1946-1953

Often referred to as a progenitor of the jump blues style of blues shouting, Jimmy Rushing was certainly one of the first singers to have to contend with the level of noise generated by a big, boisterous swing band; his ballads, admittedly, were often performed in a slightly archaic fashion, but his jazzy blues and jump tunes were completely innovative. He became the singing hero of early Kansas City blues singers such as Walter Brown, Gatemouth Moore, Joe Turner and Julia Lee, who in turn influenced the likes of Wynonie Harris and Jimmy Witherspoon.