Jimmy Rowles
| Jimmy Rowles | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | James George Hunter |
| Born |
August 19, 1918 Spokane, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | May 28, 1996 (aged 77) Burbank, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Piano, vocals |
| Years active | 1940–1980s |
| Associated acts | |
Jimmy Rowles (born James George Hunter; August 19, 1918 – May 28, 1996) was an American jazz pianist, vocalist, and composer. As a bandleader and accompanist, he explored various styles including swing and cool jazz.
Rowles was born in Spokane, Washington and attended Gonzaga College (now University) in Spokane. After moving to Los Angeles, he joined Lester Young's group in 1942. He also worked with Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Les Brown, Tommy Dorsey, Tony Bennett, and as a studio musician.
Rowles was praised as an accompanist by female singers. He recorded Sarah Vaughan with the Jimmy Rowles Quintet with Sarah Vaughan and accompanied Carmen McRae on her 1972 live album The Great American Songbook. McRae described Rowles as "the guy every girl singer in her right mind would like to work with".
In the 1950s and 1960s, he frequently played behind Billie Holiday and Peggy Lee. In the 1980s he succeeded Paul Smith as Ella Fitzgerald's accompanist. He first performed with Fitzgerald at the Mocambo nightclub in Hollywood in late 1956. He appeared on several recording sessions with her in the 1960s before joining her for nearly three years in 1981. Rowles appeared on Fitzgerald's final collaboration with Nelson Riddle, The Best Is Yet to Come in 1982. His song "Baby, Don't You Quit Now", written with Johnny Mercer, was recorded on her final album All That Jazz, released in 1989.
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