| Birth: | Jun. 6, 1902
Fulton
Callaway County
Missouri, USA | | Death: | Jul. 12, 1947
Seaside
Clatsop County
Oregon, USA | 
Musician. He spent his formative years in Denver, Colorado, where he studied music, learned to play alto saxophone and in 1922, played saxophone with George Morrison's Orchestra at the Empress Theatre. In 1926, he earned a bachelor's degree from Fisk University in Nashville, formed the band, the Chickasaw Syncopaters and made his professional recording debut in 1930. Settling in New York in 1933, he started performing at the Cotton Club, known as the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra. The group proved quite popular and quickly emerged as one of the top bands in the country during the swing era. Lunceford's orchestra remained popular throughout the 1940s, until he died suddenly one night, collapsing while signing autographs. Though officially ruled a heart attack it was rumored at the time that he was poisoned by a racist restaurant owner who took issue with having to feed the band. In 1987, he was posthumously inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall Fame. (bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith)
Search Amazon for Jimmie Lunceford | | | Burial:
Elmwood Cemetery
Memphis
Shelby County
Tennessee, USA
Plot: South Grove10, Lot 437 |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Originally Created by: Laurie
Record added: Jan 14, 2003
Find A Grave Memorial# 7083778 |
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