Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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McGRIFF, Jimmy

(b 3 April 1936, Philadelphia PA; d 24 May 2008, Voorhees NJ of complications of MS) Organist. Played bass locally, studied organ with Jimmy Smith; formed a trio and was been popular in clubs for decades. Modestly declares that he doesn't play jazz, though 'his uncannily voicelike, propulsive organ is one of the great things in black music' (Wire '88). He began recording with a bang: first LP on Sue I've Got A Woman '62 was a no. 22 album in Billboard with top 20 hit title single (he also played piano); of seven LPs on that label '62-5 (including a Xmas album and a live set made at the Apollo) Topkapi (movie themes) and Blues For Mr Jimmy also made the top 200 LPs, as did The Worm on Solid State '68. There were over 25 more albums on Solid State, UA, Groove Merchant, Capitol and Blue Note, some with orchestra, all out of print in mid-'80s. City Lights and Movin' Upside The Blues '80-1 on JAM, Countdown and Skywalk '82-3 and The Starting Five '86 on Milestone (the latter with Rusty Bryant and David Newman) with 5-10 pieces were still selling. Blues Groove '95 on Telarc included Hank Crawford, guitar and drums.