Biography
Hall Johnson (1888–1970) was an American composer, arranger and choral director, best known for his work preserving and performing African-American spirituals. He formed the Hall Johnson Choir in 1925, which gained prominence through its performances in the 1930 Broadway production of The Green Pastures and subsequent tours and adaptations.
Johnson arranged and conducted choral music for more than thirty feature films. His choir contributed to the soundtracks of Lost Horizon (1937), Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and Dumbo (1941), in which Johnson voiced Deacon Crow (uncredited). He also appeared in films such as My Old Kentucky Home (1938) and Heart of the Golden West (1942).
