Jimmie Lunceford

Jimmie Lunceford

Source:Source: Preston Lauterbach

Launching the swing jazz portion of the HMR Project is one of its originators, Jimmie Lunceford, an enormously talented energy who took on the big job of leading an orchestra. Born on 6 June 1902 on a farm near Fulton, Mississippi, Lunceford grew up to play alto sax in Denver where he studied music under Paul Whiteman's father, Wilberforce J. Whiteman. Upon graduating from high school he attended Fisk University in Nashville. He had already been working professionally with the George Morrison Orchestra, recording several unissued tracks in spring of 1920 for Columbia, one which was released (A2945): 'I Know Why' [Lord]:

'I Know Why'   Jimmie Lunceford w the George Morrison Orchestra

Recorded 22 April 1920 in NYC   Columbia A2945

Composition: Benny Davis / Frank Warshauer / Jimmy Morgan

Lunceford was an athletic instructor at Manassas High School in Memphis, Tennessee, when he put together an orchestra of students called the Chickasaw Syncopators in 1927. That band is said to have made one solitary recording, Lunceford out, in December 1927. But not until 1930 did it record to issue, those for Victor in Memphis, Tennessee, on June 6: 'In Dat Mornin'' and 'Sweet Rhythm':

'Sweet Rhythm'   Jimmie Lunceford w His Chickasaw Syncopators

Recorded 6 June 1930 in Memphis, IN   Victor V38141

Composition: Edwin Wilcox

With the Syncopators grown from a high school band into a professional operation, Lunceford changed its name to His Orchestra, though he would call it the Syncopators on future occasions. It was with His Orchestra that he next laid tracks on May 5, 1933, in NYC: 'Flaming Reeds and Screaming Brass' and 'While Love Lasts'. It was 1934 when Lunceford and his Orchestra began recording en force for another thirteen years. Among Lunceford's most important associations during the thirties was arranger, trumpeter and vocalist, Sy Oliver (also Cy), who works in one or another of those capacities in numerous tracks below:

'Ain't She Sweet'   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra

'Voice of America Jazz Hour' w William Conover sometime 1934

This title isn't found in DAHR. Not in Lord until 7 April 1939 toward Vocalion/Okeh 4875

Music: Milton Ager   Lyrics: Jack Yellen

'Jazznocracy'   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra

Recorded 26 Jan 1934 in NYC   Matrix BS-81325   Victor 24522

Composition: Will Hudson

'Leaving Me'   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra

Recorded 26 Jan 1934 in NYC   Matrix BS-81327   Victor 24586

Composition: Fats Waller / Andy Razaf / Irving Mills

'Breakfast Ball'   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra   Vocalist: Sy Oliver

Recorded 20 March 1934   Matrix BS-82219   Victor 24601-B

Composition: Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler

'Here Goes'   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra   Vocalist: Henry Wells

Recorded 20 March 1934   Matrix BS-82220   Victor 24601-A

Composition: Henry Wells

'Unsophisticated Sue'   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra

Recorded 5 Sep 1934 in NYC   Decca 129

Composition: Andy Razaf / Harold Raymond / Nat Simon

'Rhythm Is Our Business' (aka 'Stomp It Off')   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra

Recorded and issued as 'Stomp It Off'   29 Oct 1934 in NYC   Decca 712

Issued as 'Rhythm Is Our Business' on DL79237 in 1968

Composition: Jimmie Lunceford / Sammy Cahn / Saul Chaplin

'Rain'   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra

Recorded  7 Nov 1934 in NYC   Decca 415 A

Composition: Arthur Swanstrom / Carey Morgan / Eugene Ford

'Because You're You'   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra   Vocalist: Henry Wells

Recorded  17 Dec 1934 in NYC   Decca 415 B

Composition: Jimmie Lunceford / Sy Oliver / Will Hudson

'Avalon'   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra   Vocalist: Sy Oliver

'Voice of America Jazz Hour' w William Conover sometime 1935

DAHR and Lord list one session for this title on 30 Sep 1935 issued on Decca 668

Composition: Al Jolson / Vincent Rose

'On the Beach at Bali-Bali'   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra   Vocalist: Sy Oliver

Recorded  1 Sep 1936 in NYC   Polydor 12012

Composition: Abner Silver / Al Sherman / Jack Meskill

Beyond New York City that was Lunceford's turf, he took his band to Europe in early 1937. In the latter part of the year they performed engagements in Los Angeles for the first time:

'Annie Laurie'   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra   Vocalist: Sy Oliver

Recorded  5 Nov 1937 in Los Angeles   Decca 1569

Composition: Lady John Scott

'You're Just a Dream'   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra

Recorded  31 Jan 1939 in NYC   Matrix 24052-2   Vocalion 4754

Composition: Slim Gaillard / Green/Block

'The Lonesome Road'   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra   Vocalist: James Young

Recorded 31 Jan 1939 in NYC   Matrix 24053-1   Vocalion 4831

Composition: Gene Austin / Nathaniel Shilkret

'Blue Blazes'   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra   Vocalist: James Young

Recorded 7 Feb 1939 in NYC   Matrix 24053-1   Vocalion 4667

Composition: Sam Nowlin / Sy Oliver

'White Heat'   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra

Recorded 7 April 1939 in NYC   Vocalion 5156

Composition: Will Hudson

'Sassin' the Boss'   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra   Vocalist: Dan Grissom

Recorded 2 Aug 1939 in NYC   Matrix 24967-A   Vocalion 5116

Composition: Chick Adams / Larry Wagner

'I Want the Waiter'   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra

Recorded 2 Aug 1939 in NYC   Matrix 24968-A   Vocalion 5033

Composition: Kay & Sue Werner

'I Ain't Gonna Study War No More'   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra w the Dandridge Sisters

Recorded 19 June 1940 in NYC   Columbia 35567

Composition: Anon: traditional black spiritual preceding the Civil War

Aka 'Down by the Riverside' or 'Gonna Lay Down My Burden'

Published 1918 in 'Plantation Melodies'

'Hi Spook'   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra w the

Recorded 26 Aug 1941 in NYC   Decca 4032 A

Composition: Gerald Wilson

'Blues in the Night' ('My Mama Done Tol' Me')   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra

Recorded 22 Dec 1941 in NYC   Decca 4125 A

Composition: Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer

'Jay Gee'   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra

Recorded 25 April 1946 in NYC   Matrix T 718-6   Majestic 1053

Composition: Jimmie Lunceford

'Sit Back and Ree-Lax'   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra   Vocals: Lunceford Quartet

Recorded 25 April 1946 in NYC   Matrix T 719-12   Majestic 1053

Composition: Edwin Wilcox

'Call the Police!'   Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra   Vocalist: Joe Thomas

Recorded on final sessions date of 26 May 1947   Majestic 1122 A

Composition: Nat King Cole

Lunceford died a couple months after his last recorded tracks of cardiac arrest on 12 July 1947 in Seaside, Oregon, while signing autographs. It's thought, though not proven, that he was poisoned by a restaurant owner who didn't wish to serve a black person, as other members of his band became ill as well. Lunceford's orchestra continued to 1949 under the direction of Eddie Wilcox and Joe Thomas.