Louis Jordan

• Genre: Jump Blues

About

Louis Jordan was one of the biggest musical stars of the 1940s, and his swinging small combo sound cut across racial and genre lines. He and his band were an important influence on the development of rock 'n' roll as well as R&B. The band swung with diamond-hard precision, peppering Jordan's hip, funny songs with sophisticated instrumental work. Jordan was a magnificent frontman who switched effortlessly from singing to blowing sharp, pithy solos on saxophone. His magnetism led the band to be featured in numerous short films geared towards black audiences, as well as a couple of major Hollywood musicals. Jordan had an unprecedented run of chart success, selling millions of records from the early '40s to the early '50s. Many of his songs such as "Caledonia" and "Choo Choo Ch' Boogie" have become standards and have been covered numerous times. Jordan stayed active, playing until his death in 1975 at the age of 67.

- Tom Heyman