The swing era is synonymous with musical stalwarts like Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, and Glenn Miller among others. But barely do we find musical lovers of the current generation know the name of Jimmie Lunceford. Although his talent has never been a matter of debate, Lunceford’s popularity level has always been difficult to evaluate. While some say he was at par with his contemporaries like Ellington and Goodman, others believe Jimmie Lunceford truly belonged to the second tier of big band leaders. Do you want to read more about him and form your opinion? In this blog, we discuss the contributions of Lunceford in the development and popularity of swing music in the USA. Did his idea to focus on musical ensemble plummeted the band’s influence? Or did Lunceford’s idea to play two-beat swing at medium tempo failed to impress the listeners in the long run? We will find it all out in the following section.
Early Career
Lunceford received music education from Wilberforce J. Whiteman and became a proficient saxophonist. When Jimmie Lunceford was teaching music at a high school in Memphis City, he organized a student band named Chickasaw Syncopators. They also record a song or two in 1930, taking steps of realizing their dream of being noticed as a jazz band with significant potential. Eventually, the same band came to be known as the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra later on and left Memphis to explore opportunities and carve out a place in the then-contemporary music industry. In 1933, the band was performing in Buffalo and Cleveland, garnering appreciation from music lovers from various echelons of society. However, the year 1934 changed the fortune for the band as they gave a phenomenal performance at NYC’s Cotton Club and bagged recording deals with Victor.
Peak of Popularity
The showmanship of Lunceford and tight ensemble by the band impressed all. With Willie Smith on alto, Eddie Wilcox on piano, and Jimmy Crawford on drums, the band signed high-profile engagements in New York City. However, it was the joining of Sy Oliver that took the band’s success and popularity to a newer height. Given his amazing trumpet playing ability and vocal skills, Oliver soon became the star of the band. Through the end of the 1930s, the band recorded back-to-back hits like “Four or Five Times”, “Charmaine”, “Ain’t She Sweet”, and so on. No wonder their songs were requested and widely played on big band radio stations. Given their massive popularity, the orchestra was recognized as one of the successful swing bands led by an African American musician during the big band era.
Plummeting Success
With Sy Oliver leaving the orchestra and joining Tommy Dorsey’s band in 1939, Lunceford’s popularity as the bandleader received a severe blow. However, to fill the gap, he signed Snooky Young and Gerald Wilson. But the rumors spread that Lunceford underpaid his band members. Of course, a rumor of that magnitude tarnished his image to some extent. Willie Smith, who had stuck by Jimmie since the initial days, left the band for better-paying jobs. By 1942, the monetary problems within the band became prominent. Many complained that Lunceford preferred living a lavish life with flamboyance rather than caring much about his sidemen. No wonder the band went on the sideline by the time swing music reached its prime during World War II.
Closing Thought – Despite the shortcomings, it can’t be denied that Jimmie Lunceford was a competent band leader who had the capability of sweeping the audience off their feet. If you consider the visual show, the power of ensemble, and showmanship, none could match his level. But when judged solely on selling records, Lunceford’s band was a notch below the leading swing music bands in the USA. Nonetheless, to listen to the scores arranged by him, you can send in a request on Swing Street Radio.