Pookie Johnson

1927 - 2005

Alonzo Johnson is a name that may not mean much to a many area jazz fans. The reason is simple. The man who was born Alonzo in 1927 was known to virtually every member of the Indy jazz community simply as Pookie. One of the most loved and respected gentlemen of the jazz community, Pookie Johnson was a much more than a great saxophonist. He was a local jazz legend. Remarkably, Pookie's musical career spanned nearly a half century, including touring and recording stints with an such great jazz artists as Wes Montgomery, J.J. Johnson, Slide Hampton, Freddie Hubbard and Larry Ridley, just to name a few. For many years, Pookie provided leadership and inspiration to a veritable herd of local jazz musicians. He  will be missed.