Writer, arranger, and saxophonist Budd Johnson spoke to the Black Experience in the Arts course only one time on 9/12/1972 (2015-0002/RR10 reel 1) (2015-0002/RR11 reel 2). From his lecture, Johnson spoke about learning the piano at age 8 and later convinced his mother to buy him a saxophone. As a child, Johnson performed in musical groups such as the Blue Moon Chasers. Johnson's participation in the Chasers was just the beginning of his journeymen career as a touring musician. Johnson would go on to join the ensembles of Jesse Stone, George E. Lee, and Louis Armstrong. Johnson was often a member of Earl Kenneth "Fatha" Hines' band and was part of the jazz ambassador tour of 1966 that toured Russia and Ukraine. Johnson expressed to students the wonder and excitement felt when he and the band spent 4 nights playing in Kiev at a packed 10,000 seat arena full of screaming fans.
