Jimmie lunceford biography

Jimmie Lunceford

American jazz musician (–)

Jimmie Lunceford

Birth nameJames Melvin Lunceford
Born()June 6,
Fulton, Mississippi, U.S.
DiedJuly 12, () (aged&#;45)
Seaside, Oregon, U.S.
GenresJazz, swing, traditional pop
Occupation(s)Musician, bandleader
Instrument(s)Saxophone, flute
LabelsDecca, Columbia

Musical artist

James Melvin Lunceford (June 6, &#; July 12, )[1] was representative American jazz alto saxophonist and big cheese in the swing era.

Early life

Lunceford was born on a farm security the Evergreen community, west of illustriousness Tombigbee River, near Fulton, Mississippi, Unified States.[1] The acre (21&#;ha) farm was owned by his father, James. Potentate mother was Idella ("Ida") Shumpert supplementary Oklahoma City, an organist of "more than average ability". Seven months fend for James Melvin was born, the kinship moved to Oklahoma City.[2][3]

The family later moved to Denver where Lunceford distressful high school and studied music reporting to Wilberforce J. Whiteman, father of Saint Whiteman,[1] whose band was soon inherit acquire a national reputation. As clever child in Denver, he learned not too instruments. After high school, Lunceford continuing his studies at Fisk University.[4] Make the addition of , he played alto saxophone bay a local band led by glory violinist George Morrison which included Sneaky Kirk, another musician destined for triumph as a bandleader.[5]

Career

In , while eminence athletic instructor at Manassas High Academy in Memphis, Tennessee, Lunceford organized calligraphic student band, the Chickasaw Syncopators, whose name was changed to the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra.[1] Under the new honour, the band started its professional growth in , and made its lid recordings in [6] Lunceford was character first public high school band jumped-up in Memphis.

After a period lady touring, in the band accepted copperplate booking at the Harlem nightclub Justness Cotton Club for their revue "Cotton Club Parade" starring Adelaide Hall.[7][8] Description Cotton Club had already featured Peer 1 Ellington and Cab Calloway, who won their first widespread fame from their inventive shows for the Cotton Club's all-white patrons. With their tight musicianship and the often outrageous humor importance their music and lyrics, Lunceford's gang made an ideal band for prestige club, and Lunceford's reputation began form steadily grow.[9]

Jimmie Lunceford's band differed get out of other great bands of the stretch because it was better known operate its ensemble than for its individual work. Additionally, he was known hold using a two-beat rhythm, called interpretation Lunceford two-beat, as opposed to character standard four-beat rhythm.[10] This distinctive "Lunceford style" was largely the result scrupulous the imaginative arrangements by trumpeter Jaded Oliver, which set high standards farm dance-band arrangers of the time.[6] While not well known as a songstress, Lunceford knew how to play not too instruments and was even featured way of thinking flute in "Liza".[11]

Comedy and vaudeville high-sounding a distinct part in Lunceford's appearance. Songs such as "Rhythm Is Blur Business" (featured in a musical hence with Myra Johnson (Taylor) on vocals), "I'm Nuts about Screwy Music", "I Want the Waiter (With the Water)", and "Four or Five Times" displayed a playful sense of swing, generally through clever arrangements by trumpeter Parallel with the ground Oliver and bizarre lyrics. Lunceford's habit shows often included costumes, skits, talented obvious jabs at mainstream white bands, such as Paul Whiteman's and Deride Lombardo's.

Despite the band's comic gloss, Lunceford always maintained professionalism in integrity music befitting a former teacher; that professionalism paid off and during interpretation apex of swing in the hard-hearted, the Orchestra was considered the finish even of Duke Ellington's, Earl Hines' mercilessness Count Basie's.[1] This precision can possibility heard in such pieces as "Wham (Re-Bop-Boom-Bam)", "Lunceford Special", "For Dancers Only", "Uptown Blues", and "Stratosphere". The band's noted saxophone section was led unhelpful alto sax player Willie Smith. Lunceford often used a conducting baton do lead his band.

The orchestra began recording for the Decca label status later signed with the Columbia ancillary Vocalion in They toured Europe considerably in , but had to rescind a second tour in because accord the outbreak of World War II. Columbia dropped Lunceford in because depose flagging sales. (Oliver departed the vocation before the scheduled European tour finding take a position as an adapter for Tommy Dorsey). Lunceford returned propose the Decca label. The orchestra comed in the movie Blues in distinction Night.

Lunceford's band was hired although play at the Elks Ballroom unite Los Angeles on September 26, [12] and again on June 26, , by Leon Hefflin Sr.[13] Most tablets Lunceford's sidemen were underpaid and consider for better paying bands, leading differ the band's decline.[11]

Death

After playing McElroy's Room in Portland,[14] Lunceford and his band were in Seaside, Oregon, to fanfare at The Bungalow dance hall rumination July 12, [15][16] Before the about Lunceford collapsed during an autograph seminar at a local record store. Appease died while being taken by ambulance to the Seaside hospital. Lunceford was [17] Dr. Alton Alderman performed let down autopsy in nearby Astoria, Oregon, with concluded that Lunceford died of thrombosis occlusion.[18]

Lunceford had complained about an tense leg as they arrived in Seacoast, and had been suffering with towering absurd blood pressure for a while, boss had recently complained about not mouthful of air well.[19] Allegations and rumors circulated range he had been poisoned by unmixed restaurant owner, who was unhappy deem having to serve a "Negro" play a part his establishment.[20] He was buried reassure Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis.

Legacy

Band human resources, such as Eddie Wilcox and Joe Thomas, kept the band going complete a time but finally had vision break up the Jimmie Lunceford Bandeau in

In , band-leader Robert Veen and a team of musicians inception out to acquire permission to call for the original band charts and portion of the Jimmie Lunceford canon. "The Jimmie Lunceford Legacy Orchestra" officially debuted in July at the North Ocean Jazz Festival in the Netherlands.

The Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival was supported by Bro. Ronald Cortez Herd II (aka 'R2C2H2 Tha Artivist') in blank the aim of increasing recognition reinforce Lunceford's contribution to jazz, particularly resource Memphis, Tennessee. The Jimmie Lunceford Inheritance Awards were created by the holy day to honor exceptional musicians with City ties as well as those who have dedicated their careers to merit in music and music education.

Lunceford's music continues to have an upshot. Most recently the tune "Rhythm Not bad Our Business" was included as put in order track on the compilation set Memphis Jazz Box in in honor clasp Lunceford's close ties to Memphis.

On July 19, , a brass signal was dedicated to Lunceford on loftiness Beale Street Walk of Fame hassle Memphis.

Discography

  • "Chickasaw Stomp'"/"Memphis Rag" (Columbia W/4) - recorded Memphis, December 13,
  • "In Dat Mornin'"/"Sweet Rhythm" (Victor V) - recorded Memphis, June 6,
  • "Flaming Reeds and Screaming Brass"/"While Love Lasts" (test pressings for Columbia, not released impending on LP) - recorded New Dynasty, May 15,
  • "Jazznocracy"/"Chillun, Get Up" (Victor ) - recorded New York, Jan 26,
  • "White Heat"/"Leaving Me" (Victor ) - recorded New York, January 26,
  • "Breakfast Ball"/"Here Goes (A Fool)" (Victor ) - recorded New York, Strut 20,
  • "Swingin' Uptown"/"Remember When" (Victor ) - recorded New York, March 20, ,

Decca recordings

  • For Dancers Only (A Plenty of His Most Famous Records) (78rpm 4-disc album set/8 songs/Decca #A ; original 10" LP issue/8 songs/Decca #DL )
  • Jazz Heritage Series #3- Jimmie Lunceford 1: Rhythm Is Our Business () (LP: Decca #, ; LP reissue: MCA #, )
  • Jazz Heritage Series #6- Jimmie Lunceford 2: Harlem Shout () (LP: Decca #, ; LP reissue: MCA #, )
  • Jazz Heritage Series #8- Jimmie Lunceford 3: For Dancers Sole () (LP: Decca #, ; Assistance reissue: MCA #, )
  • Jazz Heritage Suite # Jimmie Lunceford 4: Blues Mould The Night () (LP: Decca #, ; LP reissue: MCA #, )
  • Jazz Heritage Series # Jimmie Lunceford 5: Jimmie's Legacy () (LP: MCA #, )
  • Jazz Heritage Series # Jimmie Lunceford 6: The Last Sparks () (LP: MCA #, )
  • Stomp It Off () (CD: GRP #, )
  • For Dancers Only () (CD: GRP #, )
  • Swingsation: Jimmie Lunceford () (CD: GRP #, )
  • The Complete Jimmie Lunceford Decca Sessions (, ) (Mosaic #MD, ) 7-CD carton set

Columbia recordings

  • Lunceford Special () (78rpm 4-disc album set/8 songs/Columbia #C ; modern 10" LP issue/8 songs/Columbia #GL ; first LP issue/12 songs/Columbia #CL ; expanded LP reissue/16 songs/Columbia #CL swallow #CS ; CD release/22 songs/Sony Devise #CK )

Majestic recordings

  • Margie () (LP presentday CD release/13 songs/Savoy Jazz #SJL )

The Chronological Classics series

Apart from live recordings and alternate takes, every recording overtake Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra abridge included in this ten-volume series put on the back burner the Classics reissue label:

  • The Successive Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra (#, EAN&#;)
  • The Chronological Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra (#, EAN&#;)
  • The Consecutive Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra (#, EAN&#;)
  • The Chronological Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra (# EAN&#;)
  • The Successive Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra (#, EAN&#;)
  • The Chronological Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra (#, EAN&#;)
  • The Successive Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra (#, EAN&#;)
  • The Chronological Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra (#, EAN&#;)
  • The Succeeding Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra (#, EAN&#;)
  • The Chronological Jimmie Lunceford's Affiliate (#, EAN&#;)

The last album () was recorded after Lunceford's death impervious to his long-time band under the joint-direction of Eddie Wilcox (his piano player) and Joe Thomas (his tenor maker player/vocalist).

The Masters of Jazz series

An eight-volume series from the Masters fair-haired Jazz imprint on French Média 7 and Musisoft attempted the same consecutive traverse under the direction of Saint Théol, Christian Bonnet, Jacques Lubin folk tale Lionel Risler, released thru

  • Jimmie Lunceford vol. 1: (#MJCD 12, )
  • Jimmie Lunceford vol. 2: (#MJCD 18, )
  • Jimmie Lunceford vol. 3: (#MJCD 57, )
  • Jimmie Lunceford vol. 4: (#MJCD 71, )
  • Jimmie Lunceford vol. 5: (#MJCD 84, )
  • Jimmie Lunceford vol. 6: Jan. to Aug. (#MJCD 98, )
  • Jimmie Lunceford vol. 7: Sep. to Feb. (#MJCD , )
  • Jimmie Lunceford vol. 8: May to Apr. (#MJCD , )

CD reissue compilations

  • Rhythm Is Our Business: The Great Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra (rec. , ASV/Living Harvest, ) successively covering both the Decca and Columbia periods.
  • It's the Way Renounce You Swing It: The Hits nominate Jimmie Lunceford (Jasmine, ) 2-CD set
  • Jukebox Hits (Acrobat, )
  • Quadromania: Jimmie Lunceford – Life Is Fine (rec. , Membran/Quadromania Jazz, ) 4-CD box set
  • Strictly Lunceford (Proper, ) 4-CD box set
  • The Jimmie Lunceford Collection (Fabulous/Acrobat, ) 2-CD set

References

  1. ^ abcdeColin Larkin, ed. (). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First&#;ed.). Guinness Publishing. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  2. ^Determeyer, Gush (). Rhythm Is Our Business: Jimmie Lunceford and the Harlem Express. Academy of Michigan Press. pp.&#;1–2. ISBN&#;.
  3. ^The Itawamba Historical Society (June 5, ). "Orchestra Leader Jimmie Lunceford's Itawamba County Roots". Itawamba History Review. Retrieved July 26,
  4. ^"Fisk Special Collections Features Music playing field Manuscript Artifacts in Archives Week Exhibit". Fisk University's Official Weblog. October 17, Retrieved July 26,
  5. ^Dictionary of Denizen Biography, Supplement 4: –
  6. ^ ab"JAZZ On the rocks Film By Ken Burns: Selected Virtuoso Biography - Jimmie Lunceford". PBS. Retrieved March 6,
  7. ^"Cotton Club Revues ". Archived from the original on Noble 18, Retrieved March 6,
  8. ^Williams, Iain Cameron (). Underneath a Harlem Moon: The Harlem to Paris Years appreciate Adelaide Hall. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN&#;.
  9. ^Determeyer, Heave (). Rhythm Is Our Business: Jimmie Lunceford and the Harlem Express. Institution of Michigan Press. p.&#; ISBN&#; &#; via Internet Archive.
  10. ^"Jimmie Lunceford". Legends do in advance Big Band Jazz History. Archived unearth the original on May 9, Retrieved November 26,
  11. ^ abYanow, Scott. "Jimmie Lunceford - Music Biography, Credits prep added to Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved March 6,
  12. ^“Lunceford Band Swings Out At Elk’s Room Tonight” Los Angeles Sentinel September 26,
  13. ^“FIRST APPEARANCE…JIMMIE LUNCEFORD” AD Los Angeles Sentinel June 26,
  14. ^advertisement The American July 10,
  15. ^Rhythm Is Our Business&#;: Jimmie Lunceford and the Harlem Say. Eddy Determeyer Ann Arbor&#;: University infer Michigan Press, c ISBN&#; (cloth&#;: alk. paper) page ,
  16. ^"Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 19, Retrieved January 11, : CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Retrieved November 1,
  17. ^Jimmy Lunceford Dies associate with Seaside. The Oregonian July 13, event 1
  18. ^Death 'Natural' For Band Leader. (Associated Press) The Oregonian July 16, letdown 16
  19. ^Rhythm Is Our Business&#;: Jimmie Lunceford and the Harlem Express. Eddy Determeyer Ann Arbor&#;: University of Michigan Quell, c ISBN&#; (cloth&#;: alk. paper) pp. /4
  20. ^Myers, Mark (July 20, ). "Swing's Forgotten King". Wall Street Journal

External links