Jimmy Rushing (1903-1972) Section F - Lot 267

James Andrew Rushing was born in Oklahoma City on August 26, 1903. His father played the trumpet and his mother was a singer. At an early age he learned to play the violin and his uncle taught him to play the piano.  He headed out for California where he performed at house parties and nightclubs. 

 In 1927 he joined  a band called The Blue Devils and the piano player for the group was none other than Count Basie. They teamed up and joined a band led by Jimmy Moten in 1932. After Moten's death, Basie formed his own band in 1935 and Jimmy became the band's lead singer.

 His voice was so strong and powerful that he did not require a microphone.  He voice was once described as, “You could hear his voice jetting from the dance hall like a blue flame in the dark; now soaring high above the trumpets and the trombones, now skimming the froth of reeds and rhythm as it called some women’s anguished name - or demanded in a high,thin, passionately lyrical line, baaaaaa-bay, bay-aaaaay-bay!”

His singing style was greatly influenced by the soulful voices of Bessie Smith and Ethel Waters. He was well known for  ballads as well a the blues. He had the honor of being the only blues singer to tour with a major swing band.

 Basie was quoted as saying "There were times in the early days of the band that I'd given it all up but for Jimmy's urging to stick with it." He remained with Count Basie for over fifteen years until the band broke up in 1950. Count Basie and Jimmy were reunited for the last time at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1957.

After the Count Basie band broke up, Jimmy retired for a short time and formed his own group and went on a two year gig at the Savoy Ballroom and traveled internationally. He cut records for Vanguard in the mid fifties and also cut several records for Columbia with Benny Goodman. In 1957 Jimmy made his first television appearance in The Sound of Jazz.

 He was almost as wide as he was tall and was known affectionately as "Mr. Five-by-Five." 

 In 1994 the U.S. Postal Service issued an eight stamp series commemorating jazz and blues singers and he was one of the eight honored. 

 He died on June 8th of  1968 after a brief illness. Among his 300 mourners were Count Basie Benny goodman Erskine Hawkins and Buck Clayton and a musical tribute was played by his compatriots.