James Edward Yancey, known as Jimmy Yancey, and born on February 20, 1895, in Chicago, Illinois, was a boogie-woogie pianist, lyricist, and composer. He began teaching himself to play the piano at 15 and quickly gained influence over younger musicians such as Meade Lux Lewis and Albert Ammons. By 1939, Yancey made his recording debut with a series of solo performances that garnered significant attention in blues and jazz circles. His distinctive boogie-woogie style featured a strong repeated figure in the left hand and melodic decoration in the right, popularizing what became known as the "Yancey bass." In 1948, Yancey performed at Carnegie Hall with his wife Estelle. He died on September 17, 1951. Posthumously, Yancey was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
