Jay McShann
James Columbus (Jay or Hootie) McShann (January 12, 1916 – December 7, 2006… Read Full Bio ↴James Columbus (Jay or Hootie) McShann (January 12, 1916 – December 7, 2006) was an American blues and swing pianist, bandleader, and singer.
McShann was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and began working as a professional musician in 1931, performing around Tulsa, Oklahoma and neighboring Arkansas. He moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1936, and set up his own big band, which featured Charlie Parker (from 1937 to 1942), Bernard Anderson, Ben Webster and Walter Brown. Although its book included both swing and blues numbers, the band played blues on most of its records; its most popular recording was "Confessin' the Blues." The group disbanded when McShann was drafted into the Army in 1944, and he was unable to successfully restart it when he got out.
After the war McShann began to lead small groups featuring blues shouter Jimmy Witherspoon. Witherspoon started recording with McShann in 1945, and fronting McShann's band, had a hit in 1949 with "Ain't Nobody's Business." McShann then played in obscurity until 1969, when he became popular as a singer as well as a pianist, often performing with Claude Williams. He continued recording and touring through the 1990s. Well into his 80s McShann still performed occasionally, particularly in the Kansas City area and Toronto Ontario.
Crime-fiction writer Elmore Leonard featured McShann as a character in his 2005 novel, The Hot Kid.
On December 7, 2006, McShann died at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City.
McShann was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and began working as a professional musician in 1931, performing around Tulsa, Oklahoma and neighboring Arkansas. He moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1936, and set up his own big band, which featured Charlie Parker (from 1937 to 1942), Bernard Anderson, Ben Webster and Walter Brown. Although its book included both swing and blues numbers, the band played blues on most of its records; its most popular recording was "Confessin' the Blues." The group disbanded when McShann was drafted into the Army in 1944, and he was unable to successfully restart it when he got out.
After the war McShann began to lead small groups featuring blues shouter Jimmy Witherspoon. Witherspoon started recording with McShann in 1945, and fronting McShann's band, had a hit in 1949 with "Ain't Nobody's Business." McShann then played in obscurity until 1969, when he became popular as a singer as well as a pianist, often performing with Claude Williams. He continued recording and touring through the 1990s. Well into his 80s McShann still performed occasionally, particularly in the Kansas City area and Toronto Ontario.
Crime-fiction writer Elmore Leonard featured McShann as a character in his 2005 novel, The Hot Kid.
On December 7, 2006, McShann died at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City.
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Jay McShann Lyrics
'Tain't Nobody's Biz'ness If I Do There ain't nothin' I can do, or nothin' I can…
Ace In The Hole This town is full of guys Who think they're mighty wise, Jus…
After You've Gone Now won't you listen honey, while I say, How could…
Ain't Misbehavin' No one to talk with All by myself No one to walk…
Ain't Nobody's Business There ain't nothin' I can do, or nothin' I can…
Backwater Blues It rained 5 days and the clouds turned as dark…
Basin Street Blues Won't you come along with me To the Mississippi We'll take a…
Blue Monday Blue Monday, how I hate blue Monday Got me workin'…
Body & Soul My heart is sad and lonely For you I sigh, for…
But Beautiful Love is funny or it's sad, Or it's quiet or…
Confessin Yeah, here I stand before you with my heart in…
Coquette Hear me, why you keep fooling Little coquette, making fun of…
Deed I Do There ain't nothin' I can do, or nothin' I can…
Evenin' Evening, every night you come and you find me And you…
Goin To Chicago Going to Chicago Sorry, I can't take you Going to Chicago …
Hello Little Girl I want a little girl to call my own, Just a…
Honeysuckle Rose Anananana otra vez perdido Alalalalaa otra vez otra vez Te …
How Deep Is The Ocean How much do I love you? I'll tell you no lie How…
I want a little girl I want a little girl to call my own, Just a…
Keepin' Out of Mischief Now Don't even go to a movie show If you're not by…
Lady Be Good Listen to my tale of woe, It's terribly sad but…
Lullaby Of Birdland Lullaby of Birdland, that's what I Always hear when you…
New Confessin' The Blues Yeah, here I stand before you with my heart in…
Oh! Lady Be Good Listen to my tale of woe, It's terribly sad but…
On the sunny side of the street Walked with no one and talked with no one And I…
On The Sunny Side Of The Street: On the Sunny Side of the Street Walked with no one and talked with no one And I…
Once In Awhile Once in a while will you try to give One little…
Once Upon A Time Once upon a time, a girl with moonlight in her…
Rose Room I want to take you to a little room A little…
Stardust And now the purple dusk of twilight time Steals across the…
Sunny Side Of The Street Walked with no one and talked with no one And I…
Sweet Lorraine Everything is set, skies are blue, Can't believe it yet, but…
Tain't Nobody's Business There ain't nothin' I can do, or nothin' I can…
That Lucky Old Sun Up in the mornin' out on the job, work like…
The Christmas Song Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at you…
The Shadow of Your Smile The shadow of your smile When you have gone Will color all…
Then I'll Be Tired of You You look at me and wonder, you look at me…
When I Grow Too Old to Dream We have been gay, going our way Life has been beautiful,…