Jimmy Crawford (drummer)

Jimmy "Craw" Crawford (January 14, 1910 – January 28, 1980)^[1] was an American jazz drummer in the swing era.

Jimmy Crawford was born in Memphis, Tennessee, United States.^[1] He was the drummer of the Jimmie Lunceford big band for nearly 14 years from 1928 to 1942.^[1] According to Modern Drummer, Crawford "played with a strong, solid pulsation — a classic trademark of the Lunceford sound — and was a key factor in establishing the unique Lunceford beat."^[2] Later, in the 1950s, Crawford worked as a pit drummer on Broadway in such productions as Jamaica (1957-8) and Donnybrook! (1961). He recorded with numerous notable artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Sy Oliver, Bing Crosby, Benny Goodman, and Frank Sinatra.^[2]

He died on January 28, 1980, in New York City.^[1]

Paul Motian mentioned Crawford as one of his favorite drummers.^[3]

With Buster Bailey

• All About Memphis (Felsted, 1958)

With Count Basie

• Memories Ad-Lib (Roulette, 1958) - with Joe Williams
• String Along with Basie (Roulette, 1960)

With Kenny Burrell

• Bluesin' Around (Columbia, 1961 [1983])

With Buck Clarke

• The Buck Clarke Sound (Argo, 1963)

With Dizzy Gillespie

• Dizzy and Strings (Norgran, 1954)

With Coleman Hawkins

• The Hawk Talks (Decca, 1952-53 [1955])

With Eddie Heywood

• Eddie Heywood (EmArcy, 1955)

With Quincy Jones

• The Birth of a Band! (Mercury, 1959)
• Quincy Plays for Pussycats (Mercury, 1959-65 [1965])

• Jimmy Crawford recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings