orig. James Andrew Rushing
born Aug. 26, 1903, Oklahoma City, Okla., U.S.
died June 8, 1972, New York, N.Y.
U.S. blues and jazz singer.
Rushing joined Count Basie 's first group in 1935, gaining exposure through many recordings, and remained until 1950. He thereafter led his own small groups or worked with the bands of Benny Goodman , Buck Clayton, and occasionally Basie. Rushing's full tenor voice, although associated with the blues-based repertoire of the Basie period, was also well suited to popular songs and ballads.