Jimmy Rushing

Born August 26, 1901, Jimmy Rushing was an extremely influential jump blues and jazz vocalist and musician best known as the featured vocalist in Count Basie’s Orchestra beginning in 1935 and lasting until 1948. Initially a pianist, he became a singer in 1924 when the vocalist of the band asked him to duet with her. Nicknamed ‘Mr. Five by Five’ because of his physical build, his early forays into singing professionally included stints with Walter Page’s Blue Devils in 1927, moving on to Bennie Moten’s band in 1929. Moten died in 1935 and Rushing joined the Count Basie Orchestra that same year. After 13 years singing with Basie, Rushing took a break and then began performing with his own group while also making guest appearances with other groups. He released his first solo album, Sings the Blues, in 1955. Further releases included Listen to the Blues with Jimmy Rushing (1956), If This Ain’t the Blues (1958), Five Feet of Soul (1963), Livin’ the Blues (1968), and his final release, The You and Me That Used to Be (1971). Rushing has been cited as being a major influence on post-war popular black music. Jimmy Rushing died on June 8, 1972 at the age of 70.

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