Jimmy Rushing

American singer
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

Print
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

Also known as: James Andrew Rushing
Quick Facts
Byname of:
James Andrew Rushing
Born:
August 26, 1903?, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died:
June 8, 1972, New York, New York
Also Known As:
James Andrew Rushing

Jimmy Rushing (born August 26, 1903?, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.—died June 8, 1972, New York, New York) was an American blues and jazz singer who was best known for performing with the Count Basie Orchestra.

Rushing was born into a musical family in the early 1900s (sources differ on his birth year). He joined Count Basie’s first group in 1935, gaining exposure through many recordings, and remained until 1950. He thereafter led his own small groups or worked with the bands of Benny Goodman, Buck Clayton, and occasionally Basie. Rushing’s full tenor voice, although associated with the blues-based repertoire of the Basie period, was also well suited to popular songs and ballads.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.