Jimmy Cheatham

Jimmy Cheatham
Background information
Birth nameJames Rudolph Cheatham
Born(1924-06-18)June 18, 1924
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
DiedJanuary 12, 2007(2007-01-12) (aged 82)
San Diego, California
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentTrombone
Years active1940s–2000s

James Rudolph Cheatham (June 18, 1924 January 12, 2007) was an American jazz trombonist and teacher, who played with Chico Hamilton, Ornette Coleman, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Lionel Hampton, Frank Foster, and Duke Ellington.

In 1978, Cheatham was invited to lead the jazz program at University of California, San Diego. In 1979 he began to direct the school's African American and jazz performance programs. He retired in 2005.