U.S. #2858
29¢ Jimmy Rushing
Blues and Jazz Singers
Issue Date: September 17, 1994
City: Greenville, MS
Quantity: 24,986,800
Printed By: Ashton-Potter
Printing Method: Lithographed
Perforations: 11 x 10.8
Color: Multicolored
Short of stature, but not of girth, James Andrew Rushing was affectionately known as “Mister Five by Five.” Born in 1902 to a musical family in Oklahoma, Rushing learned to play piano early in life. Later he traveled the country playing at dances, until he reached the west coast. There he joined Walter Page’s band, The Blue Devils. In 1929 Page went bankrupt, and Rushing joined the Bennie Moten Band. Moten passed away in 1935, and was replaced by William “Count” Basie. Rushing’s punchy, shouting, singing style was a perfect match for the Kansas City jazz, and he sang with Count Basie’s band for 15 fabulous years.
In 1950 Rushing formed his own band. From 1957 to 1960, Rushing was a major attraction at all the major jazz festivals, including a widely successful tour of Europe with Benny Goodman in 1958 and 1959.
With his rhythmic style, the words were less important than the sound of the voice, and Rushing often repeated simple rhymes in a song. His high-pitched voice could be authoritative or sensitive, and many popular vocalists have been influenced by his vocal and performance stylings. Rushing won many awards for his music, including the Melody Maker British critic’s choice for Number One Male Vocalist in 1957.