Nicknamed “The King of the Savoy” for his dominance at New York’s Savoy Ballroom in the 1940s and ‘50s, Woodrow Wilson “Buddy” Johnson (1915-1977) started playing piano at age 4 and performing with New York bands just out of high school. He soon had his own orchestra, with his sister Ella singing, as his fusion of blues and R&B proved to be highly popular.