- Born
- Died
- Birth nameJames Melvin Lunceford
- Composer, conductor and saxophonist James Melvin "Jimmie" Lunceford studied at the City College of New York and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Fisk University. He taught in New York City high schools and joined the Fletcher Henderson and Wilbut Sweatman orchestras as a saxophonist and flutist, then formed his own orchestra in 1929 which toured the US and Europe and made many recordings. Joining ASCAP in 1942, his popular-song compositions include "Rhythm in My Nursery Rhymes", "Dream of You", "Uptown Blues", and his theme "Rhythm Is Our Business".
- IMDb mini biography by: Lou Rugani
- Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1987.
- Jazz alto saxophonist and bandleader.
- Growing up primarily in the Denver, Colorado area, one of his early music teachers was Dr. Wilburforce Whiteman, the father of another legendary bandleader, Paul Whiteman.
- Graduated with a Bachelor in Music degree from Fisk University in 1926. That same year, he taught music at Manassa High School in Memphis while forming his first band, the 'Chickasaw Syncopators'.
- Lunceford's theme songs were "Jazznocracy" and "Uptown Blues". One of his biggest hits was Trummy Young's composition of "Tain't What You Do" ("It's the Way That You Do It").
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