Jimmy Blythe
(May 20, 1901 – June 14, 1931) was an influential American jazz and
boogie-woogie pianist. Considering how many fine recording sessions he was on
in Chicago in the 1920s (particularly with Johnny Dodds), it is surprising how
little is known about the mysterious Jimmy Blythe.
James Blythe was born to Richard Blythe and his wife Rena
in South Keene, Kentucky, just southwest of Lexington in 1901. His exact date
of birth is disputed. His parents were sharecroppers. James was the youngest of
five surviving siblings out of a total of eleven born to the couple. Before
1910 the Blythe family moved to Lexington where his mother was working as a
servant. Later Jimmy jobbed as a janitor or day labourer. There is nothing
known whether he received a piano training in Lexington. It seems plausible
that he simply learnt to play the piano by observing other ragtime pianists and
trying to imitate their style.
It seems most likely that Jimmy came to Chicago in the
late 1910s, where he lived together with one of his sisters. Blythe hooked up
with ragtime and blues pianist Clarence M. Jones, who became his piano teacher
and already had some ragtime song successes to his name. Little else is known
about his time in Chicago from 1919 to 1922. Probably Jimmy Blythe was also
exposed to a number of fine pianists and band musicians and had played in a few
public venues.
with ragtime and blues pianist Clarence M. Jones, who became his piano teacher
and already had some ragtime song successes to his name. Little else is known
about his time in Chicago from 1919 to 1922. Probably Jimmy Blythe was also
exposed to a number of fine pianists and band musicians and had played in a few
public venues.
His breakthrough came in 1922 when Blythe was hired by
the Columbia Music Roll Company (and then for Capital when the company was
reorganized in 1924). Together with his friend Clarence M. Johnson he produced
hundreds of commercial piano rolls.
In April 1924 Blythe started to cut sides for Paramount
Records. His first track Chicago Stomp had the rolling walking bass pattern
throughout. Unlike other early boogie-woogie recordings Blythe's Chicago Stomp
is generally considered to be the first full length boogie-woogie recording.
During the next years Blythe led his "Blythe's
Sinful Five" and recorded with a variety of his own ensembles including
Blythe's Washboard Band, Jimmy Blythe and his Ragamuffins, Blythe's Owls, The
Dixie Four and The Midnight Rounders. Blythe also played on sessions with Jimmy
Bertrand's "Washboard Wizards", and two fine piano duets each with W.
E. "Buddy" Burton and Charlie Clark. With his groups or other artists
he also cut sides for Vocalion Records, Okeh Records and Gennett.
In addition he accompanied a number of singers such as
Sodarisa Miller and Gertrude "Ma" Rainey. Another pianist he met
around 1924 was Janice. She became his girlfriend near the end of the year.
Both of them indicated that they were married, however, so the circumstances
are unclear. The couple never had children.
Singer Alex Robinson was Jimmy's most frequent partner.
Jimmy and Alex were playing from time to time on Chicago radio station in 1926
and 1927. Blythe's biggest hit was Mecca Flat Blues, recorded in May 1926.
There are indications that he also performed live on
Chicago South Side. He was considered to be relatively quiet for an active
musician. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why about his appearances are
known only so little. Blythe used at least a couple of different pseudonyms for
his work including Duke Owens and George Jefferson.
In 1930, Blythe substantially decreased his recording
activity, appearing on two sides of Robinson's group, Knights of Rest. He was living
with his sister and her husband when Blythe contracted meningitis. Blythe died
on June 14, 1931 at age 30
He is considered to have been an influential jazz pianist
and one of the first boogie-woogie stylists. Today his role in the beginnings
of boogie-woogie is no longer challenged. Blythe's Chicago Stomp can be
regarded as an important contribution to the maturation of boogie-woogie before
Clarence "Pinetop" Smith or Meade "Lux" Lewis made their
first recordings and long before boogie-woogie became publicly associated with
Albert Ammons, Pete Johnson, Meade "Lux" Lewis, Jimmy Yancey and
Clarence "Pinetop" Smith. Jimmy Blythe is also acknowledged as an
influence by Clarence "Pinetop" Smith and Albert Ammons (Mecca Flat
Blues).
(Info edited mainly
from The History of Boogie Woogie Piano 1900-1950)
