Louis Jordan

USA

Born: 08 July 1908

Died: 04 February 1975

Years Active: 40, 50, 60

Genres: Jazz, Blues, R&B

Styles: Electric Blues, Swing, Big Band/Swing, Jump Blues, East Coast Blues, Urban Blues, Early R&B, R&B/Soul

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Effervescent saxophonist Louis Jordan was one of the chief architects and prime progenitors of the R&B idiom. His pioneering use of jumping shuffle rhythms in a small combo context was copied far and wide during the 1940s. Jordan's sensational hit-laden run with Decca Records contained a raft of seminal performances, featuring inevitably infectious backing by his band, the Tympany Five, and Jordan's own searing alto sax and street corner jive-loaded sense of humor. Jordan was one of the first black entertainers to sell appreciably in the pop se...

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