17. JIMMY RUSHING
Jimmy Rushing, born in 1903 in Oklahoma City, was nicknamed "Mister Five-By-Five" for his size, but his talent was the biggest thing about him.
Rushing sang with such early Kansas City bands as Walter Page's Blue Devils and the Bennie Moten band. When Moten died in 1935, Count Basie took over his band, and Rushing sang with Basie until 1950, becoming famous for his powerful, bluesy singing.
After Basie temporarily broke up his band in 1950, Rushing began a solo career in which he made many recordings. He was in the historic 1957 "Sound of Jazz" TV special that also featured two of his former Basie colleagues, Lester Young and Billie Holiday. Rushing died in 1972 after a distinguished career.
Here is Jimmy, with Count Basie, singing "I Left My Baby."
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