Jimmy Forrest (musician)
Jimmy Forrest | |
|---|---|
Forrest in 1959 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Robert Forrest Jr. |
| Born | January 24, 1920 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | August 26, 1980 (aged 60) Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres |
|
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Tenor saxophone |
| Years active | 1935–1980 |
| Labels | |
James Robert Forrest Jr. (January 24, 1920 – August 26, 1980) was an American jazz musician who played tenor saxophone throughout his career.
Forrest is known for his first solo recording of "Night Train". It reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart in March 1952, and stayed at the top for seven weeks. "Hey Mrs. Jones" (No. 3 R&B) and "Bolo Blues" were his other hits. All were made for United Records, for which he recorded between 1951 and 1953; he recorded frequently as both a sideman and a bandleader.