Jimmy Yancey
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Year:
1986
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Inducted by:
Ahmet Ertegun
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Category:
Early Influences
Introduction
He made boogie-woogie his own with unpredictable bass lines and sharp, staccato accents.
Jimmy Yancey was a self-taught pianist, a fact that makes his inventive playing all the more remarkable. Known for his stunning dexterity, he was an architect of boogie-woogie piano, a style that went on to influence rock and roll.
Hall of Fame Essay
1986
Jimmy Yancey put the boogie-woogie in rock and roll.
This rhythmic accompaniment for a blues melody was an important piano style of the 1920s and ’30’s that took root in Chicago, where its bottom-edged beat made it a favorite backdrop for rent parties and renegade jazz jams alike.
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