Photo: Atael Weissman · CC BY-SA 3.0 · credits
Tier 3 · vertical & regionalfull biography
Jimmy McGriff
Person · male · United States · Germantown · born 1936 · died 2008 · recording since 1962
American hard bop and soul-jazz organist and organ trio bandleader (1936-2008)
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Also known as James Harrell McGriff Jr. · ジミー・マクグリフ
Timeline
55 events▣ Album 52◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1† Death 1
1930s
1960s
· Debut release
Debut release: I've Got a Woman
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
Biography
English biography1,664 words · 7 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1358460325
Biography
James Harrell McGriff (April 3, 1936 – May 24, 2008) was an American hard bop and soul-jazz organist and organ trio bandleader.
Early years and influences
Born in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, McGriff started playing piano at the age of five and by his teens had also learned to play vibes, alto sax, drums and upright bass. He played bass in his first group, a piano trio. When he joined the United States Army, McGriff served as a military policeman during the Korean War. He later became a police officer in Philadelphia for two years.
Music kept drawing McGriff's attention away from the police force. His childhood friend, organist Jimmy Smith, had begun earning a substantial reputation in jazz for his Blue Note albums (the two played together once in 1967) and McGriff became entranced by the organ sound while Richard "Groove" Holmes played at his sister's wedding. Holmes went on to become McGriff's teacher and friend and they recorded together on two occasions in 1973 for two Groove Merchant records.
McGriff bought his first Hammond B-3 organ in 1956, spent six months learning the instrument, then studied at New York's Juilliard School. He also studied privately with Milt Buckner, Jimmy Smith, and Sonny Gatewood. He was influenced by the energy and dynamics of organist Buckner and the diplomatic aplomb of Count Basie, and by local organists such as Howard "The Demon" Whaley and Austin Mitchell.
1960s: First combos
McGriff formed a combo that played around Philadelphia and often featured tenor saxophonist Charles Earland (who soon switched permanently to organ, and became one of the instrument's renowned performers). During this time, McGriff also accompanied such artists as Don Gardner, Arthur Prysock, Candido and Carmen McRae, who came through town for local club dates.
In 1961, McGriff's trio was offered the chance to record an instrumental version of Ray Charles' hit "I've Got a Woman
I've Got a WomanSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1I've Got a Woman4:34A2On the Street Where You Live3:56A3Satin Doll2:21A4'Round Midnight5:46A5All About My Girl3:57B1M.G. Blues4:58B2That's the Way I Feel2:20B3After Hours6:01B4Flying Home3:25B5Sermon5:06" by Joe Lederman's Jell Records, a small independent label. When the record received substantial local airplay, Juggy Murray's Sue label picked it up and recorded a full album of McGriff's trio, released in 1962. The album also turned out another hit in McGriff's "All About My Girl", establishing McGriff's credentials as a fiery blues-based organist, well-versed in gospel, soul and "fatback groove".
McGriff recorded a series of popular albums for the Sue label between 1962 and 1965, ending with what still stands as one of his finest examples of blues-based jazz, Blues for Mister Jimmy. When producer Sonny Lester started his Solid State record label in 1966, he recruited McGriff to be his star attraction. Lester framed McGriff in many different groups, performing a wide variety of styles and giving the organist nearly unlimited opportunities to record. McGriff was heard everywhere from an all-star tribute to Count Basie: The Big Band (1966), a series of "organ and blues band" albums such as Honey (1968) and A Thing to Come ByA Thing to Come BySpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1A Thing to Come By3:552Charlotte4:303Down Home on the Moon10:024Oh Happy Day3:135Don't Let Me Lose This Dream5:206Up There, Down Here3:007A Thing to Come By, Part II4:47 (1969), funk classics like Electric Funk (1970), covering pop hits ("Cherry
CherrySpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracksA1Cherry2:20A2Tequila3:07A3Hit the Road Jack2:52A4Watermelon Man2:55A5Blue Moon3:20A6The Comeback2:40B1I Left My Heart in San Francisco3:00B2The Way You Look Tonight4:03B3Sunny Side of the Street3:10B4Just Friends4:05B5The Shadow of Your Smile3:20", "Blue Moon", "The Way You Look TonightThe Way You Look TonightSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1The Way You Look Tonight5:272Moon River4:323I Want to Talk About You5:494Once Again5:185Laura5:346All Soul3:41") and such original singles as "The Worm" and "Step One".
During this time, McGriff performed at clubs and concert halls worldwide. He settled in Newark, New Jersey, and eventually opened his own supper club, The Golden Slipper - where he recorded Black Pearl and another live album, Chicken Fried Soul with Junior Parker in 1971. Beginning in 1969, he also performed regularly with Buddy Rich's band, though the two were only recorded once together in 1974 on The Last Blues Album Volume 1.
1970s–1980s
McGriff "retired" from the music industry in 1972 to start a horse farm in Connecticut. But Sonny Lester's new record company, Groove Merchant, kept issuing McGriff records at a rate of three or four a year. By 1973, McGriff was touring relentlessly and actively recording again. Around this time, disco was gaining a hold in jazz music and McGriff's flexibility proved infallible. He produced some of his best music during this period: Stump Juice (1975), The Mean Machine (1976), Red Beans (1976) and Outside Looking In (1978). These albums still stand out today as excellent documents of McGriff's organ playing.
By 1980, McGriff broke away from Sonny Lester and began working actively with producer Bob Porter (and recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder). McGriff began a long relationship with Milestone Records collaborating with Rusty Bryant, Al Grey, Red Holloway, David "Fathead" Newman, Frank Wess and Eric Alexander.
In 1986, McGriff started a popular partnership with alto saxophone player Hank Crawford. Their partnership yielded five co-leader dates for Milestone records: Soul Survivors (1986), Steppin' Up (1987), On the Blue Side (1989), Road Tested (1997), and Crunch Time (1999), as well as two dates for Telarc Records: Right Turn on Blue (1994) and Blues Groove (1995).
1990s–2000s
Between 1994 and 1998, McGriff also experimented with the Hammond XB-3, an organ synthesizer that increased the organ's capabilities with MIDI enhancements. This gave McGriff an unnatural synthesized sound, which probably explains his retreat from the instrument on late recordings such as 2000's McGriff's House Party (featuring fellow organist Lonnie Smith). House Party did include the use of the XB-3; however, he did not use the MIDI functions.
McGriff was one of the first B3 players to add MIDI to the upper keyboard of his personal B3 to add and extend "his sound" beyond just the drawbar sound of the B3. He incorporated synthesizers in his live performances as he liked vibes, piano, strings, brass and other sounds that could only be created by a synthesizer and which the classic B3 cannot provide. Jimmy purchased the XB-3 as he had more control over the MIDI functions, and the XB-3 weighs about half of the classic B3, which made it easier to move.
Along with the soul-jazz sound, McGriff experienced renewed popularity in the mid-1990s, forming 'The Dream TeamThe Dream TeamSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1McGriffin'7:142Ain't It Funny How Time Slips Away6:223Red Hot n' New7:424Fleetwood Stroll9:515Don't Blame Me11:316Tain't Nobody's Business If I Do8:167Things Ain't What They Used to Be11:13' group, which featured David "Fathead" Newman (a longtime saxophonist with Ray Charles) and drummer Bernard Purdie, and recording The Dream Team (1997), Straight Up (1998), McGriff's House Party (2000), Feelin' It (2001), and McGriff Avenue (2002) albums.
On March 29, 2008, McGriff was given a last private concert by Bill "Mr. B3" Dilks and drummer Grant MacAvoy in his honor in Voorhees Township, New Jersey. Dilks brought his B3 and played for McGriff, his wife Margaret, their guests, and the folks at the Genesis Health Care Center. As Dilks said, "The Hammond reaches its players far beyond where the conscious mind lives".
A resident of Voorhees Township, New Jersey, McGriff died there at age 72 on May 24, 2008, of complications of multiple sclerosis.
As leader/co-leader
I've Got a Woman (Sue, 1962)
One of Mine (Sue, 1963)
Jimmy McGriff at the Apollo [live] (Sue, 1963)
Christmas with McGriff (Sue, 1963)
Jimmy McGriff at the Organ (Sue, 1964)
Topkapi (Sue, 1964)
Blues for Mister Jimmy (Sue, 1965)
Christmastime (Jell, 1965)
Where the Action's At! [live] (Veep, 1966)
The Big Band (Solid State, 1966) - also released as A Tribute to Basie
A Bag Full of Soul (Solid State, 1966)
Cherry (Solid State, 1966)
A Bag Full of Blues (Solid State, 1967)
I've Got a New Woman (Solid State, 1967)
Honey (Solid State, 1968)
The Worm (Solid State, 1968)
Step 1 (Solid State, 1969)
A Thing to Come By (Solid State, 1969)
The Way You Look Tonight (Solid State, 1969)
Electric Funk (Blue Note, 1970)
The Dudes Doin' Business (Capitol, 1970) - with Junior Parker
Soul Sugar (Capitol, 1970)
Something to Listen To (Blue Note, 1971)
Black Pearl [live] (Blue Note, 1971)
Jimmy McGriff/Junior Parker [AKA Chicken Fried Soul] [live] (United Artists, 1971) - with Junior Parker
Groove Grease (Groove Merchant, 1971)
Let's Stay Together (Groove Merchant, 1966/1972 [rel. 1972])
Fly Dude (Groove Merchant, 1972)
Black and Blues (Groove Merchant, 1963/1971 [rel. 1972])
Good Things Don't Happen Everyday (Groove Merchant, 1972) - reissue of The Dudes Doin' Business
Concert: Friday the 13th - Cook County Jail [live] (Groove Merchant, 1973) - split album with Lucky Thompson + George Freeman + O'Donel Levy
Giants of the Organ Come Together (Groove Merchant, 1973) - with Richard Groove Holmes
Giants of the Organ in Concert [live] (Groove Merchant, 1973) - with Richard Groove Holmes
The Main Squeeze (Groove Merchant, 1974)
Stump Juice (Groove Merchant, 1975)
The Mean Machine (Groove Merchant, 1976)
Red Beans (Groove Merchant, 1976)
Tailgunner (LRC [Lester Radio Corporation], 1977)
Outside Looking In (LRC, 1978)
City Lights (JAM [Jazz America Marketing], 1981)
Movin' Upside the Blues (JAM, 1982)
The Groover (JAM, 1982)
Countdown (Milestone, 1983)
Skywalk (Milestone, 1984)
State of the Art (Milestone, 1985)
Soul Survivors (Milestone, 1986) - with Hank Crawford
The Starting Five (Milestone, 1987)
Steppin' Up (Milestone, 1987) - with Hank Crawford
Blue to the 'Bone (Milestone, 1988)
On the Blue Side (Milestone, 1990) - with Hank Crawford
You Ought to Think About Me (Headfirst, 1990)
In a Blue Mood (Headfirst, 1991)
Right Turn on Blue (Telarc, 1994) - with Hank Crawford
Blues Groove (Telarc, 1996) - with Hank Crawford
The Dream Team (Milestone, 1997)
Road Tested (Milestone, 1997) - with Hank Crawford
Straight Up (Milestone, 1998)
Crunch Time (Milestone, 1999) - with Hank Crawford
McGriff's House Party (Milestone, 2000) - with Dr. Lonnie Smith and Eric Alexander
Feelin' It (Milestone, 2001)
McGriff Avenue (Milestone, 2002)
LP/CD compilations
A Toast to Jimmy McGriff's Greatest Hits (Sue, 1965)
Jimmy McGriff's Greatest Organ Hits (Veep Records/United Artists, 1968)
If You're Ready, Come Go with Me (Groove Merchant, 1974)
Flyin' Time (Groove Merchant, 1975) 2LP
Supa Cookin' (Groove Merchant, 1975) - with Richard Groove Holmes; 2LP
Alive & Well (51 West/CBS, 1980) - Groove Merchant and LRC material
Soul Brothers (Milestone, 1989) - with Hank Crawford
Georgia On My Mind (LRC, 1989)
The Jazz Collector Edition (Laserlight, 1991)
Pullin' Out The Stops! The Best Of Jimmy McGriff [AKA Greatest Hits] (Blue Note, 1994)
Funkiest Little Band In The Land (Laserlight, 1996)
Dig On It: The Groove Merchant Years (Connoisseur Collection, 2000)
100% Pure Funk (LRC, 2001)
The Best of Hank Crawford & Jimmy McGriff (Milestone, 2001)
The Best of the Headfirst Years (Headfirst/K-Tel, 2003)
The Best of the Sue Years 1962-1965 (Stateside, 2006)
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 10 | 58.3th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 72 | 96.5th |
| Studio albums | 54 | 99.4th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 55 | 99.1th |
| Recording span (years) | 46 | 86.9th |
| Genres | 6 | 91th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (72 release groups · 54 studio albums)
Albums · 54
1962 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 42:24
A1I've Got a Woman4:34A2On the Street Where You Live3:56A3Satin Doll2:21A4'Round Midnight5:46A5All About My Girl3:57B1M.G. Blues4:58B2That's the Way I Feel2:20B3After Hours6:01B4Flying Home3:25B5Sermon5:061963 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 38:23
1Kiko3:292Jumpin' At The Woodside3:213All Day Long3:534That's All5:305Hello Betty4:596Close Your Eyes5:267When You're Smiling, The Whole World Smiles With You4:258Shiney Stockings7:201963 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 36:34
A1White Christmas3:20A2Christmas With Jimmy McGriff5:56A3I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus6:41A4Hip Santa3:09B1Winter Wonderland5:16B2Santa Claus Is Coming to Town3:37B3Rudolp the Red Nosed Reindeer5:01B4Jingle Bells3:341963 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 44:15
A1Gospel Time5:30A2Gospel Time Encore3:07A3Spindletop4:07A4Teach Me Tonight5:53A5The Last Minute4:18B1Moonlight In Vermont3:47B2Blip Time3:20B3One Of Mine4:36B4Drown In My Own Tears3:55B5Broadway5:421964 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 27:38
1The Theme From the Man With the Golden Arm2:242Mr. Lucky2:303Topkapi2:284Rawhide2:105The Exodus Song2:006People2:267Woman of Straw2:408From Russia With Love2:309A Taste of Honey2:1310'Love Theme' From the World of Suzie Wong2:1311Blue Star2:0212The Pink Panther2:021965 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 34:26
A1Discotheque U.S.A.3:21A2Cash Box3:39A3Blues For Joe3:00A4Blues For Mr. Jimmy4:52A5The Dog (You Dog)3:25B1Bump De Bump3:37B2The Party's Over4:05B3Turn Blue4:36B4Sho' Nuff3:511966 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 36:04
A1Hob Nail Boogie2:25A2Cherry Point3:52A3Swinging the Blues3:44A4Cute3:25A5Every Day4:02B1Blues Go Away3:27B2Avenue C2:54B3Lil Darlin'4:28B4Splanky3:17B5Slow but Sure4:301966 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 34:52
A1Cherry2:20A2Tequila3:07A3Hit the Road Jack2:52A4Watermelon Man2:55A5Blue Moon3:20A6The Comeback2:40B1I Left My Heart in San Francisco3:00B2The Way You Look Tonight4:03B3Sunny Side of the Street3:10B4Just Friends4:05B5The Shadow of Your Smile3:201966 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 33:22
A1I Cover The Waterfront5:00A2D. B. Blues (Part I)6:18A3D. B. Blues (Part II)5:05A4See See Rider4:17B1Red River Blues3:26B2Hallelujah2:33B3Boston Bust Out3:14B4On The Way Home3:291967 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 39:05
1Better Late Than Never4:502Finishin'3:233Slim Jim5:354Time Waltzes On6:005The Long Days Night4:236The Long Hot Walk5:147The Deacon's Peekin'4:208Friday Nite's Rite5:201968 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 30:55
1I've Got a Woman2:372Kiko3:443All About My Girl2:434Ode to Billy Joe2:375The Days of Wine and Roses2:416Tennessee Waltz2:307You Are My Sunshine2:098The Swingin' Shepherd Blues2:359What's That2:0610When I Grow Too Old to Dream3:4311Embraceable You3:301969 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 26:56
1Step One3:342South Wes3:363Easter Parade2:544Jimmy's Blues8:105For Once in My Life4:526Motoring Along3:501969 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 34:47
1A Thing to Come By3:552Charlotte4:303Down Home on the Moon10:024Oh Happy Day3:135Don't Let Me Lose This Dream5:206Up There, Down Here3:007A Thing to Come By, Part II4:471969 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 30:21
1The Way You Look Tonight5:272Moon River4:323I Want to Talk About You5:494Once Again5:185Laura5:346All Soul3:411970 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 35:32
A1Indiana6:37A2Malcolm's Blues6:11A3Satin Doll5:51B1Deb Sombo6:37B2Something To Listen To4:45B3Shiny Stockings5:311970 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 32:37
A1Back on the Track3:20A2Chris Cross3:48A3Miss Poopie3:21A4The Bird Wave4:05A5Spear for Moondog, Part 13:32B1Spear for Moondog, Part 23:07B2Tight Times4:01B3Spinning Wheels3:37B4Funky Junk3:461971 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 31:49
A1Sugar, Sugar2:46A2Ain't It Funky Now3:39A3Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours2:49A4Dig on It3:08A5Bug Out3:04B1The Now Thing2:57B2You're the One3:13B3Fat Cakes3:49B4New Volume3:36B5Spirit in the Dark2:481971 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 33:18
A1Groove Grease3:35A2The Bird3:13A3Plain Brown Bag3:37A4There Will Never Be Another You4:47A5Canadian Sunset3:30B1Mr. Lucky3:39B2Moonglow3:23B3Red Sails in the Sunset3:02B4Secret Love4:321971 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 1:02:29
Disc 1A1Blue Groove (Part 1)5:10A2Blues for a Broken Down Funky Old Bus5:35A3Mocha6:50B1Harp-er5:50B2Lonesome Road5:20B3Mack the Knife5:20Disc 2C1Bahama4:35C2Amen2:44C3Hey, Mrs Jones5:09D1Blue Groove (Part 2)2:55D2Penthouse Serenade5:44D3Pennies From Heaven7:171972 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 32:32
A1Let's Stay Together2:45A2Tiki4:20A3The Theme From Shaft3:59A4What's Going On4:33B1Old Grand Dad5:07B2Georgia On My Mind6:43B3April In Paris5:05Giants of the Organ Come Together
1974 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 41:06
A1Licks a' Plenty6:59A2Out of Nowhere8:33A3The Squirrel5:24B1Finger Lickin' Good6:19B2How High the Moon7:03B3Things Ain't What They Used to Be6:481974 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 38:54
A1The Worm Turns4:22A2The Sermon3:09A3The Blues Train to Georgia5:05A4Misty7:39B1The Main Squeeze3:47B2GMI4:52B3These Foolish Things Remind Me of You5:31B4Stella by Starlight4:291976 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 34:09
1It Feels So Nice (Do It Again)6:042The Mean Machine5:543Please Don't Take Me Out6:054Get Back5:305Overweight Shark Bait4:416Pogo's Stick5:551977 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 34:51
A1Tailgunner5:08A2Bull Frog5:44A3Sky Hawk5:57B1Flexible Flyer6:09B2Grandma’s Toe Jam6:07B3Starlite Ballroom, Hot Licks Stomp Band5:461977 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 36:03
A1Red Beans6:14A2Big Booty Bounce6:16A3Space Cadet6:01B1Cakes Alive6:05B2Sweet Love4:38B3Love Is My Life6:491978 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 37:09
A1Outside Looking In5:53A2Dust Pan6:33A3Playland6:46B1Tapioca6:06B2Midnight Boogie5:21B3Walkin' Willie6:301981 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 37:16
A1My Way5:30A2Funky Accents3:20A3Brickyard9:50B1City Lights4:11B2Teach Me Tonight8:37B3Jimmy's Room5:481982 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 43:59
1Everyday I Have The Blues3:422Jumping The Blues4:163Healin' Feeling5:104Cotton Boy Blues8:365Yardbird Suite6:396The Groove Fly5:537It's You I Adore5:438Butterfly4:001982 · studio album
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Tracklist · 5 tracks · 34:42
A1Moonlight Serenade6:30A2All Day Long11:02B1Could Be5:34B2Free and Foxy6:12B3Movin' Upside the Blues5:241982 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 36:50
A1Night Train5:43A2When I Grow Too Old to Dream6:04A3Soft5:46B1Song for My Father5:02B2Mercy, Mercy, Mercy5:45B3This One's for Ray8:301984 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 40:36
1Skywalk8:432Easy Time7:533Motoring Along3:074Let's Stay Together7:565Barb' Wine7:256Jersey Bounce5:321985 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 37:26
A1Headbender5:23A2Stormy Weather4:26A3Cheesesteak5:57A4Don't Ever Doubt Me4:18B1New Wave Blues6:15B2Slow Grindin'4:39B3Hip Hop Bebop6:281986 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 38:47
A1Because of You6:02A2Frim Fram Sauce8:33A3The Peeper4:44B1One Mint Julep6:44B2The Second Time Around3:41B3After Supper9:031987 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 51:39
1Movin' On7:162Doggone4:293I'm Getting Sentimental Over You7:264BGO5:485You Belong to Me4:536Granny's Lane5:417Georgia on My Mind5:288Hittin' the Jug10:381987 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 52:27
1River's Invitation8:372The Real Deal9:083Tippin' In5:224Vicki6:105Be Anything, but Be Mine6:356Steppin' Up3:207Lift Every Voice6:058Something for Bubba7:101988 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 44:12
1Ain't That Funk for You6:252For All We Know5:103Don't Get Around Much Anymore10:184Secret Love9:035Hangin' In7:436After the Dark5:331990 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 58:18
1The Way You Look Tonight6:042You Ought to Think About Me4:203America the Beautiful3:184One O'Clock/C-Jam7:165Over the Rainbow5:146Ain't No Mountain High Enough3:547McGriff's Blues4:458One Minute 'til Six8:579Evita5:1810Goin' Home9:121990 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 40:57
A1Any Day Now7:17A2Jimmy's Groove4:48A3The Glory of Love5:10A4You're the One5:29B1Tuff4:11B2Jumpin' With Symphony Sid4:59B3Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You3:35B4Hank's Groove5:281991 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 39:35
1Charlotte4:502Hip Hug Her4:373Dr. Feelgood5:404Blue Juice5:155The Bird5:026Hallelujah I Love Her So2:527Have a Heart4:098Born Under a Bad Sign3:569Fake I.D.3:141992 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 59:09
1St. Thomas4:372Catherine6:033Fingers5:364Rainy Day6:145Who Can I Turn To6:506Blue Groove, Part 15:347Blues for a Broken Down Funky Old Bus5:348Mocha6:529Harper4:5710Lonesome Road4:0611Amen2:461994 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 59:18
1Next Time You See Me7:192Maggie6:463Red Top4:214Daddy's Home5:395Right Turn on Blue6:056Teach Me Tonight5:557The Masher6:248But on the Other Hand7:389Back at the Chicken Shack9:111994 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 1:00:04
1McGriff’s Blues4:422Charlotte4:463You Ought to Think About Me4:184Have a Heart4:055One Minute ’til Six8:536Fake I.D.3:177Dr. Feelgood5:368Evita5:159Hallelujah I Love Her So2:4810Goin’ Home9:1111One O’Clock/C‐Jam7:131996 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 1:07:26
1Movin' Upside the Blues5:112Splanky5:443Frame for the Blues8:524Lew's Place6:005All Blues7:166The Sermon6:507When I Fall in Love4:398Could Be8:089Don't Cry Baby6:3110Mercy, Mercy, Mercy8:151997 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 37:07
1Hob Nail Boogie2:302Cherry Point4:003Swingin' the Blues3:514Cute3:325Everyday4:106Blues Go Away3:337Avenue C3:008L'il Darlin'4:359Splanky3:2010Slow but Sure4:361997 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 1:00:51
1Peanuts6:192I Only Have Eyes for You4:523Happy Feet5:304For Sentimental Reasons5:215Caravan9:016Road Tested5:487Hope That We Can Be Together Soon5:548Mr. P.C.3:359Summertime5:3810A Little Bit South of East St. Louis8:531997 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 1:02:09
1McGriffin'7:142Ain't It Funny How Time Slips Away6:223Red Hot n' New7:424Fleetwood Stroll9:515Don't Blame Me11:316Tain't Nobody's Business If I Do8:167Things Ain't What They Used to Be11:131998 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 53:08
1Bowlegs6:342It's All Good8:143Don't Deceive Me (Please Don't Go)5:464Sandu7:145Crunch Time7:176What's Goin' On7:177Without a Song4:168The Preacher6:301998 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 1:02:05
1Doin' My Thing9:222It Had To Be You5:503Straight Up7:064Blues For The Baby Grand6:085It's Your Thing9:136Dream9:057Brother Griff8:108Oleo7:112000 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 1:00:09
1Neckbones A La Carte8:072Blues For Stitt8:233Red Roses For A Blue Lady5:504Red Cadillac Boogaloo6:045That's All6:366McGriff's House Party7:317Grits, Gravy and Groove7:368Dishin' The Dirt10:022001 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 1:01:54
1Blue Groove - Part 15:322Lonesome Road4:053Soft Winds7:214How Long4:585Blues for a Broken Down Funky Bus5:336Mocha6:517Harp-er4:578Sweet Georgia Brown6:369Everyday I Have the Blues3:4310Yard Bird Suite6:3811It's You I Adore5:402001 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 54:56
1Stan's Shuffle9:042Hard Times7:483Us4:554Feelin' It5:035Sermonizing8:086All Blues6:227Just in Time6:068City Lights7:302002 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 59:13
1All About My Girl7:492McGriff Avenue7:333Soul Street10:494The Answer Is the Blues8:125The Great Unknown6:446Dissertation on the Blues8:357The Worm6:298America, the Beautiful3:02— · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 34:59
1Purple Onion5:472The Little One4:053Stump Juice3:384Cumayon3:305T.N.T.5:526Stretch Me Out6:297Pisces5:38— · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 33:43
1I'm Walkin'6:582Holly5:153Down for the Count4:074Blow Your Horn4:085Since I Fell for You4:586Shiny Stockings8:17
Album · 18
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | At the ApolloSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 6 tracks · 35:151There'll Never Be Another You6:15 2We Four5:45 3A Thing For Jug5:45 4Red Sails in the Sunset5:45 5Lonely Avenue6:00 6Frame For The Blues5:45 | Live | 1963 | |
| 1965 | A Toast To Jimmy McGriff's Greatest HitsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks · 39:00A1All About My Girl3:54 A2M. G. Blues4:55 A3Kiko2:50 A4Topkapi2:40 A5I've Got A Woman4:32 B1Turn Blue4:38 B2One Of Mine4:36 B3Hello Betty2:50 B4Last Minute4:25 B5Bump De Bump3:40 | Compilation | 1965 | |
| 1966 | Live Where The Action's AtSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 8 tracks · 40:34A1Where It's At4:32 A2When Johnny Comes Marching Home4:00 A3Up Tight5:48 A4Frugal Bugle6:28 B1Upper-Ground5:00 B2Georgia On My Mind5:40 B3Goin' Out Of My Head3:58 B4Robbins Nest5:08 | Live | 1966 | |
| 1969 | The Great Jimmy McGriffSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks · 45:16A1There'll Never Be Another You5:56 A2Turn Blue4:39 A3One of Mine4:33 A4Hello Betty4:55 A5M.G. Blues5:49 B1Kiko3:25 B2Broadway5:43 B3Bump De Bump3:39 B4Sho' Nuff3:54 B5All About My Girl2:43 | Compilation | 1969 | |
| 1971 | Black PearlSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 6 tracks · 38:38A1Black Pearl3:35 A2In a Mellow Tone5:18 A3Man From Bad4:15 A4Ode to Billie Joe6:38 B1Groove Alley8:18 B2C Jam Blues10:34 | Live | 1971 | |
| 1973 | Giants of the Organ in Concert: The Complete Concert Recorded Live at Paul's Mall, Boston, 1973Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 8 tracksA1The Preacher's Tune A2Bean's B1Mozambique B2Closing Theme C1Brown Bread C2Talk to Me D1Boston Whaler D2Chopper | Live | 1973 | |
| 1973 | Concert Friday the 13th, Cook County JailSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 5 tracks · 40:30A1Freedom Suite Part I8:40 A2Freedom Suite Part II15:48 B1Green Dolphin Street5:52 B2Everything Happens to Me5:42 B3Cherokee4:28 | Live | 1973 | |
| 1974 | If You're Ready Come Go With MeSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks · 42:21A1If You're Ready Come Go With Me3:39 A2Shuckin' and Jivin'3:55 A3Dig It On3:08 A4Bug Out3:04 A5Fat Cakes3:49 A6Super Funk2:57 B1Let's Stay Together2:45 B2The Bird3:13 B3Plain Brown Bag3:37 B4Jumpin' the Blues4:15 B5Tiki4:20 B6Ain't It Funky Now3:39 | Compilation | 1974 | |
| 1987 | Georgia on My MindSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 16 tracks · 1:13:241Let’s Stay Together2:49 2The Theme From Shaft4:02 3What’s Going On4:36 4Georgia on My Mind6:46 5April in Paris5:09 6Every Day I Have the Blues3:43 7Yardbird Suite6:38 8It’s You I Adore5:43 9Lonesome Road5:26 10Mack the Knife5:22 11There Will Never Be Another You4:51 12Canadian Sunset3:32 13Mr. Lucky3:43 14Moonglow3:25 15Red Sails in the Sunset3:06 16Secret Love4:33 | Compilation | August 1987 | |
| 1992 | Funkiest Little Band in the LandSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 13 tracks · 55:521Groove Fly5:55 2Shuckin’ & Jivin’3:38 3Dig on It3:12 4Bug Out3:07 5Fat Cakes3:23 6Super Funk3:00 7Plain Brown Bag3:37 8Jumpin’ the Blues4:18 9Tiki4:21 10Cotton Boy Blues8:35 11These Foolish Things5:25 12The Worm Turns4:18 13The Sermon3:03 | Compilation | 1992 | |
| 1997 | Greatest HitsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 17 tracks · 1:07:181All About My Girl3:56 2I've Got a Woman4:34 3Discotheque3:25 4Kiko2:44 5See See Rider4:23 6Cash Box3:42 7Gospel Time5:37 8Where It's At4:46 9The Last Minute4:17 10Blue Juice5:01 11Step One3:37 12Chris Cross3:46 13South Wes3:35 14Black Pearl3:35 15The Worm3:21 16Ain't It Funky Now3:39 17Fat Cakes3:20 | Compilation | 17 June 1997 | |
| 2000 | Dig on It: The Groove Merchant YearsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 17 tracks · 1:16:311Groove Grease3:34 2The Bird3:14 3Space Cadet6:01 4Theme From Shaft4:00 5What's Going On4:33 6The Groove Fly5:54 7Dig on It3:11 8Bug Out3:07 9Pogo's Stick6:01 10Ain't It Funky Now3:41 11The Worm Turns4:17 12The Main Squeeze3:42 13Blue Groove (Part 1)5:31 14Blue Groove (Part 2)2:58 15Fat Cakes3:23 16Brown Bread9:47 17Stump Juice3:37 | Compilation | 8 August 2000 | |
| 2001 | The Best Of Hank Crawford & Jimmy McGriffSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks · 1:15:461Frim Fram Sauce8:36 2Because of You6:06 3One Mint Julep6:44 4Second Time Around3:44 5The River's Invitation8:35 6Jimmy's Groove4:46 7Any Day Now7:14 8Jumpin' With Symphony Sid4:58 9A Little Bit South of East St. Louis8:53 10Mr. P.C.3:33 11Bow Legs6:33 12Lift Every Voice and Sing6:04 | Compilation | 2001 | |
| 2003 | The Best Of The Headfirst YearsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks · 1:07:111The Way You Look Tonight6:03 2You Ought to Think About Me4:18 3Charlotte4:45 4Evita5:16 5Over the Rainbow5:12 6One Minute 'Til Six8:55 7Hallelujah, I Love Her So2:50 8Have A Heart4:07 9McGriff's Blues4:43 10One O' Clock / C-Jam7:14 11Goin' Home9:12 12Merry Christmas Baby4:36 | Compilation | 2003 | |
| 2006 | The Best Of The Sue Years 1962-1965Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 17 tracks · 1:15:071I've Got A Woman2:36 2All About My Girl3:57 3M.G. Blues4:58 4The Last Minute4:17 5One Of Mine4:38 6Spindletop4:59 7We Four (Live At The Apollo, 1963)6:53 8A Thing For Jug (Live At The Apollo, 1963)5:38 9Lonely Avenue (Live At The Apollo, 1963)5:49 10Kiko3:28 11All Day Long3:53 12Hello Betty4:58 13Discotheque U.S.A.3:25 14Blues For Mr. Jimmy4:58 15Sho' Nuff3:56 16Blues For Joe3:03 17Cash Box3:41 | Compilation | 2006 | |
| 2007 | Soul Sugar & Groove GreaseSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 19 tracks · 1:04:321Sugar, Sugar2:45 2Ain't It Funky Now3:37 3Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours2:46 4Dig On It3:06 5Bug Out3:01 6The Now Thing2:51 7You're The One3:10 8Fat Cakes3:18 9New Volume3:33 10Spirit in the Dark2:50 11Groove Grease3:32 12The Bird3:15 13Plain Brown Bag3:35 14There Will Never Be Another You4:49 15Canadian Sunset3:30 16Mr. Lucky3:45 17Moonglow3:25 18Red Sails in the Sunset3:07 19Secret Love4:37 | Compilation | 2007 | |
| 2019 | Supa Cookin'Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks · 1:15:311Licks a' Plenty6:55 2Out of Nowhere8:29 3The Squirrel5:18 4Finger Lickin' Good6:14 5How High the Moon6:58 6Things Ain't What They Used to Be6:24 7The Preacher's Tune10:00 8Bean's6:49 9Mozambique15:52 10Closing Theme2:32 | Compilation | 2019 | |
| — | Organ GiantsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks · 40:04A1All About My Girl3:54 A2Blue Skies2:12 A3Tenderly3:53 A4H.G. Blues5:45 A5One Of Mine4:36 B1Organ Grinder's Swing4:12 B2Kiko3:37 B3I Cover the Waterfront3:34 B4But Not for Me4:27 B5Sho'Nuff3:54 | Compilation | — |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Jimmy McGriff head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 10 | 58.3th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 72 | 96.5th |
| Studio albums | 54 | 99.4th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 55 | 99.1th |
| Recording span (years) | 46 | 86.9th |
| Genres | 6 | 91th |
Awards & honours
Line-up
| Name | From | To | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy McGriff Organ and Blues Band(band) | — | present | eponymous,organ,original |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jimmy_McGriff.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/58f23499-f263-4772-9b7a-2f6cd2fe428fdiscography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/58f23499-f263-4772-9b7a-2f6cd2fe428fcore—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q726100genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q726100seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_McGriffbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_McGriff
Why this artist is in the database
- List of disco artists
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Atael Weissman · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q726100 · MusicBrainz: 58f23499-f263-4772-9b7a-2f6cd2fe428f
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