Louis Jordan
Photo: William P. Gottlieb, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Saxophonists · 1908–1975

Louis Jordan

American jazz, blues and rhythm and blues musician, songwriter and bandleader (1908–1975)

Born
8 July 1908
Brinkley
Died
4 February 1975
Los Angeles
Country
United States
Active
1932–
Record labels
Decca, Mercury Records, Aladdin Records
Discography
11 albums

Biography

Louis Jordan was a jazz musician who played saxophone, clarinet and voice. Louis Jordan was born on 8 July 1908 in Brinkley and died on 4 February 1975 in Los Angeles. The music is usually filed under jazz and blues. Record labels: Decca, Mercury Records and Aladdin Records. The discography here lists 11 albums, from “Man, We're Wailin'” (1958) to “Is You Or Is You Ain't” (1999). Honours include Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1987), Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame (1998) and Arkansas Black Hall of Fame (2005).

Louis Thomas Jordan (July 8, 1908 – February 4, 1975) was an American jazz, blues and jump blues saxophonist, vocalist, songwriter and bandleader who was popular from the late 1930s to the early 1950s. Known as "the King of the Jukebox", he earned his highest profile towards the end of the swing era. Specializing in the alto sax, Jordan played all forms of the saxophone, as well as piano and clarinet. He also was a singer with great comedic flair, and fronted his own band for more than twenty years. He duetted with some of the biggest solo singing stars of his time, including Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong. Jordan began his career in big-band swing jazz in the 1930s, coming to the public's attention as part of Chick Webb's hard swinging band, though he became better known as an innovative popularizer of jump blues—a swinging, up-tempo, dance-oriented hybrid of jazz, blues and boogie-woogie.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

Man, We're Wailin' 1958
Somebody Up There Digs Me 1962
Hallelujah... Louis Jordan Is Back! 1964
Louis Jordan & Chris Barber 1977
I Believe in Music: The Blues Singer & Players Collection, Volume 20 1980
Rock 'n Roll Call 1985
Five Guys Named Moe (1990 original London cast) 1991
Five Guys Named Moe (1992 original Broadway cast) 1992
Live Jive 1992 · Live
Is You Or Is You Ain't 1999
Five Guys Named Moe (The V Discs)

Also plays on

Albums where Louis Jordan is credited as a sideman

2002 I Want To Be Happy — Ella Fitzgerald alto saxophone
2008 Miss Ella’s Playhouse — Ella Fitzgerald alto saxophone

Awards

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did Louis Jordan play?

Louis Jordan is known for playing saxophone, clarinet and voice.

When and where was Louis Jordan born?

Louis Jordan was born 8 July 1908 in Brinkley.

What are Louis Jordan's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include Man, We're Wailin' (1958), Somebody Up There Digs Me (1962), Hallelujah... Louis Jordan Is Back! (1964), Louis Jordan & Chris Barber (1977) and I Believe in Music: The Blues Singer & Players Collection, Volume 20 (1980).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.