (Two Step Rag)*. Chicago: Harold Rossiter Music Company, 1910. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. Lovey Dovey March & Two Step. Kansas City, MO: Charles L Johnson, 1907. [view sheet music] [top] [Note: This piece was sold to and re-issued by Jerome H Remick as Southern Beauties March: Two Step, below]
	Johnson, Charles L (using the pseudonym Raymond Birch). *Melody Rag*. Kansas City, MO: Johnson Pub Co, 1911. [view sheet music] Source: Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. Monkey-Bizniz: Novelty for Piano. Chicago: Forster Music Publisher, 1928. [view sheet music] [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Pansy Blossoms Rag*. Chicago: American Music Publishing Co, 1909. [view sheet music] Source: University of Colorado Digital Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. Peek-A-Boo Rag. Chicago: FJA Forster Music Publisher, 1914. [view sheet music] [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Pigeon Wing Rag*. Chicago: Will Rossiter, 1909. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	Charles L Johnson. Pink Poodle: One Step. Chicago: FJA Forster Music Publisher, 1914. [view sheet music] [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Porcupine Rag*. New York: M Witmark & Sons, 1909. [view sheet music] Source: University of Colorado Digital Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L (using the pseudonym Raymond Birch). *Powder Rag*. Kansas City, MO: Chas L Johnson & Co, 1907. [view sheet music] Source: Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Queen of Fashion Waltzes*. Kansas City, MO: Johnson Pub Co, 1911. [view sheet music] Source: Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Scandalous Thompson*. Kansas City, MO: JW Jenkins' Sons Music Co, 1899. [view sheet music] Source: Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *School Life: March and Two Step*. Cleveland, OH: Sam Fox Publishing, 1912. [view sheet music] Source: Maine Music Box [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Silver King Rag*. Chicago: Thompson Music Co, 1909. [view sheet music] Source: Charles H Templeton Sheet Music Collection (MSU) [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Silver Star: Intermezzo*. Kansas City, MO: JW Jenkins' Sons Music Co, 1910. [view sheet music] Source: Maine Music Box [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Sneaky Pete: Characteristic Two Step*. Kansas City, MO: JW Jenkins' Sons Music Co, 1907. [view sheet music] Source: Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Snookums Rag*. Chicago: Forster Music, 1918. [view sheet music] Source: Photocopy from Center for Popular Music [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Southern Beauties: March – Two Step*. Chicago: Forster Music, 1907. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. Starlight Serenade. Chicago: FJA Forster Music Publisher, 1918. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Summer Breezes Waltzes*. Chicago: Forster Music, 1914. [view sheet music] Source: Maine Music Box [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Sunbeam: Intermezzo*. Kansas City, MO: Chas L Johnson & Co, 1909. [view sheet music] Source: Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Swanee Rag*. Cleveland, OH: Sam Fox, 1912. [view sheet music] Source: Photocopy from Center for Popular Music [top]
	Johnson, Charles. *Sweet Memories Waltz*. Chicago: Forster Music, 1918. [view sheet music] Source: MuseScore [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Tar Babies Rag*. Kansas City, MO: Charles L Johnson, 1911. [view sheet music] Source: Photocopy from Center for Popular Music [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Teasing the Cat*. Chicago: FJA Forster Music Publisher, 1916. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Tobasco: Rag-Time Waltz*. New York: Jerome H Remick, 1909. [view sheet music] Source: Photocopy from Center for Popular Music [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Under the Southern Moon Two-Step*. Kansas City, MO. Charles L Johnson, 1910. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	Johnson, Charles L (as "Charlie Johnson"). *Warwick Club March Two-Step*. Kansas City, MO: JW Jenkins' Sons, 1898. [view sheet music] [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Wedding of the Fairies Waltz*. Kansas City, MO: Chas L Johnson & Co, 1909. [view sheet music] Source: Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *A Whispered Thought: Novelette*. Kansas City, MO: JW Jenkins' Sons Music, 1904. [view sheet music] Source: Maine Music Box [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *With Fire And Sword: March & Two Step*. Kansas City, MO: Carl Hoffman Music Co, 1901. [view sheet music] Source: Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Yankee Bird: March and Two Step*. Kansas City, MO: Chas L Johnson & Co, 1910. [view sheet music] Source: Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]

b) Songs

	Johnson, Charles L. *Beautiful Island of Dreams* (lyrics by Milton Harsha). Kansas City, MO: Chas L Johnson, 1918. [view sheet music] Source: Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *By The Silvery Nile* (lyrics by Jack Yellen). Chicago: Forster Music Pub, 1921. [view sheet music] Source: UCLA Archive of Popular Music [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *By the Winding Tennessee* (lyrics by Malcolm Nicolson). Kansas City, MO: JW Jenkins' Sons Music Co, 1899. [view sheet music] Source: UCLA Archive of Popular Music [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Colorado and You* (lyrics by Carson Jay Robison). Chicago: Forster Music, 1922. [view sheet music] Source: Maine Music Box [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Croon Time* (lyrics by James Royce Shannon). Chicago: Forster Music, 1916. [view sheet music] Source: Maine Music Box [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Deep in My Heart, Beloved* (lyrics by Addison Madeira). Chicago: Ted Browne Music Co, 1920. [view sheet music] Source: UCLA Archive of Popular Music [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Dill Pickles Song* (lyrics by Alfred Bryan). New York: Jerome H Remick, 1910. [view sheet music] Source: University of Colorado Digital Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Down By The Old Garden Gate* (lyrics by William Clay). Detroit, MI: Jerome H Remick, 1913. [view sheet music] Source: Maine Music Box [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Dream Days* (song). Kansas City, MO: Chas L Johnson, 1913. [view sheet music] Source: Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *The Girl for Me* (lyrics by Wm. R. Clay). Kansas City, MO: Chas L Johnson, 1911. [view sheet music] Source:York University Libraries, Sheet Music Collections (Toronto) [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *I Never Thought I'd Miss You So (Until You Went Away)* (lyrics by Roberts Spencer). Kansas City, MO: Chas L Johnson Music Co, 1917. [view sheet music] Source: Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *If I Only Had A Sweetheart* (lyrics by Robert Spencer). Kansas City, MO: Charles L Johnson, 1909. [view sheet music] Source: Maine Music Box [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. I'll Meet You on the Golden Shore (words by William Clay). Chicago: Forster Music Publisher, 1911. [view sheet music] Source: York University Libraries, Sheet Music Collections (Toronto) [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *I'm Goin', Goodbye, I'm Gone* (song). Chicago: Forster Music Publisher, 1912. [view sheet music] Source: Baylor: Frances G Spencer Collection of American Popular Sheet Music [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *In the Hills of OId Kentucky (My Mountain Rose)*. Chicago: Forster Music, 1914. [view sheet music] Source: Duke University: Historic American Sheet Music [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Iola* (lyrics by James O'Dea). New York: Jerome H Remick, 1906. [view sheet music] Source: Maine Music Box [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Little Star Won't You Twinkle* (lyrics by Tell Taylor). Kansas City, MO: Chas L Johnson Co, 1910. [view sheet music] Source: York University Libraries, Sheet Music Collections (Toronto) [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Lucinda's Ragtime Ball*. Chicago: Forster Music Pub, 1913. [view sheet music] Source: Charles H Templeton Sheet Music Collection (MSU) [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Ma Picninny Babe***. Chicago: Forster Music, 1913. [view sheet music] Source: Duke University: Historic American Sheet Music [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Meet Me Where The Shadows Fall* (song). Kansas City, MO: Charles L Johnson, 1912. [view sheet music] Source: Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *My Dreamy Rose* (lyrics by William Clay). Kansas City, MO: JW Jenkins Sons Music Co, 1912. [view sheet music] Source: Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Only A Faded Rosebud* (lyrics by William Clay). Kansas City, MO: Chas L Johnson, 1912. [view sheet music] Source: Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Rose of Tennessee* (lyrics by Frank Watkins). Chicago: Forster Music Publisher, Inc, 1918. [view sheet music] Source: Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Shadow-Time* (lyrics by James Royce Shannon). Chicago: Forster Music, 1913. [view sheet music] Source: Maine Music Box [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Silver Star* (song). Kansas City, MO: JW Jenkins, 1911. [view sheet music] Source: Baylor: Frances G Spencer Collection of American Popular Sheet Music [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Sweet and Low* (lyrics by James Stanley Royce). Chicago: Forster Music, 1919. [view sheet music] Source: Maine Music Box [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *The Sweetheart Trail* (lyrics by Al Neal). Kansas City, MO: Neal Pub Co, 1925. [view sheet music] Source: Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *That Little Sunny Southern Girl of Mine* (lyrics by JE Jeter). Denver, CO: Tolbert R Ingram Music Co, 1907. [view sheet music] Source: University of Colorado Digital Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Wanda: Fox Trot* (lyrics by Dan Ashba). Kansas City, MO: Dan Ashba, 1922. [view sheet music] Source: Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. When Clouds Have Vanished And Skies Are Blue (lyrics by F Restor and William Clay). Chicago: Forster Music, 1923. [view sheet music] Source: Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *When I Dream of You* (lyrics by William Clay). Kansas City, MO: Johnson Pub Co, 1911. [view sheet music] Source: Charles H Templeton Sheet Music Collection (MSU) [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *When The War Is Over* (lyrics by Robert Spence). Chicago: Forster, Music Publisher, 1915. [view sheet music] Source: Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *When The Roses Fade Away* (lyrics by Martha Thomas). Kansas City, MO: M.B. Thomas, 1913. [view sheet music] Source: Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *When You Dream Of The Girl You Love* (song). New York: Ted Snyder, 1914. [view sheet music] Source: Maine Music Box [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *When You And I Were Sweethearts Long Ago* (lyrics by George McCrary). Kansas City, MO: Chas L Johnson & Co, 1912. [view sheet music] Source: Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Where The Lanterns Glow* (lyrics by James Stanley Royce). Chicago: Forster Music, 1919. [view sheet music] Source: Maine Music Box [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *With You* (lyrics by William Clay). Chicago: Forster Music Publisher, 1908. [view sheet music] Source: York University Libraries, Sheet Music Collections (Toronto) [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. *Why Can't I Make A Hit* (song). Kansas City, MO: Chas L Johnson & Co, 1909. [view sheet music] Source: Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]
	Johnson, Charles L. You're The Girl That I've Been Longing For (lyrics by James Stanley Royce). Cleveland, OH: Sam Fox Publishing, 1913. [view sheet music] Source: Maine Music Box [top]

c) As publisher

Gilmore, Maude. Splinters: Two-Step. Kansas City, MO: Charles L Johnson & Co, 1910.

[view sheet music]

Source: Indiana University Sheet Music Collections [top]

That Irresistible Rag:
First Page of Music

Phillips, Lucy. That Irresistible Rag. Kansas City, MO: Charles L Johnson, 1912.

[view sheet music]

Source: Charles H Templeton Sheet Music Collection (MSU) [top]

The
Tickler: Rag and Two-Step Sheet Music
Cover

Cox, Frances. The Tickler: Rag and Two-Step. Kansas City, KS: Charles L Johnson & Co, 1908.

[view sheet music]

Source: Kansas City Sheet Music Collection [top]

In addition to the foregoing, see also Charles L Johnson's Picture Show Music No 2 (Chicago: Forster Music Publisher, 1914) from the the Silent Film Sound & Music Archive.

d) Additional compositions (print versions)

The following list of compositions was compiled using information from the Charles L Johnson papers at the Kansas City Public Library and other sources. If I am able to obtain copies of any of the compositions below that are in the public domain, I will digitize them and add them to the appropriate tables above (many of the post-1923 works are likely still protected by copyright).

As composer:

Charles L Johnson. Adam’s Red Book of Songs (Forster) (Includes 7 of Johnson’s songs)
Charles L Johnson. Bungalow Town. (Johnson-Bennett, 1937).
Charles L Johnson. Can You Bring Back the Heart I Gave You (Forster, 1924).
Charles L Johnson. Carry Me on Old Pardner (Forster, 1939).
Charles L Johnson. Come Back To-Night in My Dreams (Forster, 1930).
Charles L Johnson. Dear Little Home Sweet Home (Forster, 1916).
Charles L Johnson. Dedication: March and Two Step (Oklahoma, OK: Frederickson-Kron Music Co, 1906).
Charles L Johnson. Doodle-De-Dum (Johnson, 1916).
Charles L Johnson. Down Where the Trail Divides (Reynolds, Larson, 1914)
Charles L Johnson. Everybody Calls Her Sunshine (Forster, 1922).
Charles L Johnson (with Holtaus). French Auto Cylinder Oil (Marshall Oil Co, 1910).
Charles L Johnson. Gaytella Waltz (Jenkins, 1898).
Charles L Johnson. Golden Hours Forster Chas. Johnson 1916.
Charles L Johnson (with Harsha). Good Bye Susanna (Hoffman, 1905).
Charles L Johnson. He’s For Us All (Sentinel, 1936).
Charles L Johnson. Henry’s Slip’ry Slidin’ Trombone (Johnson, 1912).
Charles L Johnson. In the Good Old USA (Forster, 1939).
Charles L Johnson. Jubilee in the Sky (Johnson-Bennett, 1930).
Charles L Johnson. The Louisiana Purchase (RA Saalfield, 1904).
Charles L Johnson. Love Token (Jenkins, 1899).
Charles L Johnson. Lucy Lee (lyrics by William Clay). Kansas City, MO: Johnson Pub Co, 1911.
Charles L Johnson. March of the Air Cadets (Comer, 1940).
Charles L Johnson. Meet Me on the Santa Fe Trail (Johnson, 1912).
Charles L Johnson (with Cassandra). My May Day Fortune (Hoffman, 1906).
Charles L Johnson. My Missouri Cabin (Vandiver, 1929).
Charles L Johnson (with French). ‘Neath the Skies of California Far Away (French, 1905).
Charles L Johnson. One Night in Mexico (Johnson, 1915).
Charles L Johnson. Over the Old Back Fence (Forster, 1927).
Charles L Johnson. Sly Old Moon (Forster, 1911).
Charles L Johnson. Someday You'll Love Me (lyrics by William Clay). Kansas City, MO: Johnson Pub Co, 1911.
Charles L Johnson. Spanish Moon (Forster, 1922).
Charles L Johnson. Sweet Memories Waltz (Forster, 1918).
Charles L Johnson (with Madeira). Sweetheart (Johnson, 1910).
Charles L Johnson. A Tally-Ho Party: March Two-Step. Kansas City, MO: JW Jenkins' Sons Music Co, 1900.
Charles L Johnson. Thelma Waltzes (Jenkins, 1899).
Charles L Johnson. When We Shall Meet Again (song). Kansas City, MO: JW Jenkins' Music Co, 1900.

As publisher:

Maude Gilmore. Lorelie: A Reverie (Chas Johnson, 1912).

Maude Gilmore. Peach Blossom Rag. Kansas City, MO: Charles L Johnson & Co, 1910.

Maude Gilmore. Slivers: Two-Step. Kansas City, MO: Charles L Johnson & Co, 1910. Also published as Splinters: Two-Step. Kansas City, MO: Charles L Johnson & Co, 1910.

D Harlan Drummond. Somewhere Along the Missouri Tonight (Johnson, 1911).

Chas A Gish. Twinkles (Chas L Johnson, 1909).

Hi Wilson et al. When My Ship Comes in From Sea (Johnson, 1916).

Lyle Weaver Sparks. White Feather (Johnson, 1911).

Walton Process. Merry Widow Valse (?)

e) Unpublished compositions

The following titles were compiled from the Charles L Johnson Papers at the Kansas City Public Library.

After the Rain Comes My Sunshine
Annabella
The Army, the Navy, and Marines
Baby Doll
Because I Love You So
Cactus Pete
Carlotta
The Coppers on Parade
The Cowboy’s Lament
Dance of the Midgets
Dear Little Lady
Dear Little Rose
Desert Moon
Dreamin’ Tonight of My Darlin’
Ev’ry-Thing I Do Seems Wrong
Forgive and Forget
Girls (1923)
Goin’ Back to My Hometown in Sunny Tennessee
Go’ Long Jasper
Good Morning Mr. Sunshine
Graceful
Gunner Bill
Hand in Hand
He’s My Pappy
Hittin’ the Trail
Hold Me in Your Arms
Hold Me in Your Arms Again
Honey Don’t Be Mean to Me
Honolulu Lou
I Got a Gal in Arkansaw
“I Have No Name for This” (Quote at top of piece)
I Love Somebody
I Love the Ladies
I Never Thought I’d Miss You So
I Want a Man (not titled)
I Wonder if You Ever Think of Me
Idaho
I’m a Ho-Bo (not titled)
In the Cradle of the Rockies
In the Twilight Glow
It May Be Just a Notion (That’s All)
Jesus Will Welcome You Home
Johnny Don’t Be Mean to Me
June Time
Just a Quaint Old Melody
Just a Sweet Old Melody
Keep Smiling and You Can’t Go Wrong
Let’s Dream Back to the Day We Met
Let’s Paint the Old Town Red
Lonesome Little Girl Love
Mammy Jinny’s Lullaby
Maybe
Meet Me By the Haystack
Memphis Buddy’s Swing-Time Band
Midgets on Parade
Mississippi Shore
Missouri (three parts for male quartet)
Mother’s Arms
My Heart’s in Dixie Today
My Old Home
Nancy Jane
Oh You Man
Old Glory
On a Honeymoon (Just We Two)
On Our Golden Wedding Day
On the Banks of the Winding Tennessee
One Kiss, and Then Goodnight
Our Battle Song
Out in the Golden West
Overture
Packin’ My Grip, Headin’ for Home
Pappy Don’t Care for Onions
Peace to the World (Good Will Toward All)
Ploddin' Along
Roll Deep River Roll
Roll on Brothers
Rural Capers
Send Me a Rose She’s Irish
Snooty Little Cutie
Soldier’s Farewell
Somewhere
Somewhere on the Deep Blue Sea
Song of the Bride
Song of the Soul
Spooky Blues
Steppin’ On the Gas
Sunshine and Moonlight
Sweet Girl
Sweet Ida May
That Jones Girl
Tell Your Troubles to the Moon
There Never Was, There’ll Never Be
Uncle Billy
Untitled (Two different works without titles or words)
Up in the Air with Sally
Voice on the Radio
Waltz (not titled)
When I Found You When Mother Rocked Baby to Sleep
When the Boys Come
When the Frost is on the Clover
When the Toot-Toot, Toots for Memphis Tennessee
While I’m Away
Why Did You Leave Me
You Don’t Want Me Around Anymore
You, Just You (words and melody similar “Just You”)
You’re the Sweetest Girl I Know

3) Commercial Recordings of Charles L Johnson Compositions

I highly recommend the ragtime playing of Sue Keller. Her CD entitled a/k/a Charles Johnson contains 20 compositions by Charles L Johnson. You can sample her playing of these pieces here.

Amazon has an entry for a CD by pianist Miguel Pineda-Van Gelder. The CD is entitled A Ragtime Feast: Forgotten Rags #3, Charles L Johnson (2002).

4) Bibliography

The following resources provide information on Charles L Johnson:

Blesh, Rudi & Harriet Grossman Janis. They All Played Ragtime. 4th ed. New York: Oak Publications, 1966 [Internet Archive version].

"Charles L Johnson." American Musician and Art Journal (11 June 1909).

Charles L Johnson Papers at the Kansas City Public Library.

Finch, Brad. "Ragtime in Kansas City: The Charles L. Johnson Debate" (January 1993) 26:5 The Rag Times 2.

Hasse, John Edward. "Johnson, Charles." Grove Music Online (ed L Macy) (Accessed 26 May 2006).

Jasen, David & Gene Jones. That American Rag: The Story of Ragtime from Coast to Coast. New York: Schirmer Books, 2000 [Internet Archive version].

Jasen, David & Trebor Jay Tichenor. Rags and Ragtime: A Musical History. New York: Dover Publications, 1978 [Internet Archive version].

Stewart, Philip. Charles Leslie Johnson (website) (view archived version of website here).

Stewart, Philip, ed. Rags and Other Riches. Addison, TX: Aquila Media Productions, 2009 [Amazon.com entry].

Stewart, Philip. The Music of Charles Leslie Johnson: A Collector's Journey. Addison, TX: Aquila Media Productions, 2009 [Amazon.com entry].

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This site created by Ted Tjaden. Page last updated: January 2024.