James "Osie" Johnson (January 11, 1923 in Washington, D.C. – February 10, 1966 in New York City) was a jazz drummer, arranger and singer.
He first worked with Sabby Lewis and then, after service in the United States Navy freelanced for a time in Chicago. From 1951 to 1953 he worked in Earl Hines's band.
He can be heard on albums by Paul Gonsalves, Zoot Sims, and Mose Allison. He recorded the album A Bit of the Blues as a singer and had arranged at a "hit" for singer Dinah Washington. His final recordings as a singer were on a J. J. Johnson album, now compiled as a collection called Goodies.
Osie died of kidney failure in 1966, at the age of 43.
In 1957, Johson appeared with Thelonious Monk and Ahmed Abdul-Malik on The Sound of Jazz.
With Manny Albam
With Mose Allison
With Bob Brookmeyer
With Kenny Burrell
With Jimmy Cleveland
With Arnett Cobb
With Al Cohn
With Freddy Cole
With Art Farmer
With Curtis Fuller
With Bennie Green
With Freddie Green