10 Facts About Jimmy Yancey

James Edward Yancey was an American boogie-woogie pianist, composer, and lyricist.

Jimmy Yancey was born in Chicago, Illinois, most likely in 1895.

Jimmy Yancey's brother, Alonzo Yancey, was a pianist, and their father was a vaudeville guitarist and singer.

Jimmy Yancey began teaching himself to play the piano at the age of 15, and by 1915 had gained a sufficient profile to influence younger musicians, including Meade Lux Lewis and Albert Ammons.

Jimmy Yancey played in a boogie-woogie style, with a strong-repeated figure in the left hand and melodic decoration in the right, but his playing was delicate and subtle rather than hard driving.

Jimmy Yancey made most of his recordings solo, but later in his career he recorded with his wife, Estelle Yancey, singing, as Jimmy and Mama Yancey.

Jimmy Yancey died of a diabetes-induced stroke in his native Chicago on September 17,1951, and was buried at Lincoln Cemetery in Blue Island, Illinois.

Jimmy Yancey was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

Andriessen observed that Jimmy Yancey was not merely one of the pioneers of the boogie-woogie piano style.

Jimmy Yancey probably did this at a sign from the producer, when the three minutes which a 78 side could hold were up, because boogie-woogie pianists habitually played for hours on end in the bars to entertain the white bourgeoisie.