Hamilton, Jimmy (actually, James)
Hamilton, Jimmy (actually, James)
Hamilton, Jimmy (actually, James), jazz clarinetist, tenor saxophonist, arranger, best known for his tenure with Duke Ellington 1943-68; b. Dillon, S.C., May 25, 1917;d. St. Croix., Virgin Islands, Sept. 20, 1994. His father played clarinet in a brass band. Raised in Philadelphia, Hamilton started on baritone horn at seven, and later studied piano, trumpet, and trombone. He worked on trombone and trumpet with severalbandleaders in Philadelphia, then concentrated on sax and clarinet, inspired by Benny Goodman. He spent brief spells with Lucky Millinder and Jimmy Mundy, then was withTeddy Wilson from 1940 until 1942. He worked with a couple of other N.Y bands beforejoining Duke Ellington, replacing Barney Bigard, in May 1943; he remained with Ellington until the summer of 1968. He led his own group in the U.S., then moved to St. Croix, Virgin Islands. He continued to play, and teach (1971). In the 1980s, he joined John Carter and The Clarinet Summit. He also worked during this period with Mercer Ellington and various Ellington reunion bands. His wife, pianist Vivian Hamilton (born Jones), recorded under the name of Vivian Smith.
Discography
Benny Morton and J. H (1945); Swing Low Sweet Clarinet (1960); Can’t Help Swinging (1961); It’s About Time (1961).
—John Chilton, Who’s Who of Jazz/Lewis Porter