Tiny Grimes

Lloyd "Tiny" Grimes (July 7, 1916 – March 4, 1989) was an American jazz and R&B guitarist. He was a member of the Art Tatum Trio from 1943 to 1944, was a backing musician on recording sessions, and later led his own bands, including a recording session with Charlie Parker. He is notable for playing the electric tenor guitar, a four-stringed instrument.

Biography Grimes was born in Newport News, Virginia, United States, In 1938 he took up the electric four-string tenor guitar.

With Paul Williams, he co-headlined the first Moondog Coronation Ball, promoted by Alan Freed in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 21, 1952, often claimed as the first rock and roll concert. In 1953 he may have played on the Crows one-hit wonder, "Gee", that has been called the first original rock and roll record by an R&B group.

Grimes died in March 1989 in New York City from meningitis at the age of 72.

Discography

Blues Groove with Coleman Hawkins (Prestige, 1958) Callin' the Blues with J. C. Higginbotham (Prestige, 1958) Tiny in Swingville with Jerome Richardson (Prestige, 1959) Hawk Eyes with Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Shavers (Prestige, 1959) Big Time Guitar with Organ and Rhythm (United Artists, 1962) Guitar Soul with Kenny Burrell, Bill Jennings (Status, 1965) Tiny Grimes (Black & Blue, 1970) Profoundly Blue (Muse, 1973) Some Groovy Fours (Black & Blue, 1974) One Is Never Too Old to Swing with Roy Eldridge (Sonet, 1977)