The Enigma of Jimmy Yancey’s Early Years: Notes toward a Biography

The early life of blues pianist Jimmy Yancey is difficult to sort out because all of the documentation of his youth and early career is contradictory, and many early stories have not been scrutinized. Bowers examines Yancey's early life through the lens of the written documentation that is exta...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American music (Champaign, Ill.) Ill.), 2006-07, Vol.24 (2), p.133-171
Main Author: Bowers, Jane M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
American Music
Archives & records
Biography
Blues (Music)
Boogie woogie
Broadaxes
Censuses
Dance
Historical analysis
Jazz
Keyboard music
Music
Musicians & conductors
Passports
Personal profiles
Pianists
Theater
Vaudeville
Yancey, James Edwards (1898-1951)
Yancey, Jimmy
Youth
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Summary:The early life of blues pianist Jimmy Yancey is difficult to sort out because all of the documentation of his youth and early career is contradictory, and many early stories have not been scrutinized. Bowers examines Yancey's early life through the lens of the written documentation that is extant, such as census and draft registration records, marriage and Social Security records, and biographical information about other musicians and entertainers with whom he reported working in his youth.
ISSN:0734-4392
1945-2349
DOI:10.2307/25046011