| Louis Jordan | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | "The King of the Jukebox" |
| Born | July 8, 1908 Brinkley, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | February 4, 1975 (aged 66) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genre(s) | Jump blues, Jazz, Blues, R&B, Big band, Rock 'n' Roll |
| Occupation(s) | Bandleader, songwriter, singer, saxophonist, actor |
| Instrument(s) | Alto saxophone, saxophone, piano, clarinet |
| Years active | 1932 - 1960s |
| Label(s) | Decca, Mercury |
| Associated acts | Tympany Five |
- This article is about the musician. Events 939 - The Major Occultation or Ghaybat el-Kubra of Muhammad al-Mahdi 1099 - First Crusade: 15000 Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Brinkley is the most populous city in Monroe County, Arkansas, United States. Arkansas ( is a state located in the southern region of the United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 211 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies leaving the Roman Empire in the hands of his two quarrelsome sons Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Jump blues is a type of Up-tempo Blues music influenced by Big band sound Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression A big band is a type of Musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930s until the late Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African A bandleader is the leader of a band of Musicians The term is most commonly though not exclusively used with a group that plays Popular music as A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both The saxophone (commonly referred to simply as sax) is a conical- bored transposing Musical instrument considered a member of the Woodwind An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The alto saxophone is a member of the Saxophone a family of Woodwind instruments invented by Adolphe Sax. The saxophone (commonly referred to simply as sax) is a conical- bored transposing Musical instrument considered a member of the Woodwind The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers The clarinet is a Musical instrument in the Woodwind family The name derives from adding the suffix -et meaning little to the Italian word Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Decca Records is a British Record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Mercury Records is a Record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Music Group in the US and are both subsidiaries of Tympany Five was a successful Rhythm and blues and Jazz dance band founded by Louis Jordan in 1938 For the French actor, see Louis Jourdan. This article is about the French actor for the Musician see Louis Jordan.
Louis Jordan (July 8, 1908 – February 4, 1975) was a pioneering American jazz, blues and rhythm & blues musician, songwriter and bandleader who enjoyed his greatest popularity from the late 1930s to the early 1950s. Events 939 - The Major Occultation or Ghaybat el-Kubra of Muhammad al-Mahdi 1099 - First Crusade: 15000 Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Events 211 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies leaving the Roman Empire in the hands of his two quarrelsome sons Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both A bandleader is the leader of a band of Musicians The term is most commonly though not exclusively used with a group that plays Popular music as Known as "The King of the Jukebox", Jordan was highly popular with both black and white audiences in the later years of the swing era. jukebox is a partially automated music-playing device usually a Coin -operated machine that can play specially selected songs from self-contained media Swing music, also known as swing jazz, is a form of Jazz music that developed in the early 1930s and had solidified as a distinctive style by 1935 in the United In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him #59 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Rolling Stone is a United States -based Magazine devoted to Music, Politics, and Popular culture that is published [1]
Contents |
Overview
Louis Jordan was one of the most successful African-American musicians of the 20th century, ranking fifth in the list of the all-time most successful black recording artists according to Billboard magazine's chart methodology. See Billboard (Turkish magazine Billboard is a weekly American Magazine devoted to the Music industry Though comprehensive sales figures are not available, he scored at least four million-selling hits during his career. Jordan regularly topped the R&B "race" charts, and was one of the first black recording artists to achieve a significant "crossover" in popularity into the mainstream (predominantly white) American audience, scoring simultaneous Top Ten hits on the white pop charts on several occasions. After Duke Ellington and Count Basie, Louis Jordan was probably the most popular and successful black bandleader of his day. Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29 1899 &ndash May 24 1974 was an American Composer, Pianist, and Bandleader. William "Count" Basie ( August 21, 1904 &ndash April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, Organist A bandleader is the leader of a band of Musicians The term is most commonly though not exclusively used with a group that plays Popular music as But in contrast to almost all of his colleagues of all races, he was a major personality in his own right, an all-round entertainer of enormous and diverse accomplishments.
Jordan was a talented singer with great comedic flair, and he fronted his own band for more than twenty years. He duetted with some of the biggest solo singing stars of his day, including Bing Crosby and Ella Fitzgerald. Harry Lillis “Bing” Crosby ( May 3, 1903 &ndash October 14, 1977) was an Academy Award winning American Popular Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25 1917 &ndash June 15 1996 also known as " Lady Ella " and the "First Lady of Song" is considered one of the most influential Jordan was also an actor and a major black film personality, appearing in dozens of "soundies" (promotional film clips), making numerous cameos in mainstream features and short films, and starring in two musical feature films made especially for him. He was an instrumentalist who specialized in the alto saxophone but played all forms of the instrument, as well as piano and clarinet. The saxophone (commonly referred to simply as sax) is a conical- bored transposing Musical instrument considered a member of the Woodwind The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers The clarinet is a Musical instrument in the Woodwind family The name derives from adding the suffix -et meaning little to the Italian word A productive songwriter, many of the songs he wrote or co-wrote became influential classics of 20th-century popular music.
Although Jordan began his career in big band swing jazz in the 1930s, he became famous as one of the leading practitioners, innovators and popularizers of "jump blues", a swinging, up-tempo, dance-oriented hybrid of jazz, blues and boogie-woogie. A big band is a type of Musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930s until the late Jump blues is a type of Up-tempo Blues music influenced by Big band sound Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression Boogie-woogie is a style of Piano -based Blues that became very popular in the late 1930s and early 1940s but originated much earlier and was extended from piano Typically performed by smaller bands consisting of five or six players, jump music featured shouted, highly syncopated vocals and earthy, comedic lyrics on contemporary urban themes. In Music, syncopation includes a variety of Rhythms which are in some way unexpected in that they deviate from the strict succession of regularly spaced It strongly emphasized the rhythm section of piano, bass and drums; after the mid-1940s, this mix was often augmented by electric guitar. An electric guitar is a type of Guitar that uses pickups to convert the vibration of its steel-cored strings into an electrical current which is made louder Jordan's band also pioneered the use of electronic organ. An electronic organ is an Electronic keyboard instrument originally designed to imitate the sound of a Pipe organ.
With his dynamic Tympany Five bands, Jordan mapped out the main parameters of the classic R&B, urban blues and early rock'n'roll genres with a series of hugely influential 78 rpm discs for the Decca label. Tympany Five was a successful Rhythm and blues and Jazz dance band founded by Louis Jordan in 1938 The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African A gramophone Decca Records is a British Record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. These recordings presaged many of the styles of black popular music in the 1950s and 1960s, and exerted a huge influence on many leading performers in these genres. Many of his records were produced by Milt Gabler, who went on to refine and develop the qualities of Jordan's recordings in his later production work with Bill Haley, including "Rock Around The Clock". Milton Gabler ( May 20, 1911 - July 20, 2001) was an American Record producer, responsible for many innovations in the recording This article is specifically about the singer For detailed information about his rock and roll group see Bill Haley & His Comets. For the movie named after the song see Rock Around the Clock (film.
Early life and musical career
Louis Thomas Jordan was born in Brinkley, Arkansas, where his father, James Aaron Jordan, was a local music teacher and bandleader for the Brinkley Brass Band and for the Rabbit Foot Minstrels. Brinkley is the most populous city in Monroe County, Arkansas, United States. Arkansas ( is a state located in the southern region of the United States. The Rabbit's Foot Company, also known as the Rabbit('s Foot Minstrels and colloquially as "The Foots" was a long running minstrel and variety troupe that His mother, Adell, died when Louis was young.
Jordan studied music under his father, and started out on clarinet. The clarinet is a Musical instrument in the Woodwind family The name derives from adding the suffix -et meaning little to the Italian word In his youth he played in his father’s bands instead of doing farm work when school closed. He also played piano professionally early in his career, but alto saxophone became his main instrument. The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers The saxophone (commonly referred to simply as sax) is a conical- bored transposing Musical instrument considered a member of the Woodwind However, he became even better known as a songwriter, entertainer and vocalist.
Jordan briefly attended Baptist College in Arkansas and majored in music. After a period with the Rabbit Foot Minstrels[2], and with local bands including Bob Alexander’s Harmony Kings[3], he went north to Philadelphia and then New York. In 1932, Jordan began performing with the band of Clarence Williams, and when in Philadelphia played clarinet in the Charlie Gaines band. Events January 14 - Maurice Ravel 's Piano Concerto is premiered in Paris October 19 - Frankie Laine
In late 1936 he was invited to join the influential Savoy Ballroom orchestra led by drummer Chick Webb. William Henry Webb, usually known as Chick Webb ( February 10, 1905 – June 16, 1939) was a Jazz and Swing music Based at New York's Savoy Ballroom, Webb's orchestra was renowned as one of the very best big bands of its day and they regularly beat all comers at the Savoy's legendary "cutting contests". The Savoy Ballroom located in Harlem, New York City, was a medium sized ballroom for Music and public Dancing that was in operation from 1926 Cutting contests were a form of musical battles between the various Stride piano players of Harlem in the early 1920s Jordan worked with Webb until 1938, and it proved a vital stepping stone in his career -- Webb (who was physically disabled) was a fine musician but not a great showman. The ebullient Jordan often introduced songs as he began singing lead; he later recalled that many in the audience took him to be the band's leader, which undoubtedly boosted his confidence further. This was the same period when the young Ella Fitzgerald was coming to prominence as the Webb band's lead female vocalist; she and Jordan often duetted on stage and they would later reprise the partnership on several records, by which time both artists were major stars. Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25 1917 &ndash June 15 1996 also known as " Lady Ella " and the "First Lady of Song" is considered one of the most influential
In 1938, Jordan was fired by Webb for trying to convince Fitzgerald and others to join his new band. By this time Webb was already seriously ill with tuberculosis of the spine. Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for tubercle bacillus or T u' b' erculosis Bacillus --> is a common Webb died after a spinal operation on June 16, 1939, aged only 30; following his death, Ella Fitzgerald took over the band.
Early solo career
Jordan's first band, drawn mainly from members of the Jesse Stone band, was originally a nine-piece, but he soon scaled it down to a sextet after landing a residency at the Elks Rendezvous club at 464 Lenox Avenue in Harlem. Jesse Stone (born Atchison Kansas, 16 November 1901 - died Altamonte Springs Florida, 1 April 1999) was an Lenox Avenue / Malcolm X Boulevard is the primary north-south route through Harlem in the upper portion of the New York City borough Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, long known as a major African American cultural and business center The original lineup of the sextet was Jordan (saxes, vocals), Courtney Williams (trumpet), Lem Johnson (tenor sax), Clarence Johnson (piano), Charlie Drayton (bass) and Walter Martin (drums).
The new band's first recording date for Decca Records (on December 20, 1938) produced three sides on which they backed an obscure vocalist called Rodney Sturgess, and two novelty sides of their own, "Honey in the Bee Ball" and "Barnacle Bill The Sailor". Decca Records is a British Record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Events January 16 Benny Goodman plays the first jazz concert at Carnegie Hall. Though these were credited to "The Elks Rendezvous Band", Jordan subsequently changed the name to the "Tympany Five" due to the fact that Martin often used tympany drums in performance. (The word "tympany" is also an old-fashioned colloquial term meaning "swollen, inflated, puffed-up", etymologically related to "timpani", or "kettle drum," but historically separate. Etymology is the study of the History of Words &mdash when they entered a language from what source and how their form and meaning have changed over time Timpani (also known colloquially as kettledrums or kettle drums) are Musical instruments in the percussion family )
The various lineups of the Tympany Five (which often featured two or three extra players) included Bill Jennings and Carl Hogan on guitar, renowned pianist-arrangers Wild Bill Davis and Bill Doggett, "Shadow" Wilson and Chris Columbus on drums and Dallas Bartley on bass. Bill Jennings (born June 28, 1917) is a retired professional Ice hockey player who played 108 games in the National Hockey League. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles Wild Bill Davis ( November 24, 1918 &ndash August 17, 1995) was the stage name of American Jazz pianist, Bill Doggett ( February 16, 1916 &ndash November 13, 1996) was an American Jazz and Rhythm and blues Pianist A drum kit (also drum set or trap set) is a collection of Drums Cymbals and sometimes other Percussion instruments such as cowbells The electric bass guitar (also called electric bass, or simply bass; ˈbeɪs as in "base" is a Stringed instrument played primarily with the Jordan played alto, tenor and baritone saxophone and sang the lead vocal on most numbers. The saxophone (commonly referred to simply as sax) is a conical- bored transposing Musical instrument considered a member of the Woodwind
Their next recording date in March 1939 produced five sides including "Keep A-Knockin'" (originally recorded in the 1920s and later covered famously by Little Richard), "Sam Jones Done Snagged His Britches" and "Doug the Jitterbug". Rev Richard Wayne Penniman (born December 5 1932 better known by the Stage name Little Richard, is an American Singer, Songwriter Lem Johnson subsequently left the group, and was replaced by Stafford Simon. Sessions in December 1939 and January 1940 produced two more early Jordan classics, "You're My Meat" and "You Run Your Mouth and I'll Run My Business". Other members who passed through the band during 1940 and 1941 included tenorist Kenneth Hollon (who recorded with Billie Holiday); trumpeter Freddie Webster (from Earl Hines' band) was part of the nascent bebop scene at Minton's Playhouse and he influenced Kenny Dorham and Miles Davis. Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7 1915 – July 17 1959 was an American Jazz singer and songwriter Freddie Webster ( June 8, 1916 &ndash April 1, 1947) was a jazz trumpeter who Dizzy Gillespie once said "had the best sound Earl Kenneth Hines, universally known as Earl "Fatha" Hines, ( 28 December, 1903 Duquesne Pennsylvania &ndash 22 April Bebop or bop is a form of Jazz characterized by fast Tempos and Improvisation based on Harmonic structure rather than Melody Minton’s Playhouse is a Jazz club and bar located on the first floor of the Hotel Cecil at 210 West 118th Street in Harlem. McKinley Howard (Kenny Dorham ( August 30, 1924 - December 5, 1972) was an American Jazz Trumpeter, Singer Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26 1926 &ndash September 28 1991 was an American Jazz Trumpeter, Bandleader, and Composer.
In 1941 Jordan signed with the General Artists Corporation agency, who appointed Berle Adams as Jordan's agent. Berle Adams (birth name Beryl Adasky was a music industry executive best known as second in command at MCA. Adams secured an engagement at Chicago's Capitol Lounge, supporting The Mills Brothers, and this proved to be an important breakthrough for Jordan and the band. The Mills Brothers were a major African-American Jazz and pop vocal Quartet of the 20th century producing more than 2000 recordings that sold
The Capitol Lounge residency also provides a remarkable yardstick of the scale of Jordan's success. During this engagement, the group was paid the standard union scale of US$70 per week -- $35 per week for Jordan and $35 split between the rest of the band. Just seven years later, when Jordan played his record-breaking season at the Golden Gate Theater in San Francisco during 1948, he reportedly grossed over US$70,000 in just two weeks. A list of Theatres in San Francisco California: Bayview Opera House - in Hunters Point. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city
During this period bassist Henry Turner was sacked and replaced by Dallas Bartley. This was followed by another important engagement at the Fox Head Tavern in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Cedar Rapids (ˌciːdɪrˈræpɨds is the second largest City in the U Working in the looser environment of Cedar Rapids, away from the main centers, the band was able to develop the novelty aspect of their repertoire and performance. Jordan later identified his stint at the Fox Head Tavern as the turning point in his career, and it was also while there that he found several songs that became early hits including "If It's Love You Want, Baby", "Ration Blues" and "Inflation Blues".
In April 1941 Decca launched the Sepia Series, a 35-cent line that featured artists who were considered to have the "crossover potential" to sell in both the black and white markets, and Jordan's band was transferred from Decca's "race" label to the Sepia Series, alongside The Delta Rhythm Boys, the Nat King Cole Trio, Buddy Johnson and the Jay McShann Band. The Delta Rhythm Boys were an American vocal group active for over 50 years in the 20th century Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17 1919 &ndash February 15 1965 known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician Jay McShann ( January 12 1916 – December 7 2006) was an American Blues and swing Pianist,
By the time the group returned to New York in late 1941, the lineup had changed to Jordan, Bartley, Martin, trumpeter Eddie Roane and pianist Arnold Thomas. Recording dates in November 1941 produced another early Jordan classic, "Knock Me A Kiss", which became a significant jukebox seller, although it did not make the charts. However Roy Eldridge subsequently recorded a version, backed by the Gene Krupa band, which became a hit in June 1942, almost a year after the Jordan recording came out; it was also covered by Jimmie Lunceford. Roy David Eldridge ( January 30, 1911 &ndash February 26, 1989) nicknamed "Little Jazz" was an American Gene Krupa ( January 15, 1909 &ndash October 16, 1973) was an influential American Jazz and Big band Drummer James Melvin "Jimmie" Lunceford ( June 6, 1902 &ndash July 12, 1947) was an American Jazz alto Saxophonist
These sessions also produced Jordan's first big-selling record, "I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town", originally recorded by Casey Bill Weldon in 1936, although again it did not make the charts. Casey Bill Weldon (July 10 1909&ndash196? was an African-American Blues Musician who lived and worked in Chicago, best known for his his It too was covered by Lunceford, in 1942, whose version reached #12 on the pop charts, and it was also covered by Big Bill Broonzy and Jimmy Rushing. Big Bill Broonzy ( 26 June 1898 &ndash 14 August 1958) was a prolific American Blues Singer, songwriter James Andrew Rushing ( August 26, 1903 - June 8, 1972) (known as Jimmy Rushing) was an American Blues shouter
Sessions in July 1942 produced nine prime sides, allowing Decca to stockpile Jordan's recordings as a hedge against the American Federation of Musicians' recording ban. The American Federation of Musicians ( AFM / AFofM) is a labor union of Professional Musicians in the United States and Declared the same month, the ban led to Jordan's enforced absence from the studio for the next year, and it also prevented many seminal bebop performers from recording during one of the most crucial years of the genre's history. It had been imposed in order to secure royalty payments for union musicians for each record sold.
"I'm Gonna Leave You on the Outskirts of Town" was an "answer record" to Jordan's earlier "I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town", but it became Jordan's first major chart hit, reaching #2 on Billboard's Harlem Hit Parade. An answer song (or answer record) is as the name suggests a song (usually a recorded track) made in answer to a previous song normally by another artist See Billboard (Turkish magazine Billboard is a weekly American Magazine devoted to the Music industry His next side, "What's The Use of Gettin' Sober (When You're Gonna Get Drunk Again)", became Jordan's first #1 hit, reaching the top of the Harlem Hit Parade in December 1942. A subsequent side, "The Chicks I Pick Are Slender, Tender and Fine", reached #10 in January 1943.
Their next major side, the comical call-and response number "Five Guys Named Moe", was one of the first recordings to solidify the fast-paced, swinging R&B style that became the Jordan trademark and it struck a chord with audiences, reaching #3 on the race charts in September 1943. The song was later taken as the title of a long-running stage show that paid tribute to Jordan and his music. The more conventional "That'll Just About Knock Me Out" also fared well, reaching #8 on the race charts and giving Jordan his fifth hit from the December 1942 sessions.
In late 1942, Jordan and his band relocated to Los Angeles, working at major venues there and in San Diego. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West While in L. A. , Jordan began making "soundies", the earliest precursors of the modern music video genre, and he also appeared on many Jubilee radio shows and a series of programs made for the Armed Forces Radio for distribution to American troops overseas. Soundies were an early version of the Music video: three-minute musical films produced by professional film crews in New York Chicago and Hollywood between 1940 A music video is a Short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music most commonly a Song with lyrics American Forces Network (or AFN) is the brand name used by the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS for its entertainment
Decca was one of the first labels to reach an agreement with the Musicians' Union and Jordan returned to recording in October 1943. At this session Jordan and his band recorded "Ration Blues", which dated from their Fox Head Tavern days but had a new timeliness with the imposition of wartime rationing. It became Jordan's first crossover hit, charting on both the white and black pop charts. It was also a huge hit on the Harlem Hit Parade, where it spent six weeks at #1 and stayed in the Top Ten for a remarkable 21 weeks, and it reached #11 in the general "best-sellers" chart.
The Forties
In the 1940s, Jordan released dozens of hit songs, including the swinging "Saturday Night Fish Fry" (one of the earliest and most powerful contenders for the title of "First rock and roll record"), "Blue Light Boogie", the comic classic "Ain't Nobody Here but Us Chickens", "Buzz Me," "Ain't That Just Like a Woman", and the multi-million seller "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie". The 1940s decade ran from 1940 to 1949 Events and trends The 1940s was a period between the radical 1930s and the conservative 1950s which also leads the period to be " Saturday Night Fish Fry " is a Popular song, best known through the version recorded by Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five. There are many candidates for the title of the first rock and roll record, but it is arguable whether any such thing exists " Choo Choo Ch'Boogie " is a popular Song first recorded in January 1946 by Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five.
One of his biggest hits was "Caldonia", with its energetic screaming punchline, banged out by the whole band, "Caldonia! Caldonia! What makes your big head so hard?" After Jordan's success with it, the song was also recorded by Woody Herman in a famous modern arrangement, including a unison chorus by five trumpets. " Caldonia " is a Jump blues song first recorded in 1945 by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five. Woodrow Charles Herman ( May 16 1913 &ndash October 29 1987) better known as Woody Herman, was an American Jazz Muddy Waters also cut a version. For the album by Redman, see Muddy Waters (album. For the college football coach see Muddy Waters (football coach. However, many of Jordan's biggest R&B hits were inimitable enough that there were no hit cover versions, a rarity in an era when poppish "black" records were rerecorded by white artists, and many popular songs were released in multiple competing versions.
Jordan's raucous recordings were also notable for their use of fantastical narrative. This is perhaps best exemplified on the freewheeling party adventure "Saturday Night Fish Fry", the two-part 1950 hit that was split across both sides of a 78. " Saturday Night Fish Fry " is a Popular song, best known through the version recorded by Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five. It is arguably one of the earliest American recordings to include all the basic elements of the classic rock'n'roll genre (obviously exerting a direct influence on the subsequent work of Bill Haley) and it is certainly one of the first widely popular songs to use the word "rocking" in the chorus and to prominently feature a distorted electric guitar. This article is specifically about the singer For detailed information about his rock and roll group see Bill Haley & His Comets. [4]
Its distinctive comical adventure narrative is strikingly similar to the style later used by Bob Dylan in his classic "story" songs like "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream" and "Tombstone Blues". Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman, May 24 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota) is an American singer-songwriter author poet and painter who has been a major "Saturday Night Fish Fry" is also notable for the fact that it dispenses with the customary instrumental chorus introduction, but its most prominent feature is Jordan's rapid-fire, semi-spoken vocal. His delivery, clearly influenced by his experience as a saxophone soloist, de-emphasizes the vocal melody in favor of highly syncopated phrasing and the percussive effects of alliteration and assonance, and it is arguably one of the earliest examples in American popular music of the vocal stylings that eventually evolved into rap. Alliteration is the repetition of the first Consonant sound in a phrase Assonance is repetition of vowel sounds to create internal rhyming within Phrases or Sentences, and together with Alliteration Hip hop music, also referred to as rap music, is a Music genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style called rap which is accompanied with
Jordan's original songs joyously celebrated the ups and downs of African-American urban life and were infused with cheeky good humor and a driving musical energy that had a massive influence on the development of rock and roll. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African His music was popular with both blacks and whites, but lyrically, most of his songs were emphatically and uncompromisingly "black" in their content and delivery.
Loaded with wry social commentary and coded references, they are also a treasury of 1930s/40s black hipster slang, and through his records Jordan was probably one of the main popularizers of the slang term "chick" (woman). Slang is the use of highly informal Words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's Dialect or Language. Sexual themes often featured strongly and some sides -- notably the saucy double entendre of "Show Me How To Milk The Cow" -- were so risqué that it seems remarkable that they were issued at all.
"The King of the Jukebox"
The prime of Louis Jordan's recording career, 1942-1950, was a period of segregation on the radio. Despite this he was able to score the crossover #1 single "G. I. Jive"/"Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby?" in 1944, thanks in large part to his performance in the Universal film Follow the Boys. " Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby " is a 1944 Louis Jordan song released on a single with "G Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Universal Studios (sometimes called Universal Pictures or Universal City Studios) a subsidiary of NBC Universal, is a major Global American Follow the Boys ( 1944) also known as Three Cheers for the Boys, is a Musical film made by Universal Pictures as an all-star Two years later, MGM had its cartoon cat Tom sing "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby?" in the 1946 Tom and Jerry cartoon short Solid Serenade. Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Tom and Jerry is a series of theatrical Short subjects (cartoons created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Solid Serenade is a 1946 one-reel Animated cartoon and is the 26th Tom and Jerry short, produced in Technicolor
During this period Jordan again placed more than a dozen songs on the national charts. However, Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five dominated the 1940's R&B charts, or as they were known at the time, the "race" charts. In this period Jordan scored a staggering eighteen #1 singles and fifty-four Top Ten placings. To this day Louis Jordan still ranks as the top black recording artist of all time in terms of the total number of weeks at #1 -- his records scored an incredible total of 113 weeks in the #1 position (the runner-up being Stevie Wonder with 70 weeks). Stevie Wonder (born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13 1950 name later changed to Stevland Hardaway Morris) is an From July 1946 through May 1947, Jordan scored five consecutive #1 songs, holding the top slot for 44 consecutive weeks.
Jordan's popularity was boosted not only by his hit Decca sides, but also by his prolific recordings for Armed Forces Radio and the V-Disc transcription program, which helped to make him as popular with whites as with blacks. American Forces Network (or AFN) is the brand name used by the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS for its entertainment V-Disc was a Record label produced during the World War II era by special arrangement between the United States government and various private U He also starred in filmed a series of short musicals, as well as making numerous "soundies" for his hit songs[5]. Soundies were an early version of the Music video: three-minute musical films produced by professional film crews in New York Chicago and Hollywood between 1940 The ancestor of the modern music video, "soundies" were short film clips designed for use in audio-visual jukeboxes. A music video is a Short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music most commonly a Song with lyrics Jordan also had a cameo role in the Hollywood wartime musical Follow the Boys. Follow the Boys ( 1944) also known as Three Cheers for the Boys, is a Musical film made by Universal Pictures as an all-star
Influence on popular music
Jordan is one of a number of seminal black performers who are often credited with inventing rock and roll, or at least providing many of the building blocks for the music. Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African Jordan was the greatest post-war exponent of the jump blues style, one of the prototypes of rock and roll, and he paved the way for Roy Brown, Wynonie Harris, Tiny Bradshaw and others. Jump blues is a type of Up-tempo Blues music influenced by Big band sound Roy Brown may refer to Roy Brown (Montana politician, Montana state Senator and gubernatorial candidate Roy Brown (Manitoba politician Wynonie "Mr Blues" Harris ( August 24, 1915 - June 14, 1969) born in Omaha Nebraska, was an American Blues Myron ("Tiny" Bradshaw ( September 23 1905 &ndash November 26 1958) was an American Jazz and Rhythm and Jordan also strongly influenced Bill Haley & His Comets, whose producer, Milt Gabler, had also worked with Jordan and attempted to incorporate Jordan's stylings into Haley's music. This article is specifically about the rock and roll band See Bill Haley for biographical information regarding Haley himself Milton Gabler ( May 20, 1911 - July 20, 2001) was an American Record producer, responsible for many innovations in the recording Haley also honored Jordan by recording several of his songs, including "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" (which Gabler co-wrote) and "Caldonia. "
Among Jordan's biggest fans were Little Richard and Chuck Berry. Rev Richard Wayne Penniman (born December 5 1932 better known by the Stage name Little Richard, is an American Singer, Songwriter Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry (born October 18 1926 in St Berry clearly modeled his musical approach on Jordan's, changing the text from black life to teenage life, and substituting cars and girls for Jordan's primary motifs of food, drink, money and girls. Jordan's guitarist, Carl Hogan, was a particularly direct influence on Berry's guitar style, as can be heard on the 1946 hit "Ain't That Just Like A Woman"; Hogan's opening single-note solo on the song was lifted essentially note-for-note by Berry on his iconic opening riff on "Johnny B. Goode". " Johnny B Goode " is a seminal 1958 Rock and roll Song by Chuck Berry, ranked by Rolling Stone as the seventh greatest [6] Jordan was also an obvious and substantial influence on British-based jump blues exponent Ray Ellington, who became famous through his appearances on The Goon Show. Ray Ellington (born Harry Pitts Brown, 17 March 1916 &ndash 28 February 1985) was a popular English Singer, The Goon Show was a British Radio comedy programme originally produced and broadcast by the BBC Home Service from 1951 to 1960
James Brown has also specifically cited Jordan as a major influence because of his multi-faceted talent. James Joseph Brown Jr (May 3 1933 – December 25 2006 commonly referred to as "The Godfather of Soul" the "King of Funk" and "The In the 1992 documentary Lenny Henry Hunts The Funk, Henry asked Brown how Jordan had influenced him; Brown replied, "Oh, in every way. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) He could sing, he could dance, he could play, he could act. He could do it all. "
Jordan's vocal style was arguably an important precursor to rap. Rapping (also known as emceeing, MCing, spitting, or just rhyming) is the Rhythmic spoken delivery of Rhymes wordplay and His 1947 sister tracks, "Beware (Brother Beware)" and "Look Out (Sister)", entirely delivered as spoken rhyming couplets, can arguably be classified as one of the very first true "raps" in popular music. "Saturday Night Fish Fry" (1950) also features a rapid-fire, highly syncopated semi-spoken vocal delivery that is strongly reminiscent of the modern rap style.
Motion pictures
As well as singing in many films, and appearing in Meet Miss Bobby Sox (1944), Jordan starred in several race films: Beware (1946), and Reet Petite and Gone and Look Out Sister (both 1947, when the race films ended). The race movie or race film was a Film genre which existed in the United States between about 1915
Dinner and a Movie
Beans and Corn Bread is used as the theme song for the TBS show Dinner and a Movie. Dinner and a Movie is a cooking and entertainment television program produced in the U
Decline of popularity
In 1951, Jordan put together a short-lived big band, at a time when big bands were on their way out; this is considered the beginning of his commercial decline, even though he reverted to the Tympany Five format within a year. Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January A big band is a type of Musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930s until the late By the mid 1950s, Jordan's records were not selling as well as they used to and he began switching labels. The 1950s Decade refers to the years of 1950 to 1959 inclusive At Mercury Records, Jordan managed to update his sound to full rock and roll with such non-charting songs as "Let the Good Times Roll" and "Salt Pork, West Virginia". Mercury Records is a Record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Music Group in the US and are both subsidiaries of " Let the Good Times Roll " is the shared title of two different but connected American Rhythm and blues songs After this, however, Jordan's popularity waned and he recorded only for a small following of enthusiasts. He seldom recorded at all after the early 1960s. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 Jordan died in Los Angeles, California, from a heart attack on February 4, 1975. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West He is buried at Mt. Olive Cemetery in his wife Martha's hometown of St. Louis, Missouri.
During an interview late in life, Jordan made the controversial remark that rock and roll music was simply rhythm and blues music played by white performers, a statement contradicted by the likes of Chuck Berry and Little Richard, both black artists playing what they considered to be rock and roll. Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry (born October 18 1926 in St Rev Richard Wayne Penniman (born December 5 1932 better known by the Stage name Little Richard, is an American Singer, Songwriter
Although Jordan wrote (or co-wrote) a large proportion of the songs he performed, he did not benefit financially from many of them. Many of his self-penned biggest hits, including "Caldonia", were credited to Jordan's then wife Fleecie Moore as a means of avoiding an existing publishing arrangement. The marriage was acrimonious and short-lived - on two occasions, Moore stabbed Jordan after domestic disputes, almost killing him the second time - and after their divorce Fleecie retained ownership of the songs. However, Jordan was also apparently not above taking credit for songs written by others - Jordan is credited as the co-writer of "Saturday Night Fish Fry", but Tympany Five pianist Bill Doggett later claimed that in fact he had written the song. Bill Doggett ( February 16, 1916 &ndash November 13, 1996) was an American Jazz and Rhythm and blues Pianist
Marriages
Jordan is believed to have been married five times. His first wife was named Julia or Julie, but by 1932 he was married to Texas singer and dancer Ida Fields. He and Fields divorced, and in 1942 he married childhood sweetheart Fleecie Moore. After their divorce, he married dancer Vicky Hayes in 1951, and separated from her in 1960. Finally, he married singer and dancer Martha Weaver in 1966. [7]
Hit singles
| Release date | Title | Chart Positions | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B "Race" Charts | US Charts | Additional notes | |||||||||
| 1942 | "I'm Gonna Leave You on the Outskirts of Town" | #3 | |||||||||
| 1942 | "What's the Use Of Getting Sober (When You Gonna Get Drunk Again)" | #1 | |||||||||
| 1943 | "The Chicks I Pick Are Slender and Tender and Tall" | #10 | |||||||||
| 1943 | "Five Guys Named Moe" | #3 | |||||||||
| 1943 | "That'll Just 'Bout Knock Me Out" | #8 | |||||||||
| 1943 | "Ration Blues" | #1 | #11 | First "crossover" hit | |||||||
| 1944 | "G. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. I. Jive" | #1 | #1 | Topped R&B chart for 6 weeks | |||||||
| 1944 | "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby" | #3 | #2 | ||||||||
| 1945 | "Mop! Mop!" | #1 | |||||||||
| 1945 | "You Can't Get That No More" | #2 | #11 | ||||||||
| 1945 | "Caldonia" | #1 | #6 | Topped R&B chart for 7 weeks; retitled "Caldonia Boogie" for national chart | |||||||
| 1945 | "Somebody Done Changed the Lock on My Door" | #3 | |||||||||
| 1945 | "My Baby Said Yes" | #14 | Duet with Bing Crosby | ||||||||
| 1946 | "Buzz Me" | #1 | #9 | Topped R&B chart for 9 weeks | |||||||
| 1946 | "Don't Worry 'Bout That Mule" | #1 | |||||||||
| 1946 | "Salt Pork, West Virginia" | #2 | #2 for 6 weeks; blocked by Lionel Hampton | ||||||||
| 1946 | "Reconversion Blues" | #2 | |||||||||
| 1946 | "Beware (Brother, Beware)" | #2 | #20 | ||||||||
| 1946 | "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'" | #3 | |||||||||
| 1946 | "Stone Cold Dead in the Market (He Had It Coming)" | #1 | #7 | Duet with Ella Fitzgerald; topped R&B chart for 5 weeks | |||||||
| 1946 | "Petootie Pie" | #3 | Duet with Ella Fitzgerald | ||||||||
| 1946 | "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" | #1 | #7 | Topped R&B chart for 18 weeks; tied with Joe Liggins' The Honeydripper for longest stay at #1 | |||||||
| 1946 | "That Chick's Too Young to Fry" | #3 | |||||||||
| 1946 | "Ain't That Just Like a Woman (They'll Do It Every Time)" | #1 | #17 | ||||||||
| 1946 | "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens" | #1 | #6 | Topped R&B chart for 17 weeks, the second-longest stay at #1 | |||||||
| 1946 | "Let the Good Times Roll" | #2 | |||||||||
| 1947 | "Texas and Pacific" | #1 | #20 | ||||||||
| 1947 | "I Like 'Em Fat Like That" | #5 | |||||||||
| 1947 | "Open the Door, Richard!" | #2 | #6 | ||||||||
| 1947 | "Jack, You're Dead" | #1 | #21 | Topped R&B chart for 7 weeks | |||||||
| 1947 | "I Know What You're Puttin' Down" | #3 | |||||||||
| 1947 | "Boogie Woogie Blue Plate" | #1 | #21 | Topped R&B chart for 14 weeks | |||||||
| 1947 | "Early in the Mornin'" | #3 | |||||||||
| 1947 | "Look Out" | #5 | |||||||||
| 1948 | "Barnyard Boogie" | #2 | |||||||||
| 1948 | "How Long Must I Wait for You" | #9 | |||||||||
| 1948 | "Reet, Petite and Gone" | #4 | |||||||||
| 1948 | "Run Joe" | #1 | #23 | ||||||||
| 1948 | "All for the Love of Lil" | #13 | |||||||||
| 1948 | "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie" | #14 | |||||||||
| 1948 | "Don't Burn the Candle at Both Ends" | #4 | |||||||||
| 1948 | "We Can't Agree" | #14 | |||||||||
| 1948 | "Daddy-O" | #7 | Duet with Martha Davis | ||||||||
| 1948 | "Pettin' and Pokin'" | #5 | |||||||||
| 1949 | "Roamin' Blues" | #10 | |||||||||
| 1949 | "You Broke Your Promise" | #3 | |||||||||
| 1949 | "Cole Slaw (Sorghum Switch)" | #7 | |||||||||
| 1949 | "Every Man to His Own Profession" | #10 | |||||||||
| 1949 | "Baby, It's Cold Outside" | #6 | #9 | Duet with Ella Fitzgerald | |||||||
| 1949 | "Beans and Corn Bread" | #1 | |||||||||
| 1949 | "Saturday Night Fish Fry (Pts. " Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby " is a 1944 Louis Jordan song released on a single with "G " Caldonia " is a Jump blues song first recorded in 1945 by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five. Harry Lillis “Bing” Crosby ( May 3, 1903 &ndash October 14, 1977) was an Academy Award winning American Popular Lionel Leo Hampton ( April 20, 1908 &ndash August 31, 2002) was an American Jazz Vibraphonist, Percussionist Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25 1917 &ndash June 15 1996 also known as " Lady Ella " and the "First Lady of Song" is considered one of the most influential " Choo Choo Ch'Boogie " is a popular Song first recorded in January 1946 by Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five. Joe Liggins ( July 9 1915 - July 26 1987) was a notable Jazz, Blues, and mostly R&B Pianist, who played " The Honeydripper (Parts 1 and 2 " is an R&B song by Joe Liggins which topped the US Billboard R&B chart (at that time called the "Race Records" chart for " Let the Good Times Roll " is the shared title of two different but connected American Rhythm and blues songs " Open the Door Richard " was a hit Martha Davis (December 14 1917 - April 6 1960 was an African American singer and pianist whose musical comedy act "Martha Davis & Spouse" was popular in the late 1940s and " Saturday Night Fish Fry " is a Popular song, best known through the version recorded by Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five. 1 & 2)" | #1 | #21 | Topped R&B chart for 12 weeks | |||||||
| 1950 | "School Days" | #5 | |||||||||
| 1950 | "Blue Light Boogie (Pts. 1 & 2)" | #1 | Topped R&B chart for 7 weeks | ||||||||
| 1950 | "I'll Never Be Free" | #7 | Duet with Ella Fitzgerald | ||||||||
| 1950 | "Tamburitza Boogie" | #10 | |||||||||
| 1951 | "Lemonade" | #5 | |||||||||
| 1951 | "Tear Drops from My Eyes" | #4 | |||||||||
| 1951 | "Weak Minded Blues" | #5 | |||||||||
Collections
There are many collections currently available, so this section only mentions some of the most notable.
The Bear Family label in Germany has released a comprehensive nine-CD collection of Jordan's work (Let the Good Times Roll: the Complete Decca Recordings 1938-1954). Bear Family Records is a Germany -based Independent record label that specializes in reissues of archival material ranging from Country music to 1950s
The Proper Records label in the UK has also released a low priced four-CD, 102-track compilation (Jivin' With Jordan) that includes all of Jordan's seminal work from his Decca years.
The most comprehensive single-disc collection of Jordan's hit recordings is The Best of Louis Jordan.
Tributes
The United States Postal Service will feature Jordan and the film "Caldonia" in 2008 as part of its tribute to Vintage Black Cinema. "Vivid reminders of a bygone era will be celebrated in June through Vintage Black Cinema stamps based on five vintage movie posters. A film poster is a Poster used to advertise a Film. There may be several versions for one film Whether spotlighting the talents of entertainment icons or documenting changing social attitudes and expectations, these posters now serve a greater purpose than publicity and promotion. They are invaluable pieces of history, preserving memories of cultural phenomena that otherwise might have been forgotten. The stamp pane was designed by Carl Herrman of Carlsbad, CA. Carlsbad is a seaside resort-town in the North County section of San Diego County California. ". [8]
The Broadway show, Five Guys Named Moe, was devoted to Jordan's music and this title is given to both soundtrack (tribute) and original music collections. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located Five Guys Named Moe is a musical with a book by Clarke Peters and lyrics and music by Louis Jordan and others
Blues Guitarist B.B. King recorded an album called Let The Good Times Roll-The Music of Louis Jordan, as well as the songs "Let the Good Times Roll" and "Caldonia". B B King (born Riley B King, September 16 1925 is an American Blues Guitarist and Singer-songwriter.
Rock singer Joe Jackson recorded Jumpin' Jive in 1981 which featured several songs by Jordan. Joe Jackson (born David Ian Jackson, 11 August 1954 Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire) is an English Musician and Singer-songwriter Joe Jackson's Jumpin' Jive is a 1981 album by Joe Jackson. It is a collection of covers of classic 1940's swing and Jump blues songs by
Let The Good Times Roll, a Jordan biography, was written by British jazz historian John Chilton. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States John James Chilton (born 16 July 1932 in London England is a British jazz trumpeter and writer
Notes and references
- ^ The Immortals: The First Fifty. Rolling Stone Issue 946. Rolling Stone.
- ^ Jazz & Tom and Jerry
- ^ Louis Thomas Jordan (1908–1975) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas
- ^ (1992) What Was the First Rock 'n' Roll Record?. Boston & London: Faber & Faber. ISBN 0-571-12939-0.
- ^ Wild Realm Reviews: Louis Jordan on Film
- ^ Miller, James. Flowers in the Dustbin: The Rise of Rock and Roll, 1947-1977. Simon & Schuster (1999), p. 104. ISBN 0-684-80873-0.
- ^ Louis Thomas Jordan (1908–1975) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas
- ^ USPS Postal News: Postal Service Previews 2008 Stamps
- John Chilton, Let The Good Times Roll: The Story of Louis Jordan. John James Chilton (born 16 July 1932 in London England is a British jazz trumpeter and writer
Joop Visser
liner notes for the 4-CD set Jivin' With Jordan
(Proper Records, PROPERBOX 47)
External links
- Louis Jordan's boyhood home
- LouisJordan.com
- Louis Jordan at Find-A-Grave
- [1]
- Article About Louis Jordan - by Dr. Frank Hoffmann
- Jordan at IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0430081/
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