Tom Fudge: Band leader, bassist and trombonist Jimmy Cheatham died last week at the age of 82. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, he became accomplished in many styles of jazz. He performed with jazz icons Duke Ellington and Ornette Coleman, to name just two.
Many years ago, Jimmy and his wife Jeannie, a singer and pianist, formed the Sweet Baby Blues Band. Their band specialized in Kansas City style blues. They would eventually settle in San Diego, where Jimmy became a member of the music faculty of UCSD for nearly three decades.
Less than a year ago, the Cheathams joined me in studio to talk about their lives and their music. Jeannie had just come out with a book about her life called Meet Me With Your Black Drawers On . I began our conversation by asking Jeannie why she thought she had a book in her.
Jazz musicians Jimmy and Jeannie Cheatham joined me in studio last April. Last week, Jimmy died at the age of 82.
Guests
-
Jeannie and Jimmy Cheatham,
a husband-and-wife jazz team. They are local jazz legends. Jimmy plays the bass and trombone. Jeannie is a vocalist and plays the piano. She has a new biography called
Meet Me With Your Black Drawers On
.
SPECIAL NOTE
Jeannie Cheatham does not want flowers or notes.
Friends and fans can make a contribution in Jimmy Cheatham's name to the scholarship fund at Jazz Society of Lower Southern California. Scholarships are awarded each year to worthy student jazz musicians in the Department of Music at UCSD.
Checks payable to UC Regents
Address:
UCSD Dept of Music
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093-0326
ATTN: Publicity/Jazz Society
