Floyd "Candy" Johnson born 1 May 1922

Floyd "Candy" Johnson (May 1, 1922 – June 28, 1981) was an American jazz tenor and alto saxophonist. 

Johnson, who was born in Madison, Illinois, started being a drummer at age 13, but quickly switched to first alto then tenor saxophone. He continued to play drums well enough to play as a session drummer professionally. His career began in St. Louis, where he was a member of a group led by Chuck Finney. He attended Wilberforce University, where he started using the student music group until the draft intervened. After his service, he played in bands led by Ernie Fields (1942) and Tiny Bradshaw (1943).  Johnson’s cousin was saxophonist Jimmy Forrest, who eventually gained popularity in the honking, funky sax genre. 

From 1943 to 1947, Johnson played with Andy Kirk, where he recorded for Decca records and was frequently featured being a soloist on ballads, showing a clean shade, an unhurried feeling of timing, as well as the unmistakable existence of Coleman Hawkins in his solos although Johnson cites Ben Webster as his biggest influence. Johnson preferred candy to alcohol, so a band member started calling him "Candy". In Detroit he started a band called the Peppermint Sticks. One musician recalled that the band dressed in candy-striped suits, and sometimes Johnson tossed peppermint sticks to the crowd. 

                                  

From 1951 – 1953 he was a member of the Count Basie Orchestra, recording with Basie for Clef Records, then began working in more of a rhythm and blues vein with Bill Doggett (1958 – 1964). The band had hits with "Blip Blop", "Honky Tonk", and "Night Train". Almost every single vintage jazz performer had trouble coping with the changes in the music scene that came along in the '60s, yet none faced the additional problems Johnson did. In 1962, along came a smash go-go dancer named Candy Johnson who began making records, even having her tunes covered by the likes of Tom Jones. Floyd "Candy" Johnson reappeared as a name on album credits, as did just plain Floyd Johnson. He was not too terribly disillusioned that the public would rather have a Candy Johnson that was a go-go dancer than one who blew the saxophone. 

The rise in power of the go-go queen and the British rock invasion coincided with the saxophonist's hiatus from full-time performing, things picking up again pretty much with the arrival of the '70s. He showed up in France on tour with Milt Buckner in 1971, sounding as forceful as ever in the pumping organ jazz context. The relationship worked and continued for several years, the French jazz audiences again enjoying an extended tour by the group in 1973. This tour resulted in some terrific recordings involving not only Buckner, but also the fiery sax playing of Arnett Cobb. 

In 1974, he briefly played with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, substituting for an ailing Paul Gonsalves. During a visit to New York City, he recorded with Helen Humes and Roy Eldridge.  A Year later, Johnson played in and helped organize the New McKinney's Cotton Pickers, a fascinating band project that used the original Don Redman arrangements. Music in its time had rivaled the popular bands of Fletcher Henderson and Duke Ellington. Some of the original bandmembers were also involved and Johnson stole the show by inserting more modernistic material into his solos. They performed at the Bix Beiderbecke Festival in Iowa. 

Johnson completed a Master's Degree in Popular Culture Studies at Bowling Green State University in 1975. From 1976  he played regularly in Detroit and in July 1979 he worked with the Mercer Ellington Orchestra. When Johnson retired, he moved to Toledo. Ohio and taught jazz at local schools. He died June 28, 1981, in Framingham, Massachusetts. 

(Edited from Wikipedia, AllMusic & Swing fm)