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James Dugald McPartland, legendary jazz cornetist, was born on March 15, 1907, in Chicago. He started playing violin at age 5, then took up the cornet at age 15. |
As a teenager, he became interested in jazz at the "Spoon And Straw," a drug store where Austin High School students gathered to listen to jazz records on the victrola. As a result, Jimmy became the leader of the now legendary sextet, The Austin High School Gang. This group originally included Jimmy and his brother Dick, Frank Teschemacher and Bud Freeman. Eddie Condon, Dave Tough, Jim Lanigan and Joe Sullivan later joined the group.
When Bix Beiderbercke left The Wolverines, he recommended that Jimmy, aged 17, replace him. McPartland made his first recording while he was with the Wolverines in 1925. He remained with this group for just over a year, and then worked with bandleader Art Kassel and others before joining Ben Pollack in 1927, where his band mates included Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden, and Bud Freeman. His work with different bands continued until the start of World War II, when he and Jack Teagarden enlisted in the Army.
During the war McPartland met his bride to be, Marian Turner, in Eupen, Belgium, while she was playing for USO camp shows. A G.I. musicians' jam session brought them together and after many performances with a small G.I. combo playing for front line troops, they were married in Aachen, Germany. In 1946, Jimmy McPartland returned to the United States with his British bride, and they put a quartet together in Jimmy's hometown -- Chicago.
Later, they moved to New York where Jimmy was instrumental in helping Marian form her own trio. She attributes much of her success in the music field to his help and support. Sadly, they were later divorced, but remained friends and musical partners for the rest of Jimmy's life. The couple were remarried in 1991, just two weeks before Jimmy's death.
During his long, illustrious career, McPartland starred in a television special, The Magic Horn, and acted in summer stock in Show Boat. He also appeared on network TV shows over the years and recorded landmark albums, of which Shades of Bix, featuring Coleman Hawkins, George Wettling, and Gene Krupa, is undoubtedly the finest.
Check out this week's Piano Jazz Shorts - the Piano Jazz podcast - for a special birthday tribute to Jimmy McPartland featuring never before heard outtakes from the show!
Subscribe to Piano Jazz Shorts.
Set List for Jimmy McPartland on Piano Jazz:St. James Infirmary (Primrose)
In A Mist (Beiderbecke)
I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter (Alhert, Young)
Basin Street Blues (Williams)
Summertime (George, Ira Gershwin)
Singing the Blues (Endsley)
Struttin' With Some Barbeque (Hardin, Raye)
Undecided (Robin, Shavers)
When Bix Beiderbercke left The Wolverines, he recommended that Jimmy, aged 17, replace him. McPartland made his first recording while he was with the Wolverines in 1925. He remained with this group for just over a year, and then worked with bandleader Art Kassel and others before joining Ben Pollack in 1927, where his band mates included Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden, and Bud Freeman. His work with different bands continued until the start of World War II, when he and Jack Teagarden enlisted in the Army.
During the war McPartland met his bride to be, Marian Turner, in Eupen, Belgium, while she was playing for USO camp shows. A G.I. musicians' jam session brought them together and after many performances with a small G.I. combo playing for front line troops, they were married in Aachen, Germany. In 1946, Jimmy McPartland returned to the United States with his British bride, and they put a quartet together in Jimmy's hometown -- Chicago.
Later, they moved to New York where Jimmy was instrumental in helping Marian form her own trio. She attributes much of her success in the music field to his help and support. Sadly, they were later divorced, but remained friends and musical partners for the rest of Jimmy's life. The couple were remarried in 1991, just two weeks before Jimmy's death.
During his long, illustrious career, McPartland starred in a television special, The Magic Horn, and acted in summer stock in Show Boat. He also appeared on network TV shows over the years and recorded landmark albums, of which Shades of Bix, featuring Coleman Hawkins, George Wettling, and Gene Krupa, is undoubtedly the finest.
Check out this week's Piano Jazz Shorts - the Piano Jazz podcast - for a special birthday tribute to Jimmy McPartland featuring never before heard outtakes from the show!
Subscribe to Piano Jazz Shorts.
Set List for Jimmy McPartland on Piano Jazz: