Our Mission

The mission of the Conrad O. Johnson Music & Fine Arts Foundation is to encourage the development of young people in the Houston/Gulf Coast area through support of educational programs that nurture and promote their artistic abilities. Our programs provide the resources essential to our youth to help them explore, develop, and refine their artistic talents.

The foundation is more than a program on music; it is a program about reaching our children, and about helping them to become successful and productive citizens. In addition to the music, the students are taught life skills to survive successfully in this world. 

Fundraising Highlights

Since 2000, the foundation has held multitudes of fundraising events to provide more than $70,000 in scholarship support and instruments to Houston area students. Fundraisers have featured the talents of many local and national artists including Melanie Lawson, Deborah Duncan, and Phylicia Allen Rashad, as well as jazz artists Najee, Steve Turre, Horace Alexander Young, Alva Nelson, Joe Sample, Tex Allen, Hubert, Eloise, Donna, and Debra Laws, Joe Carmouche, Kyle Turner, Everette Harp and Michael Ward.

Our Sponsors

Biography

The late great jazz saxophonist, educator icon, and Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame Inductee Conrad O. Johnson has long been recognized as one of the premier jazz musicians in Houston and the nation. He has shared the spotlight with jazz and rhythm and blues stars such as Najee, Wynton Marsalis, Kirk Whalum, Lou Rawls, Grover Washington, Dizzy Gillespie, Arnett Cobb, Johnny Hartman, Roy Hamilton, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson and Johnny Nash.

After first attending Houston College for Negroes and later graduating from Wylie College in the east Texas town of Marshall, Johnson began teaching in public schools in 1941. His 37 years of classroom service were highlighted by a distinguished tenure as director of the Kashmere High School Stage Band, which won 42 out of 46 contests entered between 1969 and 1977, recorded eight albums featuring more than 20 original compositions by Johnson and traveled throughout Europe, Japan and the United States.

Posthumously, “Prof” Johnson remains a vital force in Houston music education. His contributions and achievements are so significant and meritorious that The Conrad Johnson Music and Fine Arts Foundation was established in 1999 continue his legacy so that Houston area youth could continue to receive an invaluable music education.