Jimmy McGriff

James Harrell McGriff (April 3, 1936 – May 24, 2008) was an American hard bop and soul-jazz organist and organ trio bandleader.

Biography Early years and influences Born in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, McGriff started playing piano at the age of five and by his teens had also learned to play vibes, alto sax, drums and upright bass. He played bass in his first group, a piano trio. When he joined the United States Army, McGriff served as a military policeman during the Korean War. He later became a police officer in Philadelphia for two years.

Discography As leader/co-leader I've Got a Woman (Sue, 1962) One of Mine (Sue, 1963) Jimmy McGriff at the Apollo [live] (Sue, 1963) Christmas with McGriff (Sue, 1963) Jimmy McGriff at the Organ (Sue, 1964) Topkapi (Sue, 1964) Blues for Mister Jimmy (Sue, 1965) Christmastime (Jell, 1965) Where the Action's At! [live] (Veep, 1966) The Big Band (Solid State, 1966) - also released as A Tribute to Basie A Bag Full of Soul (Solid State, 1966) Cherry (Solid State, 1966) A Bag Full of Blues (Solid State, 1967) I've Got a New Woman (Solid State, 1967) Honey (Solid State, 1968) The Worm (Solid State, 1968) Step 1 (Solid State, 1969) A Thing to Come By (Solid State, 1969) The Way You Look Tonight (Solid State, 1969) Electric Funk (Blue Note, 1970) The Dudes Doin' Business (Capitol, 1970) - with Junior Parker Soul Sugar (Capitol, 1970) Something to Listen To (Blue Note, 1971) Black Pearl [live] (Blue Note, 1971) Jimmy McGriff/Junior Parker [AKA Chicken Fried Soul] [live] (United Artists, 1971) - with Junior Parker Groove Grease (Groove Merchant, 1971) Let's Stay Together (Groove Merchant, 1966/1972 [rel. 1972]) Fly Dude (Groove Merchant, 1972) Black and Blues (Groove Merchant, 1963/1971 [rel. 1972]) Good Things Don't Happen Everyday (Groove Merchant, 1972) - reissue of The Dudes Doin' Business Concert: Friday the 13th - Cook County Jail [live] (Groove Merchant, 1973) - split album with Lucky Thompson + George Freeman + O'Donel Levy Giants of the Organ Come Together (Groove Merchant, 1973) - with Richard Groove Holmes Giants of the Organ in Concert [live] (Groove Merchant, 1973) - with Richard Groove Holmes The Main Squeeze (Groove Merchant, 1974) Stump Juice (Groove Merchant, 1975) The Mean Machine (Groove Merchant, 1976) Red Beans (Groove Merchant, 1976) Tailgunner (LRC [Lester Radio Corporation], 1977) Outside Looking In (LRC, 1978) City Lights (JAM [Jazz America Marketing], 1981) Movin' Upside the Blues (JAM, 1982) The Groover (JAM, 1982) Countdown (Milestone, 1983) Skywalk (Milestone, 1984) State of the Art (Milestone, 1985) Soul Survivors (Milestone, 1986) - with Hank Crawford The Starting Five (Milestone, 1987) Steppin' Up (Milestone, 1987) - with Hank Crawford Blue to the 'Bone (Milestone, 1988) On the Blue Side (Milestone, 1990) - with Hank Crawford You Ought to Think About Me (Headfirst, 1990) In a Blue Mood (Headfirst, 1991) Right Turn on Blue (Telarc, 1994) - with Hank Crawford Blues Groove (Telarc, 1996) - with Hank Crawford The Dream Team (Milestone, 1997) Road Tested (Milestone, 1997) - with Hank Crawford Straight Up (Milestone, 1998) Crunch Time (Milestone, 1999) - with Hank Crawford McGriff's House Party (Milestone, 2000) - with Dr. Lonnie Smith and Eric Alexander Feelin' It (Milestone, 2001) McGriff Avenue (Milestone, 2002)

LP/CD compilations A Toast to Jimmy McGriff's Greatest Hits (Sue, 1965) Jimmy McGriff's Greatest Organ Hits (Veep Records/United Artists, 1968) If You're Ready, Come Go with Me (Groove Merchant, 1974) Flyin' Time (Groove Merchant, 1975) 2LP Supa Cookin''' (Groove Merchant, 1975) - with Richard Groove Holmes; 2LPAlive & Well (51 West/CBS, 1980) - Groove Merchant and LRC materialSoul Brothers (Milestone, 1989) - with Hank CrawfordGeorgia On My Mind (LRC, 1989)The Jazz Collector Edition (Laserlight, 1991)Pullin' Out The Stops! The Best Of Jimmy McGriff [AKA Greatest Hits] (Blue Note, 1994)Funkiest Little Band In The Land (Laserlight, 1996) Dig On It: The Groove Merchant Years (Connoisseur Collection, 2000)100% Pure Funk (LRC, 2001)The Best of Hank Crawford & Jimmy McGriff (Milestone, 2001)The Best of the Headfirst Years (Headfirst/K-Tel, 2003)The Best of the Sue Years 1962-1965'' (Stateside, 2006)

Charted singles +SingleYearUS US R&B

"I've Got A Woman (Part I)"1962205"All About My Girl"19635012"M.G. Blues"95—"The Last Minute (Part I)"99—"Kiko"19647919"The Worm"19689728