Jimmy Rushing
Jimmy Rushing was born on 26/08/1901 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. His birth name was James Andrew Rushing. Jimmy's father was a trumpeter, his mother and her brother were singers. He would learn music theory at Douglass High School from the musician Zelia N. Breaux. Jimmy would also go to Wilberforce University. His uncle Wesley Manning and George "Fathead" Thomas of McKinney's Cotton Pickers would encourage him to sing the blues.In 1923 and 1924 he toured the midwest and California. He would then move to Los Angeles, California where he played the piano and sang with Jelly Roll Morton. Rushing would also sing with Billy King.
In 1927 he joined Page's Blue Devils.
In 1929 he moved to the Bennie Moten band with other members of the Blue Devils.
In 1935, Moten died. Rushing joined the musician Count Basie. He would be with the Count Basie Orchestra till they broke up in 1950. He briefly retired, then he formed his own group.
In 1957 he appeared on the tv special "Sound of Jazz".
In 1958 Rushing went on tour in the UK with Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band.
In 1959 he made a guest appearance on Duke Ellington's album "Jazz Party".
In 1960 he recorded with the Dave Brubeck Quartet for the album "Brubeck and Rushing".
In 1969 he appeared in the film "The Learning Tree".
In 1971 he became ill with leukaemia, he died the next year on 8th June in New York.
In 1994 he was honoured as part of a series of stamps from United States Postal Service of eight jazz and blues legends.