The Boogie Woogie Foundation

The Boogie Woogie Foundation is a non-profit organization established to foster research and to increase the general public knowledge of the East Texas origin, subsequent history, and continuing worldwide influence of Boogie Woogie. Early Boogie Woogie recordings are the unequivocal first recorded examples of what was later called "Rock and Roll." Consequently, Boogie Woogie has been rightfully called the "Father of Rock and Roll." Indeed, the influence of Boogie Woogie on Rock-and-Roll and popular music worldwide is greater than that of Blues in general. Put another way, Boogie Woogie is the kind of Blues that has had the most influence on popular music throughout the world. Although profound in their own right, the slower, less-upbeat styles of Blues have not had this magnitude of influence. Moreover, the continuing influence of Boogie Woogie on popular music in general is undeniable. Boogie Woogie continues to be performed as a form of jazz, and has influenced classical composers throughout the world, including Conlon Nancarrow (United States), Nikolai Kapustin (Russia), and Louis Andriessen (The Netherlands). These facts are generally not well known. Moreover, these distinctions are important because, by failing to give credit where credit is due, historians promote (often unknowingly) false historical accounts that dishonor those African Americans who created Boogie Woogie in dangerous environments that literally put their lives at risk.

Pictured above are John Tennison and Axel Zwingenberger at Axel's Bosendorfer grand piano in Vienna, Austria, April, 2006. Zwingenberger is among the most prolific and influential of modern-day performers, composers, and scholars of Boogie Woogie. Consequently, Zwingenberger has inspired new generations of Boogie Woogie players all over the world, such as in Japan where Boogie Woogie pianist Keito Saito (born in 1978) specifically cites Axel Zwingenberger as an inspiration in the liner notes to Saito's 2008 album, Boogie Woogie Far East.

In 2009 the American Music Research Foundation received the Gold Remi Award (pictured above) for its documentary titled, "International Boogie Woogie," based on footage from AMRF's 7th Annual Motor City Blues and Boogie Woogie Festival in Detroit, Michigan in 2005. At time of receiving the award above, AMRF Director John Penney commented, "It’s particularly appropriate that we received this award in Texas, the birthplace of Boogie Woogie." The “International Boogie Woogie” documentary contains solo and trio performances by four internationally acclaimed pianists at the 7th Annual Motor City Blues & Boogie Woogie Festival in 2005, including Switzerland’s Sylvan Zingg, France’s Philippe LeJeune, and Canadians Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne and Michael Kaeshammer. Wayne emigrated from California to Vancourver, Canada, and Kaeshammer from Germany to Toronto, Canada.

In 2006, the BBC called the International Boogie Woogie Festival in Lugano, Switzerland "One of the most important piano events in the world."

Pictured above are four performers from the 2006 International Boogie Woogie Festival in Lugano, Switzerland. From left to right are John Tennison (AKA Nonjohn), Papadon Washington, Silvan Zingg (festival organizer), and Chris Conz. A documentary showcasing the 2006 Boogie Woogie Festival was first broadcast by BBC World in its World Music Series: Destination Music on June 2, 2006.

Praise and Feedback about the Content of the Boogie Woogie Foundation Website

"This is by far the most intense history of a music genre I've ever seen. I am thrilled with the content, and the photos, some of which I have never seen, are excellent - what a great story!" -- George Frayne (AKA Commander Cody), September 23, 2008

"FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a great sight of history. I thought I knew the history of Boogie Woogie until I visited this history sight. I actually didn't know 'squat'!" -- Ed "Mick" Heyden, September 5, 2006

"It [the www.bowofo.org website] is the most complete and thorough account of the history of Boogie Woogie I have ever seen!" -- Ed "Mick" Heyden, September 6, 2006

"Your article is fantastic, with a lot of details! It's hard to find good works about Boogie Woogie history. I have read "A left hand like God", a few articles on internet, and listen to a lot of recordings. I think it's easier to learn boogie woogie/barrelhouse technique when you know its history and its pianists' recordings." -- Sebastien "Slim" Wood, Montreal, Canada, May 22, 2006

"Some of the best information on Boogie Woogie and its origins can be found in a website established by John Tennison, also known as 'Nonjohn,' who is planning a book on the subject." -- Henry Wolff, Jr., Victoria Advocate, September 21, 2005. Click here to see full article.

The Mack McCormick Archive Foundation -- dedicated to preserving and publishing the vast archives of music and cultural historian, Mack McCormick

Riverwalk Jazz Radio Program - Chicago's Jazz Age Melting Pot: Hot Jazz,
Boogie Woogie & the Blues - Broadcast November 19, 2009. At his performance in October, 2009, in San Antonio, Texas, pianist and Dean of the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, Shelly Berg, cited East Texas as the origin of Boogie Woogie. Berg then performed "The Fives" by Hersal and George Thomas.

Potential Sources of Early Evidence for Those Conducting Boogie Woogie Research

1. Oral histories (including eyewitness accounts) given and transcribed after the fact of the events being studied -- Oral histories date the playing of Boogie Woogie at least as far back as the early 1870s in East Texas.

2. Written documentation dated at the time of events being studied -- An unequivocal, 12-bar Boogie Woogie bass line using a "Texas & Pacific" bass figure (AKA "The Cows") was published at least as early as 1915 in Artie Matthew's "The Weary Blues."

3. Photographs -- I do not know of any photographs that indicate a playing of Woogie Woogie prior to the dates in Item 1 and 2 above. Although a photo could document that a piano is being played, it would likely be difficult to know what style was being played from a single photograph.

6. Audio Recordings -- Several audio recordings from 1923 contain unequivocal Boogie Woogie bass lines. See my article on Boogie Woogie for a discussion of these.

7. Film and Video -- I do not know of any film or video that pre-dates Items 1 and 2 above.

For those who would like to donate or sell evidence or other materials relevant to Boogie Woogie research, please send inquiries to info@nonjohn.com

Below is a July 22, 2005 letter from John Tennison (AKA Nonjohn) to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This letter was written in support of inducting George Thomas, Hersal Thomas, Albert Ammons, Pete Johnson, Meade Lux Lewis, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As of 2009, I have received no response whatsoever to this letter, which was mailed by certified mail with return receipt. Perhaps someday the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will care about promoting truth as much or more than promoting "fame."