Jimmy Raney Guitar Tab Books, Instruction DVDs, Solos, Arrangements, Video Lessons

    Jimmy Raney was born on August 20, 1927 in Louisville, Kentucky. His dad was a widely known sportswriter for a Louisville newspaper while his mom played the guitar. It was she who motivated an early start on the instrument for her boy at the young age of 10. She provided Jimmy his very first lessons and after that he studied the classical guitar with A.J. Giancola. At the age of 13 he began to study with local jazz guitar player Hayden Causey. He encouraged Raney to listen to the recordings of the leading jazz guitarists of the time including Charlie Christian and Barney Kessel.

    By the time he was 15 years old Jimmy Raney was playing professionally in local bands and was very determined to establish a career playing jazz on the guitar. In 1944 he signed up with The Jerry Wald Band in New York City. Raney developed a close friendship with the pianist in the Wald band whose name was Al Haig. Raney then moved to Chicago in 1945 to reside with his uncle and grandmother. From 1945 - 1948 he played with various groups including those of Max Miller, Lou Levy, Cy Touff, and Sandy Mosse.

    After an introduction from drummer "Tiny" Kahn, Jimmy Raney was formally invited to join The Woody Herman Band. At that time the band included Stan Getz and Serge Chaloff. In 1949 Raney left the Herman band and started residing again in New York City with guitar players Tal Farlow and Sal Salvador as well as vibraphonist Teddy Charles. While in New York Jimmy had many opportunities to hear the leading musicians of the be-bop music scene consisting of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Parker became his primary jazz influence at that point in time.

    For the next year or so Jimmy Raney played mainly with groups led by Artie Shaw and Terry Gibbs. Stan Getz, by that time, had become considered as one of the world's most outstanding tenor saxophone players. After a tour of Sweden, Getz went back to the USA and formed a new quartet which included Raney on guitar. Getz had a fantastic respect for Jimmy's jazz artistry and together they played and recorded exceptional mainstream jazz from 1951 - 1952.

    In 1953 Jimmy Raney replaced Tal Farlow in The Red Norvo Trio, touring throughout the USA and Europe. In the following year he backed jazz vocalist Billie Holiday. In 1954 and 1955 a number of jazz critics voted him "Best Jazz Guitarist" in numerous magazine publication surveys. Although Raney in the early years of his profession had actually toured extensively, he slowly established a terrific dislike for travel - particularly for airplanes. He decided to invest the majority of his time at home with his wife and kids.

    In 1954 Raney joined Jimmy Lyon's trio at The Blue Angel in New York City. For the next 6 years he worked in New York alternating work between Broadway musicals, club, TV, and radio dates. He likewise made a number of fine jazz recordings under his own name and with other artists including Stan Getz, Bob Brookmeyer, and guitar player Jim Hall. It was at that moment that Jimmy Raney made a decision that he could not sustain a successful professional career in jazz!

    In 1959 Jimmy began a serious in-depth study of the cello and likewise began studying composition with pianist Hal Overton. He continued working in music accompanying leading vocalists including Tony Bennet, Andy Williams, and Anita O'Day. Raney was likewise involved with making numerous valuable instructional record/music sets for the Music Minus One company in New York City.

    In between 1964 and 1972 little was heard from Jimmy Raney as he went back to his house in Louisville and essentially retired from the music scene. From the mid 1970s his son Doug emerged as a formidable jazz guitar player in his own right. Jimmy began to play in jazz clubs and record with his son. Their success motivated him to begin traveling on the world jazz circuit once more, both as leader of his own group and with his son. He kept an active career in jazz from that time till a problem with his hearing affected his capability to work.

    Jimmy Raney, although never a particularly strong chord soloist on the guitar, was one of the all-time jazz guitar greats. His playing style motivated and inspired lots of other leading jazz guitarists including Rene Thomas, Jimmy Courley, and Joe Puma. Jimmy passed away where he was born in Louisville, Kentucky on May 10, 1995 as the jazz world mourned the loss of a truly outstanding bebop guitar improviser. 

Jazz Guitar Chords & Arpeggio Patterns - Stacy McKee - This unique book includes 300 jazz guitar chord formations and matching single note arpeggio patterns in a quick reference format that no one has ever done before! Cross indexing makes this manual extremely easy to use and regardless of what style of music you play, we know you will find this to be a valuable, "must have" addition to your library.  Stacy McKee was the featured guitarist with "Les Brown and The Band Of Renown" and for a limited time only, we will include an exclusive copy of his book FREE with your first order!
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