Scat Johnson

William Edward "Scat" Johnson (vocalist and guitarist) was born in January of 1915 in Leavenworth, Kansas. He began his career as a tap dancer in the mid-1930s, performing at venues such as the Apollo Theater in Harlem and on the vaudeville circuit. Scat toured the Midwest with a group called the Four Riff Brothers, which later became the Ink Spots. He worked as a jazz singer and guitarist and came to Milwaukee for a gig in 1939, where he met Diana Mirick, whom he later married. He was drafted into the Army during World War II and received his nickname "Scat" from Bob Hope when they performed together with Jack Benny, entertaining troops in the South Pacific.

After his military service, Scat performed in Milwaukee clubs, including the Tunnel Inn, The Elbow Room, the Black Knight Room in the Sheraton-Schroeder Hotel (now the Hilton Milwaukee City Center), and the English Room at the Pfister Hotel. In 1963, he released a four-song EP on the Milwaukee label Raynard. The recording was produced by Louis Jordan and featured Scat on vocals alongside Milwaukee musicians Frank Gay on trumpet, Bobby Burdette on tenor sax, Sig Millonzi on piano, Art Koenig on bass, and others.

Before Scat passed away in 1995, the mayor of Milwaukee presented him with the keys to the city. "Everybody knew him there," said his son Mark. "In fact, Al Jarreau used to go and watch him sing."

Scat's two Milwaukee-born sons, Billy Johnson and Mark Johnson, are accomplished jazz musicians with active careers in New York City. Billy, born October 17, 1954, is a bassist who has worked with Abbey Lincoln, Arthur Taylor, and Lionel Hampton. Mark, a drummer born October 22, 1956, has performed with Abbey Lincoln, Walter Davis Jr., Jackie McLean, Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Turrentine, Cassandra Wilson, Steve Coleman, and David Murray.

Listen to Scat sing "Dancero," "recorded in Milwaukee and released in 1963, with Bob Erickson on vibes, Sig Millonzi on piano, Art Koenig on bass, and Lou Lalli on drums. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fC748cEJcU