Jimmy Yancey
James Edward Yancey, known as Jimmy Yancey, and born on February 20, 1895, in
Chicago, Illinois, was a boogie-woogie pianist, lyricist, and composer. He began
teaching himself to play the piano at 15 and quickly gained influence over
younger musicians such as Meade Lux Lewis and Albert Ammons. By 1939, Yancey
made his recording debut with a series of solo performances that garnered
significant attention in blues and jazz circles. His distinctive boogie-woogie
style featured a strong repeated figure in the left hand and melodic decoration
in the right, popularizing what became kno...
