<back - JAY MCSHANN - January 12, 1916 - December 7, 2007 - James Columbus McShann was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, January 12/1916. He taught himself piano as a child, despite his parents' disapproval of his interest in music. His real education came from Earl Hines’ late-night broadcasts from Chicago’s Grand Terrace Ballroom. “When Fatha went off the air, I went to bed” he would later state. McShann began his professional career in 1931, playing with Don Byas. He studied at the Tuskegee Institute, and performed around Arkansas and Oklahoma from 1935 to 1936. In 1936, he moved to Kansas City, Missouri and played at The Monroe Inn. In late 1939, Jay had assembled a  progressive band, which included Gus Johnson, Gene Ramey and  Charlie Parker. By 1940, Jay McShann had his own big band, debuting a young hip Blues singer that went by the name of Jimmy Witherspoon.

During this period, he recorded  for Aladdin and Mercury with hits like Confessin’ the Blues, Hootie Blues, and the Blues classic Ain’t Nobody’s Business. Jay returned to Kansas City, where he raised his family, and played locally. During the 1950's, he attended music school at the University of Missouri, KC where he continued his music studies. Jay McShann was in obscurity for the next 2 decades, making few records and mostly playing in Kansas City. In 1969 he was rediscovered and Jay McShann was soon again in demand, touring the world. He has recorded through the years for Onyx, Decca, Capitol, Aladdin, Mercury, Black Lion, EmArcy, Vee Jay, Black & Blue, Master Jazz, Sackville, Sonet, Storyville, Atlantic, Swingtime, Music Masters and and most recently for Stony Plain Records. Affectionately know as 'Hootie' he remains a vital pianist and an Blues vocalist who keeps a classic style alive. Jay McShann is a Blues force of nature that keeps rolling on. Jay McShann was inducted into the Blues Foundation's Hall of Fame in 1987 and received the R&B Foundation's Pioneer Award in 1996.
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