About

Conrad O. Johnson, Sr.

Our Founder

Conrad “Prof” Johnson was perhaps the most widely recognized and beloved music educator in Houston—highly respected as a versatile, passionate saxophonist and leader of the Conrad Johnson and His Orchestra.

For more than 50 years, Prof was a major force in shaping the Houston sound… “a rich synthesis of the seemingly antithetical elements of down-home Texas blues and sophisticated jazz” according to Roger Ward of Living Blues Magazine. When reflecting on his career, Prof was proud of his accomplishments as a teacher and father—roles he valued more than his own reputation as a performer.

He attended Houston College for Negroes and later graduated from Wiley College in the East Texas town of Marshall, he began teaching in public schools in 1941. His 37 years of classroom service were highlighted by a distinguished tenure as director of the Kashmere High School Stage Band. The Band won 42 out of 46 contests entered between 1969 and 1977, traveled throughout Europe, Japan and the United States, and recorded eight albums featuring more than 20 original compositions by Prof.

In 2011 actor Jamie Foxx presented the documentary, THUNDER SOUL, which follows the extraordinary alumni from Houston’s storied Kashmere High School Stage Band. The film features how the band comes together after 35 years to play a tribute concert for their 92-year-old beloved band leader who broke the color barrier and transformed the school’s struggling jazz band into a world-class funk powerhouse in the early 70s.

History of the Orchestra

“The Big Blue Sound”

The Conrad Johnson Orchestra (formally known as the Conrad O. Johnson Big Band) was formed in the mid 1960’s. The band is composed of over 20 professional musicians who have been playing together for more than 30 years. The late Conrad Johnson’s music style has contributed to the city’s deep musical heritage that still shapes and influences the Houston Big Band Jazz sound today.

The Conrad Johnson Orchestra has several recordings with the most recent being, “Got What It Takes”. Now the Orchestra’s performance repertoire includes more than 50 original charts and arrangements by Conrad Johnson and at least 6 arrangements from the Duke Ellington Sacred Series. This series is basically for church audiences and performances have been made in various churches throughout the Houston area, with and without vocals.
The compilation or synthesis of down-home Texas blues and sophisticated jazz remains to be the trade mark of Conrad “Prof” Johnson’s legacy. Prof’s Orchestra’s has performed with various musical greats, such as Joe Sample, Ronnie Laws, Hubert Laws, Kirk Whalum, Evert Harp, Wynton Marsalis, Steve Turre, Shelley Carroll and the late Lou Rawls and Roy Hamilton just to name a few.

Currently, the Conrad Johnson Orchestra is being directed by James Williams, Jr. James has been an artist for over 4 decades and has traveled and performed with various big bands and other major artists. In abiding with the vision and spirit of the Conrad “Prof” Johnson music legacy, the orchestra provides grand entertainment and professional sound beyond measure for any event or occasion.

Throughout the years, the Big Band has performed with various musical greats that include such artists as, Joe Sample, Ronnie and Hubert Laws, Kirk Whalum, Everette Harp, Wynton Marsalis, Steve Turre, Shelley Carroll, Sean Jones, the late Lou Rawls and Roy Hamilton, etc.

James Williams, Jr.

Our Music Director

James Williams, Jr. is a freelance trumpet player, music contractor, arranger/writer and clinician who started his music career at 4 years of age. He was guided initially by his father, James Sr., a high school band director and trumpet player and leader of the East Texas All Stars band.

He prepared for a career in music at the University of North Texas. He was a member of the Houston Pops Orchestra for 14 years and served as Associate Director of the Community Music Center of Houston for 11 years. CMCH is a non profit organization that performs the music of African American composers and provides music education to youth and adults. Associate Director of the Jazz Institute of Houston which provides workshops for aspiring local jazz talents of Houston.

Mr. Williams has performed with many of the great entertainers such as: The Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Lionel Hampton Big Band, Nancy Wilson, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Lena Horne, Dionne Warwick, B.B. King, Chi-Lites, The O’Jays, The Spinners, Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, Joe Williams, Lou Rawls, Sammy Davis, Jr., and many more.

Locally, he has worked with Milton Larkin, Calvin Owens, Pete Mays, Joe Hughes, TKOh!, Rick Marcel, The Liberty Baptist Church Ensemble and The Houston Pops Orchestra. Mr. Williams is married and has a son and daughter. He is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Mr. Williams is the musical director of the Conrad Johnson Orchestra and The James Williams and JusJazz ensemble.