There is more than one artist called Pete Johnson. (1) Peter (Pete) Johnson (March 25, 1904 - March 23, 1967) was an American jazz and especially boogie-woogie pianist. Pete Johnson was born in Kansas City, Missouri. He died in Meyer Hospital, Buffalo, NY. He began his musical career in 1922 as a drummer in Kansas City, Missouri. From 1926 to 1938 he worked as a pianist, often accompanying Big Joe Turner. In 1938 he and Turner appeared in the From Spirituals to Swing concert at Carnegie Hall.