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.
