Time Line

After School Swing Session

July 8, 1908 :

Louis Jordan born in Brinkley, Arkansas.

1915 :

Louis Jordan begins playing the saxophone at the age of 7.

1923 :

Louis Jordan had his first professional gig at the age of 15 with Ruby Williams at the Green Gables Club.

June 14, 1929 :

It is thought that this is when he recorded his first record. The songs "Dog Bottom" and "Jungle Mama" with The Jungle Band

1932 :

Louis Jordan marries Ida Fields, his second wife.

1936 :

He joined the orchestra of Chick Webb, staying there until 1938.

1938 :

He waxed his first 78 for Decca, "Honey in the Bee Ball", as The Elks Rendezvous Band

1939 :

The Elks Rendezvous Band become known as The Tympany Five

1942 :

Louis Jordan marries Fleecie More, his third wife.

1942 :

Louis Jordan entered into the most sucesful 8 year run of his carrer, during which he had an amazing 57 R&B chart hits. 18 of which hit #1, totalling 113 weeks in the #1 slot!

1944 :

He had his first million-seller with "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't Ma Baby?"

1944 :

"G.I. Jive" hit #1 on the R&B chart and stays there for 6 weeks. It also hit #1 on the Pop chart staying there for two weeks. G.I Jive was Louis Jordan's only Pop chart topping song, though 15 of his hits made it into the Pop charts

1945 :

"Caldonia" hit #1 on the R&B chart and stays there for 7 weeks.

1946 :

"Buzz Me" hit #1 on the R&B chart and stayed there for 9 weeks.

1946 :

"Stone Cold Dead In THe Market" hit #1 on the R&B chart and stayed there for 5 weeks.

1946 :

"Choo Cho Ch'Boogie" hit #1 on the R&B chart and stayed there for 18 weeks. The longest of any song of his that hit the charts

1946 :

"Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens" hit #1 on the R&B chart and stayed there for 17 weeks.

1947 :

"Jack, You're Dead" hit #1 on the R&B chart and stayed there for 7 weeks.

1947 :

"Boogie Woogie Blue Plate" hit #1 on the R&B chart and stayed there for 14 weeks.

1949 :

"Saturday Night Fish Fry" hit #1 on the R&B chart and stayed there for 12 weeks.

1950 :

"Blue Light Boogie" hit #1 on the R&B chart and stayed there for 7 weeks.

1951 :

Louis Jordan marries his 4th wife, Vicky Hayes.

1953 :

Louis Jordan departs from Decca.

1966 :

Louis Jordan marries Martha Weaver, his 5th wife.

1972 :

Louis Jordan entered the recording studio for the last time to record the tracks found on I Believe in Music.

February 4, 1975 :

Louis Jordan dies of a heart attack in Los Angeles, California, and is buried in St. Louis Missouri.

1987 :

Louis Jordan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

1992 :

The musical Five Guys Named Moe opened on Broadway.

2005 :

Louis Jordan was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame