THE MAN THAT JAZZ FORGOT

“In 1973, Ebony magazine ran a story titled ‘Whatever Happened to Louis Jordan?’ Two decades earlier, the genial singer-saxophonist was one of America’s biggest pop stars. Not only did 18 of his 78s reach the top of the black pop charts between 1942 and 1950, but several of them, including ‘Ain’t Nobody Here but Us Chickens,’ ‘Caldonia,’ and ‘Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby,’ ‘crossed over’ and became hits with white listeners as well. In addition, Jordan was widely admired by his colleagues. In his heyday, he made duet recordings with Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, and Ella Fitzgerald. His later fans included James Brown, Ray Charles, and B.B. King–as well as Sonny Rollins…”