Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five (formerly Louis Jordan & His Elks Rendez-Vous Band, 1938 to early-39), was a Harlem, NY, USA rhythm and blues / urban blues / jump blues / early rock n roll sextet, led by Jordan (saxes, vocals). The rest of the original line-up was: Courtney Williams (trumpet), Edwin Johnson (tenor sax - aka Lem Johnson), Clarence Johnson (piano), Charlie Drayton (bass) & Walter Martin (drums, inc' timpani - the band named after his enthusiastic use).

Throughout the lifetime of the band, it often swelled beyond a sextet & along with changes, other members included: Aaron Izenhall, Alex Mitchell, Billy Hadnott, Carl Hogan, Eddie Byrd, Fred Simon, Jesse Simpkins, Josh Jackson & Wild Bill Davis.

Louis Jordan (b. 8 Jul 1908, in Brinkley, AR, USA - died 4 Feb 1975, in Los Angeles, CA, USA). After a few years playing in the “Chitlin circuit” of the 1930s and just after World War II, Jordan launched a revolutionary sound: it wasn’t Blues nor Jazz but the “Jump Blues” sound which evolved into Rhythm And Blues.

Between 1942 and 1951 Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five had 57 R&B chart hits on [Invalid Artist] Records. His first release was “Honey in The Bee Ball" in 1938. In the 1950s he left Decca and recorded for [Invalid Artist] and in the 1960s for Ray Charles’ [Invalid Artist].

Ray Charles often mentioned Louis Jordan as one of his biggest influences in music.

Louis Jordan, popular to all audiences, is unforgotten for developing the blueprint of Rock and Roll and R&B.

He died February 04, 1975 of a heart attack, in Los Angeles, California, USA.

He was Inducted into Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

Sites: Discogs.

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