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Jimmy Rushing

James Andrew "Jimmy" Rushing (August 26, 1901 – June 8, 1972) was an American blues shouter, jazz singer, and renowned for his powerful voice and emotive delivery in both up-tempo numbers and heartfelt ballads. Born in to a musical family—his father played , while his mother and brother were vocalists—Rushing grew up immersed in music, studying and before attending and working as a professional in during the mid-1920s. His career took off in 1927 when he joined Walter Page's Blue Devils orchestra, where he made his recording debut in 1929, before moving to Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra in 1930. Rushing's defining period came in 1935, when he became the featured vocalist for Count Basie's Orchestra, a role he held for nearly 15 years until 1948 or 1950, contributing to the band's signature Kansas City swing sound through hits like "Boogie Woogie" (1936) and "Sent for You Yesterday and Here You Come with a Love Song" (1939). Nicknamed "Mr. Five by Five" for his stout 5-foot, 200-pound frame, he was celebrated for bridging blues and jazz traditions, earning praise as one of the greatest male blues singers and influencing artists like B.B. King, who dubbed him "the Henry Ford of the Blues." After leaving Basie, Rushing freelanced with ensembles including Buck Clayton's orchestra and the Dave Brubeck Quartet, recorded acclaimed solo albums for labels like Vanguard (1954–1957) and Columbia (1956–1960), and appeared in films such as The Learning Tree (1969). He was a regular at the Newport Jazz Festival and featured in the iconic 1958 photograph A Great Day in Harlem. Rushing continued performing into his final years despite battling , posthumously winning magazine's poll for Best Male Singer in 1972, and was inducted into the in 2024. His endures as a pivotal figure in and vocal history, with recordings that showcase his versatility and emotional depth.

Early life

Childhood and family

James Andrew Rushing was born on August 26, 1901, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Andrew and Cora Rushing. His father, Andrew, was a who played the in local bands and owned a lunchroom on Northeast Second Street in the Deep Deuce district, a vibrant known for its emerging and scene. His mother, Cora, worked as a homemaker, , and soloist in the local church choir, contributing to the family's musical environment. The Rushing family enjoyed a middle-class status within Oklahoma City's Black community, supported by Andrew's business ventures and the parents' involvement in community music activities. They had at least one older brother, who was also musically inclined as a and vocalist. Home life revolved around this shared passion for music, with young Jimmy assisting at his father's lunchroom by singing, cooking, and serving root beer, while being exposed to and early influences from the lively Deep Deuce area. The family participated in local Baptist church music, where Cora's choir role provided Jimmy with early vocal experiences alongside his mother. An uncle, a at a local establishment, further immersed the household in diverse musical styles. During his early years up to age 12, the Rushings remained in with no recorded relocations, allowing Jimmy to absorb the cultural richness of the neighborhood. His initial school experiences included in the city's segregated system, supplemented by informal learning at home, such as picking up the by ear despite parental restrictions on . By this time, the foundational blend of family support, church involvement, and local sounds had begun shaping his lifelong connection to .

Musical beginnings

Jimmy Rushing developed his musical talents in , where he was born into a family with strong musical inclinations. His father was a trumpeter, while his mother and brother were vocalists, providing an early environment rich in music. Against his parents' wishes—due to the piano's association with nightclubs—Rushing taught himself to play the instrument by ear, alongside learning the in a similar self-directed manner. By his early teens, around , he had honed these skills, drawing influences from the hymns sung in settings, which blended spiritual traditions with emerging rhythmic elements. During his formal education at Douglass High School in , approximately from 1916 to 1919, Rushing studied under the guidance of educator Zelia N. Breaux. He actively participated in the school choir, where he sang and occasionally accompanied performances on for events, gaining practical experience in ensemble settings. These school activities, combined with his involvement in local church choirs, marked his initial forays into vocal performance, allowing him to explore a range of styles from classical and to budding influences. Seeking greater opportunities, Rushing moved to in the mid-1920s. There, he immersed himself in the local music scene, performing at small clubs and social gatherings. This period included his early paid work as a and singer, notably joining the Billy King Musical , which provided his first structured professional exposure in a revue format blending and elements.

Career

Early performances and recordings

In 1923, Jimmy Rushing launched his professional career as a singer and dancer with the Billy King Road Show, a troupe that toured theaters across the South and Midwest, where he honed his performance skills alongside playing. By the mid-1920s, he relocated to , performing in Los Angeles nightspots and briefly accompanying pianist , which exposed him to broader influences while he continued freelance singing engagements. Returning to the area in 1927, Rushing joined Walter Page's Blue Devils, a prominent territory band, as a vocalist and , marking his entry into the scene. From 1927 to 1929, he worked freelance in Kansas City clubs, contributing to after-hours jam sessions that solidified his reputation for a powerful blues-shouting style, characterized by emotive delivery and rhythmic phrasing suited to the era's territorial jazz ensembles. Rushing's recording debut came on November 10, 1929, with the Blue Devils in Kansas City, where he provided vocals on "Blue Devil Blues," a track that captured the band's raw, blues-infused sound and highlighted his commanding presence. During this period, his stocky build—standing five feet tall with a wide frame—earned him the affectionate nickname "Mr. Five by Five" in local music circles, a moniker that later inspired a 1942 hit song.

Time with Bennie Moten and Count Basie

In 1929, Jimmy Rushing joined 's Kansas City Orchestra as the primary baritone vocalist and occasional pianist, bringing his blues-inflected singing to the ensemble's evolving sound. During his tenure, the band recorded several influential tracks, including the "Moten Swing" in December 1932, a high-energy composition co-credited to Moten and Buster Smith that exemplified the group's shift toward a more propulsive, riff-based style and became a standard. Bennie Moten's sudden death on April 2, 1935, from complications following a , marked a for the orchestra. Pianist , who had joined in 1929, assumed leadership, reforming it as the with many of Moten's key personnel, including Rushing as the featured vocalist. Rushing's presence helped maintain continuity, as his warm, emotive anchored the band's blues-oriented repertoire during this transitional period. Under Basie's direction, the orchestra's 1935 residency at Kansas City's Reno Club became legendary, with nightly performances broadcast locally on experimental radio station W9XBY, attracting attention from jazz aficionados and leading to broader opportunities. These broadcasts, heard by John Hammond in , paved the way for the band's national breakthrough, including a pivotal 1936 appearance on the that amplified their reach. Rushing's vocal contributions shone in the band's early recordings for Decca, particularly sessions in 1937 that yielded "Boogie Woogie" (March 26), where his declarative phrasing intertwined with the horn sections' riffs, highlighting the orchestra's signature rhythmic precision and feeling. Tracks like these established Rushing as an indispensable part of Basie's sound, blending Kansas City traditions with emerging .

Post-Basie solo career

After departing from Count Basie's orchestra around 1950, Jimmy Rushing briefly retired before forming and leading a seven-piece band that performed regularly at New York's from 1950 to 1952. He then transitioned to a freelance career, singing with various ensembles including those led by Basie alumni and prominent swing musicians such as , while making frequent appearances in clubs throughout the 1950s and 1960s. During this period, Rushing recorded for several labels, including sessions for in 1955–1957 with 's orchestra that featured his vocals on tracks like "Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You," later compiled in collections highlighting his postwar output. In 1958, Rushing joined Benny Goodman's orchestra for a European tour culminating at the , where he contributed vocals to recordings such as "Brussels Blues" and "Mr. Five by Five," marking a notable collaboration that showcased his blues-inflected style alongside Goodman's swing ensemble. This engagement helped elevate his international profile, building on earlier recordings but emphasizing his independent role post-Basie. The following year, in 1959, Rushing toured again with Buck Clayton's group, performing in cities including and , which further solidified his reputation abroad among audiences. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Rushing maintained residencies in nightclubs in and , often backed by tenor saxophonists and or pianist , delivering sets that blended blues standards with swing arrangements. He also made guest appearances on television, including a 1962 episode of the jazz program Jazz Casual, where he performed with a small combo, extending his reach to broader audiences during this era of his solo work. Additional tours included multiple visits to with Humphrey Lyttelton's band and a 1964 trip to and with Eddie Condon's group, during which he continued to draw crowds with his commanding stage presence. Rushing's later recordings reflected a fusion of blues and jazz, as seen in his prolific output for labels like (1954–1957) and (1956–1960), including albums such as Goin' to Chicago and The Jazz Odyssey of James Rushing Esq. that featured collaborations with artists like and . His final major project was the 1971 RCA album The You and Me That Used to Be, which paired him with musicians including , , and Ray Nance for a set of standards and blues emphasizing his mature interpretive depth. Rushing remained active in performances and recordings until his death in 1972.

Personal life

Relationships and residences

Jimmy Rushing was married twice; his second marriage was to Connie Rushing, with whom he lived from the 1940s until his death in 1972. They had two sons, and . Connie contributed compositions to Rushing's 1968 album Livin' the Blues, including tracks that reflected their shared life. Rushing maintained close friendships with jazz contemporaries, notably Count Basie and , forged during their time in the Bennie Moten and Basie orchestras in . These bonds often involved shared living arrangements , such as during extended tours where band members roomed together in Kansas City hotels or Midwest venues to manage the demands of constant travel. Basie later credited Rushing with providing emotional support during personal hardships, highlighting their enduring personal connection beyond the stage. Rushing's residences shifted with his career trajectory. He spent his childhood and early adulthood in Oklahoma City, where his family home served as the foundation for his musical upbringing in the 1910s. In the early 1920s, he relocated to Los Angeles, immersing himself in the West Coast jazz scene while working with ensembles like Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers. By 1927, he moved to Kansas City, residing in local apartments during his pivotal years with the Moten and Basie bands through the 1930s. In the post-Basie era, Rushing settled in New York City, making his home in Jamaica, Queens, by the late 1960s. He returned periodically to Los Angeles in the 1960s for performances and recordings, maintaining ties to the city's vibrant jazz community.

Health issues and death

In the late 1960s, Jimmy Rushing's health began to deteriorate, leading to a reduction in his touring schedule by 1970 as he dealt with ongoing medical challenges. He was diagnosed with in 1971, which severely limited his ability to perform. Rushing's condition worsened in 1972, resulting in multiple hospitalizations. On June 8, 1972, he died at the age of 70 in from . Funeral services were held in New York City at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. Rushing was buried at Maple Grove Cemetery in .

Musical style and legacy

Vocal technique and influences

Jimmy Rushing possessed a signature voice characterized by a rich, husky that allowed him to project powerfully over ensembles, emphasizing emotional depth in his delivery of ballads such as "Good Morning Blues." His was marked by sincerity and dramatization, transforming even banal lyrics into compelling narratives through operatic fervor applied to forms. Rushing's influences drew deeply from gospel traditions rooted in his family's musical background in . Vaudeville experiences from his 1920s tours with territory bands further shaped his performative flair, blending theatrical timing with expression. In terms of , Rushing rarely employed scat-like improvisations, instead excelling in masterful phrasing and precise timing that facilitated call-and-response interactions with horn sections, creating a dynamic in performances. His approach evolved significantly over time, shifting from piano-accompanied solo singing in the early to a focus on collaborations by the , allowing his voice to swing naturally across tempos with subtlety and honest feeling.

Critical reception and impact

Jimmy Rushing received widespread acclaim during his career for his ability to blend shouting with phrasing, earning him consistent recognition in polls and reviews. In the , critics praised his energetic delivery and emotional depth, with famously dubbing him "the daddy of them all" among singers for his commanding presence and interpretive skill. His recordings with Count Basie, such as those from the late 1930s, were highlighted in contemporary publications for bridging raw emotion with the polished sound, solidifying his reputation as one of the era's premier male vocalists. Rushing's influence extended to subsequent generations of jazz and rhythm-and-blues performers, particularly through his mentorship and stylistic innovations. He directly shaped singers like Joe Williams, who cited Rushing among his key influences and succeeded him in the Basie orchestra, adopting elements of his blues-inflected swing approach while expanding into ballads. His distinctive phrasing—marked by rhythmic tension and off-beat accents—also impacted rhythm-and-blues pioneers, contributing to the evolution of soul-infused vocal styles in the postwar era. Posthumously, Rushing's contributions have been honored through several major inductions that underscore his foundational role in jazz and blues. He was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1988, recognizing his tenure as Basie's lead vocalist and his broader impact on big band singing. In 1997, he entered the , celebrating his roots and early development in the scene. In 1994, Rushing was one of eight jazz and blues legends honored in a set of stamps. Most recently, in 2024, the Blues Foundation inducted him into its Hall of Fame, acclaiming him as a pioneer of big band blues belting who influenced shouters like . In the , archival reissues have renewed appreciation for Rushing's preservation of traditions, with compilations like The Jazz Odyssey of James Rushing Esq. (reissued in 2000) showcasing his mid-career work and rhythmic vitality. These efforts, alongside broader movements in the 1990s and 2000s, have highlighted his enduring stylistic legacy, inspiring neo-swing artists who draw on his blend of grit and orchestral .

Discography

Key albums and compilations

A landmark recording in Rushing's career was The Fabulous Jimmy Rushing (1955, ), produced with Buck Clayton's orchestra and celebrated for its high-fidelity production that captured the warmth and dynamics of his blues-inflected delivery. In his later career, Rushing released Five by Five (1966, ), a live album documenting performances from European tours that emphasized his energetic stage presence and improvisational flair; this was followed by Every Day I Have the Blues (1967, BluesWay Records), arranged and conducted by , which blended big-band swing with contemporary elements. Posthumous releases include the compilation Mr. Five by Five (1975, ), which gathered select tracks spanning his career to honor his nickname and enduring blues legacy. The comprehensive box set The Complete Decca Recordings (1993, GRP Records) collects his 1930s and 1940s sessions, primarily from his time with and Count Basie, providing insight into his formative years as a band vocalist. During the 1960s, Rushing collaborated with labels such as and on several projects, often taking a hands-on role in production alongside alumni from Count Basie's orchestra, including musicians like and , to recreate the swing-era sound with modern polish.

Notable singles and collaborations

Jimmy Rushing's early singles with the Orchestra showcased his blues-shouting style in the scene. During his time with Count Basie's orchestra, Rushing contributed to several jukebox favorites that defined the . "Sent for You Yesterday and Here You Come Today," recorded in 1939 for , became a popular hit, blending Rushing's emotive phrasing with Basie's tight ensemble work. He also sang lead on "Going to Chicago Blues" (1940, Okeh), a signature number. In his post-Basie solo career, Rushing achieved visibility with releases like "Good Morning Blues" (1947, Aladdin Records), demonstrating his ability to adapt Basie-era material for a audience. A notable collaboration came in 1960 with the Quartet on the album Brubeck & Rushing, featuring tracks like "Blues in the Dark," blending Rushing's style with . Later in his career, Rushing returned for guest spots that bridged his legacy with new generations, including appearances with Basie alumni and at festivals. Despite limited mainstream chart success, Rushing's singles resonated strongly within circles, exemplified by his posthumous win in magazine's 1972 poll for Best Male Singer.

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