Biography.guide
Home › People › Composer › St. Louis Jimmy Oden
Portrait of St. Louis Jimmy Oden

St. Louis Jimmy Oden

1905 – 1977

American blues singer and songwriter

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About St. Louis Jimmy Oden

Lived 1905 – 1977 (aged 72). St. Louis Jimmy Oden was an American composer, singer, songwriter, pianist, record producer and musician.

James Burke "St. Louis Jimmy" Oden (June 26, 1903 – December 30, 1977) was an American blues musician and songwriter.

Biography Oden was born in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. His parents were Henry Oden, a dancer, and Leana West, although both had died before their son reached the age of eight.

In Chicago, he was nicknamed St. Louis Jimmy and had a solid performing and recording career for the next four decades. Chicago became his home, but Oden traveled with blues players throughout the United States. He recorded many records, his best-known being the 1941 Bluebird release "Goin' Down Slow".

Oden died of bronchopneumonia in 1977, In 2013 the Killer Blues Headstone Project placed a headstone there for him (pictured right).

Discography

As leader I Have Made up my Mind (Champion, 1932) Goin’ Down Slow (Prestige Bluesville, 1961)

As guest With Otis Spann Walking the Blues (Barnaby, 1960 ) With Sunnyland Slim House Rent Party (Delmark, 1947 )

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Also known as
Saint Louis Jimmy, St. Louis Jimmy, James Burke Oden, James Oden

People in St. Louis Jimmy Oden's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped St. Louis Jimmy Oden's

Frequently asked questions

Who was St. Louis Jimmy Oden?

American blues singer and songwriter (1903–1977)

When was St. Louis Jimmy Oden born?

St. Louis Jimmy Oden was born on 26 June 1905 in Nashville.

When did St. Louis Jimmy Oden die?

St. Louis Jimmy Oden died on 30 December 1977 in Chicago.

What was St. Louis Jimmy Oden's occupation?

St. Louis Jimmy Oden was a composer, singer, songwriter, pianist, record producer and musician.

What nationality was St. Louis Jimmy Oden?

St. Louis Jimmy Oden was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: St. Louis Jimmy Oden

· Wikidata: Q2320344

· DBpedia: St. Louis Jimmy Oden

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). St. Louis Jimmy Oden. https://biography.guide/st-louis-jimmy-oden/

MLA: "St. Louis Jimmy Oden." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/st-louis-jimmy-oden/.

Chicago: "St. Louis Jimmy Oden." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/st-louis-jimmy-oden/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 04:59 UTC