JIMMY MCGRIFF

Biography

James Harrell McGriff was born on April 3, 1936, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a city renowned as the capital of the jazz organ world. He began his musical journey at age five playing piano, later taking up alto saxophone, vibes, drums, and upright bass. After his discharge from the Army in 1956, McGriff became captivated by the Hammond B-3 organ after hearing Richard "Groove" Holmes perform at his sister's wedding. He pursued formal training at the Juilliard School of Music and the Combe College of Music in Philadelphia, while also studying privately with Hammond B-3 masters Jimmy Smith and Richard "Groove" Holmes, both of whom profoundly influenced his musical development.

McGriff's breakthrough came in 1962 when his instrumental soul-jazz rearrangement of Ray Charles' "I've Got a Woman" became a Top 20 pop hit and reached number 5 on the R&B charts on the Sue label, establishing him as a fiery blues-based organist. Throughout the 1960s, he recorded prolifically for Sue Records, achieving further success with singles like "All About My Girl," "Kiko," and "The Worm." He subsequently recorded for Solid State, Blue Note, and other labels, demonstrating remarkable versatility by adapting his style to the fusion movement and later to disco trends while maintaining his core blues-based sound. By the 1970s and beyond, McGriff continued to evolve, eventually settling in Newark, New Jersey, where he opened his own supper club, The Golden Slipper, and recorded numerous acclaimed albums.

McGriff distinguished himself as the bluesiest of all jazz organists, seamlessly blending gospel, soul, and "fatback groove" into his playing. His career spanned decades with renewed popularity in the mid-1990s through collaborations with saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman and drummer Bernard Purdie in 'The Dream Team' group. He passed away on May 24, 2008, in New Jersey, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most popular and prolific jazz and blues organists in history.

Fun Facts

• McGriff initially started his musical career playing upright bass in a piano trio before discovering his passion for the Hammond B-3 organ after his Army discharge in 1956.
• His breakthrough hit 'I've Got a Woman' was recorded in 1961 for a small independent label called Jell Records, and only gained wider recognition when Juggy Murray's Sue label picked it up for national release in 1962.
• McGriff briefly retired from music in 1972 to start a horse farm in Connecticut, but the lure of music proved too powerful, and he returned to performing.
• He opened his own supper club called The Golden Slipper in Newark, New Jersey, where he recorded live albums including 'Black Pearl' and 'Chicken Fried Soul' with Junior Parker in 1971.

Associated Acts

• Jimmy McGriff Organ and Blues Band - eponymous, organ, original

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Jimmy Smith - Pioneering Hammond B-3 master who served as a major inspiration and private instructor (Private lessons and stylistic foundation) [1950s]
• Richard "Groove" Holmes - Acknowledged B-3 master and private instructor; inspired McGriff after performing at his sister's wedding (Private lessons) [1950s]
• Milt Buckner - Pioneering jazz organist whose work influenced McGriff's development (Stylistic influence) [1950s]

Key Collaborators

• Charles Earland - Tenor saxophonist in McGriff's early Philadelphia combo who later became a renowned organ performer (Early Philadelphia combos) [Early 1960s]
• Buddy Rich - Drummer with whom McGriff performed regularly (The Last Blues Album Volume 1) [1969-1974]
• Junior Parker - Blues artist and collaborator (Chicken Fried Soul) [1971]
• Hank Crawford - Alto saxophonist and long-term collaborative partner (Soul Survivors (1986), Steppin' Up (1987), On the Blue Side (1989), Road Tested (1997), Crunch Time (1999), Right Turn on Blue (1994), Blues Groove (1995)) [1986-1999]
• David "Fathead" Newman - Saxophonist and member of 'The Dream Team' group (The Dream Team (1997), Straight Up (1998), McGriff's House Party (2000), Feelin' It (2001), McGriff Avenue (2002)) [1997-2002]
• Bernard Purdie - Drummer and member of 'The Dream Team' group (The Dream Team (1997), Straight Up (1998), McGriff's House Party (2000), Feelin' It (2001), McGriff Avenue (2002)) [1997-2002]

Artists Influenced

• Charles Earland - Influenced to switch from tenor saxophone to organ, becoming one of the instrument's renowned performers (Career transition and development) [Early 1960s onwards]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. The Worm (The Worm)
2. The Bird - 2024 Remastered Version (Groove Grease (2024 Remastered Version))
3. The Bird Wave (Electric Funk)
4. Groove Grease - 2024 Remastered Version (Groove Grease (2024 Remastered Version))
5. Blue Juice (The Worm)
6. Back On The Track (Electric Funk)
7. I Think I'm Drownin' On Dry Land - 2024 Remastered Version (Good Things Don't Happen Every Day (2024 Remastered Version))
8. Funky Junk (Electric Funk)
9. Blue Juice (Blue Note Trip 8: Swing Low/Fly High)
10. Chris Cross (Electric Funk)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #funk, #jazz, #jazz-funk