Crawford, Jimmy (actually, James Strick-land; aka Jimmie)

Crawford, Jimmy (actually, James Strick-land; aka Jimmie) , jazz drummer; b. Memphis, Term., Jan. 14, 1910; d. N.Y., Jan. 28, 1980. His first instrument was the alto horn, then he switched to drums. Crawford attended LeMoyne Coll., then met Jimmie Lunceford while studying at Manassas H.S. He began doing local work with Lunceford and made his professional debut with the band in Lakeside, Ohio (summer 1928). He remained with Lunceford until early 1943, then had a short spell with Ben Webster; he then led his own group at the Three Deuces, N.Y., until serving in the U.S. Army from summer 1943-August 1945. Crawford played in an all-star service band with Sy Oliver, Buck Clayton, etc., also mainly with Edmond Hall’s Walter Gross Service Band (1945). He played in a sextet from late 1945 until 1949, briefly with Harry James in mid-1946, with Ed Hall in N.Y. and Boston, and then played in Fletcher Henderson’s last group in December 1950. Crawford did a long spell with the Broadway show Pal Joey during the early 1950s, and played for many other Broadway shows in the 1950s and 1960s. He then took part in Henderson Reunion Band in summer of 1957 and toured with Lena Home’s show Jamaica in 1958. He continued to work in clubs and show bands through the mid-1970s, when ill health slowed him down.

Crawford was the mainstay of the Jimmy Lunceford band and an early proponent of the high-hat, saying “You can hold everything together with that snap.”

—John Chilton/Lewis Porter