ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Louis Jordan: The King Of The Jukebox

A huge star at one time, Jordan is sadly much less remembered than he ought to be. Here’s why.

Published on

Louis Jordan William Gottlieb
William P. Gottlieb/Ira and Leonore S. Gershwin Fund Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress/Getty Images

Louis Jordan, the man known as “The King of the Jukebox” was born on July 8, 1908, and passed away on February 4, 1975. He scored his first R&B hit, “I’m Gonna Leave You On The Outskirts of Town,” back in 1942. His hits continued throughout the war years, with songs like “Five Guys Named Moe,” “Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby?,” “G.I. Jive” and “Caldonia Boogie.” Louis hailed from Arkansas and followed his father into the famed Rabbit Foot Minstrels, playing saxophone. He later worked with bandleader Chick Webb and also with Louis Armstrong’s Orchestra, before forming his Tympany Five (although there were usually eight or nine members in the band!), and signing to Decca in 1939.

Is You Is Or Is You Ain't (My Baby)

Click to load video

As Nelson George explains in The Death of Rhythm & Blues, Jordan’s big innovation was stocking his band with fewer horns. With more space in his arrangements, the rhythm became more pronounced. The “jump up blues” the group created became the hottest sound around. No blues artist who came after Louis Jordan could escape his influence. Even if they did not care for his music or directly borrow elements of his style, they witnessed his success and his stardom. Perhaps more than anything else, then, Louis Jordan was an inspiration.

B.B. King has publicly acknowledged his debt to Jordan. Chuck Berry demonstrated Jordan’s musical influence, too. Berry “borrowed” from Louis’s guitarist, Carl Hogan. And, when you hear the introduction to Jordan’s 1946 No.1 hit “Ain’t That Just Like A Woman,” you can’t help but hear Berry’s “Roll Over Beethoven.”

Louis’s career tailed off during the 50s, and although he continued to perform with many different combinations of musicians, his glory days were over. By the early 70s Louis had cut back on much of his activity and he died of a heart attack on February 4, 1975. His legacy, however, lives on.

Listen to the Millennium Collection: The Best Of Louis Jordan to hear classic hits by this music icon.

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Scott Merrell

    July 8, 2023 at 7:09 pm

    The article doesn’t explain why he supposedly is not remembered. Yo could say that about most of the great artists of the last century. His legacy of music is around for anyone interested. Of course, young people will not hear his music on the radio,

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Billy Idol - Rebel Yell LP
Rebel Yell (40th Expanded Edition) (Marbled Limited Edition) 2LP
ORDER NOW
Def Leppard - Pyromania 2LP
Def Leppard
Pyromania 2LP
ORDER NOW
The Who - Live At Shea Stadium 1982 3LP
The Who
Live At Shea Stadium 1982 3LP
ORDER NOW
Keane - Hopes And Fears 20th Limited Edition 2LP
Keane
Hopes And Fears 20th Limited Edition 2LP
ORDER NOW
Abba - Waterloo 50th Anniversary
Abba - Waterloo 50th Anniversary (Limited Edition 3 x 7" Box Set)
ORDER NOW
Bob Marley - Songs Of Freedom Limited Edition 6LP Box Set
Bob Marley - Songs Of Freedom Limited Edition 6LP Box Set
ORDER NOW
uDiscover Music - Back To Top
uDiscover Music - Back To Top