The Mocking Bird
Originally by John Yorke Atlee
Released on The Mocking Bird (1895)
- Real name
- George Washington Johnson
- Born
- 1846
- Died
- January 23, 1914
- Country
- United States
- Comments
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Johnson was born into slavery, but became the first African American to become widely known as a recording artist, and was probably the first African American to record. Johnson specialized in whistling tunes, but he also sang.
Johnson was arrested for the murder of his common law wife in October, 1899. He was eventually acquitted of this charge, but he never returned to his old popularity as a performer. Johnson died in poverty.
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