Legendary jazz drummer Jimmy "Junebug" Jackson passed away last Saturday on Saturday, January 28th, 2012 in Washington, DC where he lived and performed for the last four years. Jimmy died from congestive heart failure. He was only 55 years old.
He was admitted to the hospital this past week, and unsuccessfully underwent surgery Friday.
For more than two decades, "Junebug" had toured with organist Jimmy Smith.
He also performed with artists such as McCoy Tyner, George Benson, Christian McBride, Mose Davis, Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana and countless others.
A self-taught instrumentalist, "Junebug" first picked up the drumsticks at 11, picking out the lick to James Brown's Cold Sweat at his grandmother's house in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
He learned to play as a funk drummer, but moved into jazz upon encountering organist Jimmy Smith. "Junebug" ended up in Smith's touring band for the last 21 years of the organist's life.
He spent time living in Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York before settling in Washington DC and becoming the house drummer at the HR-57 jazz club.
Junebug's only known recording as leader, 'On My Way Home', features arrangements inspired by a 1961 collaboration between Cannonball Adderly and Nancy Wilson.
Jimmy "Junebug" Jackson is survived by two sons and his wife, Chandra.
