empty cell Jimmie Lunceford
Jimmie Lunceford was an American jazz alto saxophonist and big band leader during the swing era. Born in Mississippi and raised in Denver, he studied music and, in 1927, founded the Chickasaw Syncopators, a school band that evolved into the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra. The band was renowned for its precise ensemble playing and innovative arrangements by trumpeter Sy Oliver. In 1934, they secured a residency at Harlem's Cotton Club, gaining widespread recognition. Notable recordings include "Rhythm Is Our Business" and "For Dancers Only." Lunceford's orchestra was considered on par with those of Duke Ellington and Count Basie.