Jimmy Yancey, byname of James Edward Yancey, (born February 20, 1898?, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.—died September 17, 1951, Chicago), American blues pianist who established the boogie-woogie style with slow, steady, simple left-hand bass patterns. These became more rapid in the work of his students Albert Ammons and Meade “Lux” Lewis, who popularized the “Yancey Special” bass pattern. Yancey was also known for the unpredictable inventiveness of his right hand.
Yancey was largely a self-taught pianist with some instruction from his brother Alonzo. He had a childhood career as a singer and dancer, touring American vaudeville circuits and European music halls, giving a command performance for King George V of England in 1913. Returning to Chicago, Yancey performed at small taverns and informal gatherings. He played baseball in the Negro leagues until 1919, the year he married Estella Harris (Mama Yancey), who sang with him at house parties throughout the 1920s, ’30s, and ’40s. They had three recording sessions together and performed on network radio in 1939 and at Carnegie Hall in New York City in 1948. From 1925 until shortly before his death, Yancey worked as a groundskeeper at the Chicago White Sox baseball stadium.
Yancey’s influence on other musicians was profound, but his music was known to only a small coterie during his lifetime. Mama Yancey continued to perform and record, working with pianists Little Brother Montgomery and Erwin Helfer. She sang at Carnegie Hall again in 1981. Jimmy Yancey was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
Volume 1
01. Jimmy's Stuff (Jimmy's Stuff No. 2)
02. The Fives
03. La Salle Street Breakdown
04. Two O'Clock Blues
05. Janie's Joys
06. Lean Bacon
07. Big bear Train
08. Lucille's Lament
09. Beezum Blues
10. Yancey Limited
11. Rolling the Stone
12. Steady Rock Blues
13. P.L.K. Special
14. South Side Stuff
15. Yancey's Getaway
16. How Long Blues
17. How Long Blues No. 2
18. Yancey Stomp
19. State Street Special
20. Tell 'Em About Me
21. Five O'Clock Blues
22. Slow And Easy Blues
23. The Mellow Blues
24. I Received A Letter
25. East St. Louis Blues
Volume 2
01. Bear Trap Blues
02. Old Quaker Blues
03. 35th And Dearborn
04. I Love To Hear My Baby Call My Name
05. Cryin' In My Sleep
06. Death Letter Blues
07. Yancey's Bugle Call (Take 1)
08. Yancey's Bugle Call (Take 2)
09. 35th And Dearborn (Take 1)
10. 35th And Dearborn (Take 2)
11. Boodlin'
12. Yancey's Mixture
13. Death Letter Blues
14. Sweet Patootie
15. How Long Blues
16. How Long Blues (Alternate take)
17. The Rocks
18. Jimmy's Rocks
19. How Long Blues (Mama Yancey, vcl)
Volume 3
01. White Sox Stomp
02. Eternal Blues
03. I Received A Letter
04. Yancey Special
05. Midnight Stomp
06. Pallet On The Floor
07. Shave 'Em Dry
08. At The Window
09. Make Me A Pallet On The Floor
10. The Yancey Special
11. Assembly Call Boogie
12. Barber Shop Rag
13. Everlasting Blues
14. Keep A Knockin'
15. Jimmy's Goodnight Blues
16. Alonzo Yancey - Everybody's Rag
17. Alonzo Yancey - Twelfth Street Rag
18. Alonzo Yancey - Hobo Rag
19. Alonzo Yancey - Ecstatic Rag
