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Jimmie Lunceford

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Jimmie Lunceford
Born
James Melvin Lunceford

(1902-06-06) 6 June 1902 (age 124)
Near Fulton, Mississippi, U.S.
Died12 July 1947(1947-07-12) (aged 45)
Occupation(s)Alto saxophonist, bandleader
Known forContributions to jazz during the swing era; leader of the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra

James Melvin Lunceford (June 6, 1902 – July 12, 1947) was a prominent American alto saxophonist and bandleader recognized for his contributions to jazz during the swing era.

Early life

Born on a 53-acre farm near Fulton, Mississippi owned by his father James, Lunceford was raised in a musical household; his mother, Idella ("Ida") Shumpert from Oklahoma City, was a skilled organ player. When he was seven months old, the family moved to Oklahoma City.[1] Later, they relocated to Denver, where Lunceford completed his high school education and studied music under Wilberforce J. Whiteman, father of famed bandleader Paul Whiteman. During his youth in Denver, he mastered several instruments. After graduating, he continued his education at Fisk University. By 1922, Lunceford was performing alto saxophone with a local group led by violinist George Morrison, which also featured future bandleader Andy Kirk.

Career

In 1927, while working as an athletic instructor at Manassas High School in Memphis, Tennessee, Lunceford established a student ensemble called the Chickasaw Syncopators, which eventually evolved into the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra.[1] The group turned professional in 1929 and recorded their debut tracks in 1930.[2] Lunceford holds the distinction of being Memphis’s first public high school band director.

Following various tours, the orchestra secured a residency in 1934 at the prestigious Harlem venue The Cotton Club, performing in the "Cotton Club Parade" revue headlined by Adelaide Hall.[3] This venue had previously introduced audiences to stars such as Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway. Lunceford’s precise musicianship paired with his charismatic stage presence made his band a perfect fit for the club, elevating their status.[4]

The hallmark of Lunceford’s ensemble was its emphasis on cohesive group playing over individual solos, featuring a distinctive two-beat rhythm known as the Lunceford two-beat.[5] Trumpeter and arranger Sy Oliver played a pivotal role in developing this sound and setting high standards for dance band arrangements.[2] Although not widely celebrated as an instrumentalist himself, Lunceford was proficient on multiple instruments and notably performed flute on the track "Liza".[6]

Incorporating elements of comedy and vaudeville into their performances was a signature of Lunceford’s shows. Numbers such as "Rhythm Is Our Business," "I'm Nuts about Screwy Music," and "Four or Five Times" blended witty swing rhythms with clever arrangements by Oliver and humorous lyrics. Their stage acts often included costumes, sketches, and playful parodies of popular white bands like those led by Paul Whiteman and Guy Lombardo.

Despite these entertaining features, Lunceford upheld rigorous musical discipline rooted in his background as an educator. At the height of swing's popularity during the 1930s, his orchestra competed with leading bands like those of Duke Ellington, Earl Hines, and Count Basie.[1] Signature tunes include "Wham (Re-Bop-Boom-Bam)," "Lunceford Special," and "For Dancers Only." The saxophone section was spearheaded by alto saxophonist Willie Smith, with Lunceford frequently conducting using a baton.

The orchestra initially recorded under Decca before moving to the Columbia subsidiary Vocalion in 1938. They embarked on extensive European tours in 1937 but canceled plans for another tour in 1939 due to the outbreak of World War II. Columbia severed ties with them in 1940 amid declining record sales; during this period, Oliver departed to arrange for Tommy Dorsey. Lunceford then returned to recording with Decca. The band also appeared in the 1941 motion picture Blues in the Night.

Performances at Los Angeles’s Elks Ballroom took place on September 26, 1940,[7] and again on June 26, 1947,[8] though many of the orchestra’s members left for better-paying opportunities elsewhere, contributing to its eventual decline.[6]

Death

Following a performance at McElroy's Ballroom in Portland, Lunceford and his orchestra were slated to appear at The Bungalow dance hall in Seaside, Oregon on July 12, 1947. Prior to the engagement, Lunceford collapsed while signing autographs at a nearby record store and passed away during transport to the Seaside hospital at the age of 45. An autopsy conducted by Dr. Alton Alderman in Astoria determined that the cause of death was coronary occlusion. Lunceford had a history of hypertension and had reported leg pain and general fatigue before his sudden collapse. Unverified rumors suggested he might have been poisoned by a restaurant proprietor who refused service due to his race; however, these allegations lack supporting evidence. He was interred at Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis.

Legacy

After Lunceford's passing, members such as Eddie Wilcox and Joe Thomas continued leading the orchestra until it eventually disbanded in 1949.

In 1999, bandleader Robert Veen along with associates acquired the rights to Lunceford’s original charts and arrangements, which led to the creation of "The Jimmie Lunceford Legacy Orchestra." This ensemble made its debut in July 2005 at the North Sea Jazz Festival held in the Netherlands.

To further promote Lunceford’s contributions to jazz—particularly within Memphis—the Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival was founded in 2007 by Bro. Ronald Cortez Herd II (also known as 'R2C2H2 Tha Artivist'). The festival also inaugurated the Jimmie Lunceford Legacy Awards, recognizing musicians connected to Memphis and those committed to excellence in both music and education.

Lunceford’s impact remains significant; for instance, "Rhythm Is Our Business" appeared on the 2004 compilation Memphis Jazz Box, underscoring his enduring association with Memphis jazz traditions.

Decca recordings

  • For Dancers Only (A Collection of His Most Famous Records) (78rpm 4-disc album set/8 songs/Decca #A-664: 1949; original 10" LP release/8 songs/Decca #DL-5393: 1952)
  • Jazz Heritage Series #3 – Jimmie Lunceford 1: Rhythm Is Our Business (1934-1935) (LP: Decca #79237, 1968; reissued: MCA #1302, 1980)
  • Jazz Heritage Series #6 – Jimmie Lunceford 2: Harlem Shout (1935-1936) (LP: Decca #79238, 1968; reissued: MCA #1305, 1980)
  • Jazz Heritage Series #8 – Jimmie Lunceford 3: For Dancers Only (1936-1937) (LP: Decca #79239, 1968; reissued: MCA #1307, 1980)
  • Jazz Heritage Series #15 – Jimmie Lunceford 4: Blues In The Night (1938-1942) (LP: Decca #79240, 1968; reissued: MCA #1314, 1980)
  • Jazz Heritage Series #21 – Jimmie Lunceford 5: Jimmie's Legacy (1934-1937) (LP: MCA #1320, 1980)
  • Jazz Heritage Series #22 – Jimmie Lunceford 6: The Last Sparks (1941-1944) (LP: MCA #1321, 1980)
  • Stomp It Off (1934-1935) (CD: GRP #608, 1992)
  • For Dancers Only (1935-1937) (CD: GRP #645, 1994)
  • Swingsation: Jimmie Lunceford (1935-1938) (CD: GRP #9923, 1998)
  • The Complete Jimmie Lunceford Decca Sessions (1934-1938, 1941-1945) (Mosaic #MD7-250, 2014) – a comprehensive 7-CD collection

Columbia recordings

  • Lunceford Special (1939-1940) (78rpm 4-disc album set/8 tracks/Columbia #C-175: 1948; original 10" LP edition/8 tracks/Columbia #GL-104: 1952; initial LP release/12 tracks/Columbia #CL-634: 1956; expanded LP reissue/16 tracks/Columbia #CL-2715 and #CS-9515: 1967; CD edition/22 tracks/Sony Legacy #CK-65647: 2001)

Majestic recordings

  • Margie (1946-1947) (LP and CD editions/13 tracks/Savoy Jazz #SJL-1209: 1989)

The Chronological Classics series

Classics Records produced a ten-volume collection that features almost all recordings by Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra:

  • The Chronological Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra 1930-1934 (#501)
  • The Chronological Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra 1934-1935 (#505)
  • The Chronological Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra 1935-1937 (#510)
  • The Chronological Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra 1937-1939 (#520)
  • The Chronological Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra 1939 (#532)
  • The Chronological Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra 1939-1940 (#565)
  • The Chronological Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra 1940-1941 (#622)
  • The Chronological Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra 1941-1945 (#862)
  • The Chronological Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra 1945-1947 (#1082)
  • The Chronological Jimmie Lunceford's Orchestra 1948-1949 (#1151)

Recordings made following Lunceford's passing by his ensemble under the leadership of Eddie Wilcox and Joe Thomas are included in the concluding volume.

The Masters of Jazz series

Between 1991 and 2000, the French labels Média 7 and Musisoft issued an eight-part chronological series under the Masters of Jazz brand, overseen by Bruno Théol, Christian Bonnet, Jacques Lubin, and Lionel Risler:

  • Jimmie Lunceford vol. 1: 1927-1934 (#MJCD 12)
  • Jimmie Lunceford vol. 2: 1934 (#MJCD 18)
  • Jimmie Lunceford vol. 3: 1935-1936 (#MJCD 57)
  • Jimmie Lunceford vol. 4: 1936-1937 (#MJCD 71)
  • Jimmie Lunceford vol. 5: 1937-1939 (#MJCD 84)
  • Jimmie Lunceford vol. 6: Jan. to Aug. 1939 (#MJCD 98)
  • Jimmie Lunceford vol. 7: Sep. 1939 to Feb. 1940 (#MJCD 147)
  • Jimmie Lunceford vol. 8: May 1940 to Apr. 1940 (#MJCD 160)

CD reissue compilations

  • Rhythm Is Our Business: The Great Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra (recorded between 1933 and 1940, ASV/Living Era, released in 1992), covering periods with Decca and Columbia.
  • It's the Way That You Swing It: The Hits of Jimmie Lunceford (Jasmine, issued in 2002) – two-CD collection
  • Jukebox Hits 1935-1947 (Acrobat, released in 2005)
  • Quadromania: Jimmie Lunceford – Life Is Fine (recordings from 1935 to 1945, Membran/Quadromania Jazz, published in 2006) – four-CD box set
  • Strictly Lunceford (Proper, released in 2007) – four-CD box set
  • The Jimmie Lunceford Collection 1930-47 (Fabulous/Acrobat, issued in 2014) – two-CD set
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named LarkinGE
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