Floyd "Candy" Johnson Collection

 Collection – Box: 1
Identifier: MUSIC-054

Collection Overview

Scope and Contents

The collection contains scores and parts for various big band tunes, ostensibly used by Johnson when he taught jazz at Toledo public schools. There are a few manuscript parts for tunes that Johnson himself wrote, including "Candy's Mood", "Parrot Jump" and "Mood by Midnight". Also included are two “gig books” containing various instrumental parts, as well as a couple of pieces of correspondence with music publishers and other local band directors.

Dates

  • Creation: 1935 - 1972

Extent

1 Cubic Feet (One box)

Creator

Biographical / Historical

Floyd Johnson was born near East St. Louis in 1922. He began as a drummer, then played tenor saxophone with several jazz bands led by bandleaders such as Tiny Bradshaw and Andy Kirk. Apparently Johnson preferred candy to alcohol, and became know as "Candy" Johnson. In Detroit, Candy Johnson led his band "The Peppermint Sticks". Johnson also played with Count Basie and Duke Ellington. Johnson completed a Master's Degree in Popular Culture Studies at Bowling Green State University in 1975. He spent his retirement teaching jazz in public schools in Toledo, Ohio. Johnson died in 1981.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.

Language of Materials

English

Related Materials

Researchers are advised to consult additional resources at the Jerome Library. These include Floyd Johnson's Master's thesis, "The Episode of Jazz" (1975), held by the Jerome Library at Bowling Green State University; the University Archives, which hold newspaper clippings featuring Johnson while he was a graduate student; and rare commercial sound recordings in the Bill Schurk Sound Archives, which can be found in the Library catalog.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Floyd "Candy" Johnson's family.

Title
Guide to the Candy Johnson Collection
Author
Compiled by Emily DiLeo and Frances Zengel
Date
February 2021
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
  • Box: 1 (Mixed Materials)