James (Jimmy) Maxwell

Jimmy Maxwell (January 9, 1917 – July 20, 2002) was an American swing jazz trumpeter.

Maxwell played cornet from an early age, studying with Herbert L. Clarke in the early 1930s. He played with Gil Evans (1933–34), Jimmy Dorsey (1936), Maxine Sullivan, and Skinnay Ennis before joining Benny Goodman's band from 1939-43. He also played with Goodman later in life, including on his tour of the Soviet Union in 1962. He worked as a studio musician for NBC from 1943, playing on The Perry Como Show (1945–63), The Patti Page Show, the Pat Boone Show, and The Tonight Show (1963–73). He played first trumpet on hundreds of recordings and commercials from 1950-1980. In addition, he worked as a sideman for, among others, Woody Herman (1958), Count Basie, Duke Ellington (1973), Oliver Nelson, Gerry Mulligan, Maynard Ferguson, Quincy Jones (1964), the New York Jazz Repertory Company, and Chuck Israels's National Jazz Ensemble.

Of his sideman jobs, he is cited as having played trumpet in the Henri René orchestra for Eartha Kitt's first five albums; RCA Victor Presents Eartha Kitt (1953), That Bad Eartha (EP) (1954), Down To Eartha (1955), That Bad Eartha (LP) (1956), and Thursday's Child (1957), all with RCA Victor. Maxwell played the trumpet solo theme for the soundtrack of The Godfather. He also taught from the late 1970s onwards.

Later in life Maxwell worked with Dixieland jazz and swing ensembles such as Dick Sudhalter's New California Ramblers. He led one session for Circle Records in 1977. He retired from recording and performing later in life but still taught music until 2001, and died the next year.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 9, 1917 (Stockton), Died July 20, 2002 (Great Neck)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1945 - 1964

Roles Represented in DAHR: trumpet

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 51-75 of 92 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 102214 4/8/1957 Hi-ho Steverino-1 Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 102215 4/8/1957 I gotta run-1 Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 104799 4/21/1958 What is there to say? Sal Salvador instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 104800 4/21/1958 You'd be so nice to come home to Sal Salvador instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 104801 4/21/1958 Yesterdays Sal Salvador instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 104806 4/28/1958 Periwinkle blues Sal Salvador instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 104807 4/28/1958 Desert fever Sal Salvador instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 104808 4/28/1958 You brought a new kind of love to me Sal Salvador instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 104809 4/28/1958 Spring will be a little late Sal Salvador instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 112429 8/1/1962 Moonlight becomes you Charlie Spivak Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 112430 8/1/1962 Blue star Charlie Spivak Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 112431 8/1/1962 Moonglow Charlie Spivak Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 112432 8/2/1962 Polka dots and moonbeams Charlie Spivak Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 112433 8/2/1962 Moon of Manakoora Charlie Spivak Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 112434 8/2/1962 It's so peaceful in the country Charlie Spivak Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 112435 8/2/1962 Moon over Miami Charlie Spivak Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 112436 8/2/1962 Moonlight cocktail Charlie Spivak Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 112437 8/2/1962 Count every star Charlie Spivak Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 112438 8/2/1962 When day is done Charlie Spivak Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 112439 8/2/1962 Moonlight on the Ganges Charlie Spivak Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 112440 8/2/1962 Clair de lune Charlie Spivak Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 114716 3/26/1964 Twisting & shoutin' (Doing the monkey) Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 114717 3/26/1964 Deep down love Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 114718 3/26/1964 Baby (I just can't help it) Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 114719 3/26/1964 Groovin' Jackie Wilson instrumentalist, trumpet  
(Results 51-75 of 92 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Maxwell, James (Jimmy)," accessed November 25, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/330394.

Maxwell, James (Jimmy). (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/330394.

"Maxwell, James (Jimmy)." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/330394

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