Jimmy Bryant is best known for his collaborations with steel guitarist Speedy West and his session work.
11 Facts About Jimmy Bryant
1.
2.
In 1943, Jimmy Bryant would join the United States Army, serving in France and Germany.
3.
Once the war ended, Jimmy Bryant would join the USO, where he would play until he was discharged.
4.
West, who joined Cliffie Stone's popular Hometown Jamboree local radio and TV show, suggested Jimmy Bryant be hired when the show's original guitarist departed.
5.
That gave Jimmy Bryant access to Capitol Records since Stone was a Capitol artist and talent scout.
6.
In 1957 Jimmy Bryant was a part of one of the first integrated television shows featuring popular radio and television star Jimmie Jackson who hosted the show along with black jazz violinist and recording star, Stuff Smith and black jazz percussionist and recording star, George Jenkins.
7.
Jimmy Bryant continued working in Los Angeles and in the early 1960s he and his trio made an appearance in the Coleman Francis film The Skydivers.
8.
Jimmy Bryant can be heard playing fiddle on the Monkees' "Sweet Young Thing".
9.
Jimmy Bryant played in Nashville bars and did some recording work but his personality did not mesh well with Nashville's highly political music and recording industry.
10.
In 1978, in declining health, Jimmy Bryant learned that he had lung cancer; He played his final performance in August, 1979 at a club in North Hollywood before he returned to his Georgia hometown.
11.
Jimmy Bryant died in Moultrie in September 1980 at the age of 55.