Jimmy Blythe

Considering just how many okay documenting sessions he was on in Chicago within the 1920s (particularly with Johnny Dodds), it really is astonishing how little is well known in regards to the mysterious Jimmy Blythe. He grew up in Kentucky, transferred to Chicago in 1918, and examined with pianist Clarence Jones. Blythe documented a large number of piano rolls in the first ’20s. He started cutting information in 1924 (Blythe’s “Chicago Stomp” from that calendar year is known as by some to end up being the initial full-length boogie-woogie documenting). Through the following seven years, he produced several piano solos; supported performers Viola Bartlette and Alexander Robinson; teamed up with Dodds in a number of configurations; led Blythe’s Sinful Five; documented using the Midnight Rounders, Jimmy Bertrand’s Washboard Wizards, Lonnie Johnson, as well as the Condition Road Ramblers; and trim piano duets with Pal Burton and Charlie Clark. Jimmy Blythe passed away at age 30 from meningitis. A good soloist and an excellent accompanist, almost all of Blythe’s recordings can be found with an RST CD.