B.A. in Drama and Music, Berry College, Rome, Georgia (1972-76)
California Institute of Performing Arts
Harlem School of Ballet

Founder and Director of East Village Gospel Choir, New York

JJ, as he was known to one and all, started singing in church when he was three years old. He played piano at age seven and performed with his own band when he was fifteen.

After graduating in drama and music from Berry College in Rome, Georgia, he attended the California Institute of Performing Arts and studied ballet at the Harlem School of Ballet. He spent most of his adult life in New York City.

The first performance of the East Village Gospel Choir was November 23, 1986 in New York at the Middle Collegiate Church, where Jerriese served as Elder and Deacon. JJ continued as the choir's director until his death from complications related to AIDS on March 10, 1995. The night before his death, he held choir rehearsal in his apartment. The choir's last song with JJ was "Amazing Grace."

The choir, now known as the Jerriese Johnson East Village Gospel Choir, is directed by Freeman Palmer at Middle Collegiate Church.

JJ appeared in several supporting roles in the 1980 Off-Broadway revival of Brecht's Mother Courage and Her Children, adapted by Ntozake Shange, at the Newman Theater. The cast included Morgan Freeman and Anna Deavere Smith. He also played the lead role in Eugene O'Neill's Emperor Jones at the Perry Street Theater. His television appearances included several commercials and soap operas and numerous made-for-television movies.

He created a solo cabaret act called "Gettin' Down with Rhythm and Blues" which he performed at Astor's in New York from July through November 1993.

It seemed that Jerriese knew nearly everybody in the East Village. To walk down the street with him was an experience. Every few steps, people greeted and waved, and Jerriese would constantly walk in and out of shops as though he was the mayor of the East Village. He brought that same kind of charisma, deep spiritual love and compassion for people, and contagious energy with him into the church.

JJ's compassionate energy carried over into activism for peace and human rights as well. Like his beloved fellow Georgian, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., JJ fought with his life to overcome hatred, intolerance and exclusion, using the weapons of love, acceptance and inclusion – as well as music.

—Dean Hubbard, founding member, Jerriese Johnson East Village Gospel Choir

WORKS:

He'll Never Let You Fall
for: gospel choir and soloist
date: 1994
text: Jerriese Daniel Johnson
premiere: East Village Gospel Choir, Jerriese Johnson, soloist, Middle Collegiate Church, New York 1994

Take Time
for: cabaret song
date: 1993
text: Jerriese Daniel Johnson
premiere: Astor's, New York 1993

UNCOMPLETED WORKS:
Unknown

WRITINGS:
Unknown

DISCOGRAPHY:
Unknown

VIDEOGRAPHY:
Johnson produced a videocassette of his cabaret act, "Gettin' Down with Rhythm and Blues," in 1993.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

• Death notice, New York Times, March 13, 1995.

PERFORMING RIGHTS AFFILIATION:
Actors Equity; American Federation of Television and Radio Artists

RESOURCES:
Unknown

MUSICAL EXECUTOR:
Unknown

OTHER CONTACTS:
Freeman L. Palmer
Minister, Community Life and Outreach
Middle Collegiate Church
50 East 7th Street
New York, NY 10003
Tel: (212) 477-0666
Fax: (212) 228-5027
fpalmer@middlechurch.org

K. Dean Hubbard, Jr. (founding member of choir)
Joanne Woodward Chair in Public Policy and Advocacy
Sarah Lawrence College
One Mead Way
Bronxville, NY 10708
Tel: (914) 395-2410
Fax: (914) 395-2662
dhubbard@slc.edu