Jimmy Blanton

American jazz bassist, born 5 October 1918 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA, died of tuberculosis 30 July 1942 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Jimmy Blanton, from Chattanooga, was
discovered at Jesse Johnson’s Deluxe Cafe when Ellington was in St. Louis, Missouri at the Coronado Hotel in 1939. According to Eddie Randle, Blanton was on the stand with the Ellington band the next night, He was recorded in an air-check with Ellington from the Coronado Hotel on November 1, 1939.


Please note that although the bassist is nearly universally listed with Jimmy as his first name, Jimmie was his preferred spelling. Please see this example of a book autographed with the Duke Ellington band members' signatures:

https://www.rrauction.com/auctions/lot-detail/347102406673120-jazz-legends-hot-discography-multi-signed-book/