Jimmy Mundy
b. 28 June 1907, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, d. 24 April 1983. Formally taught as a classical musician, Mundy began to concentrate on arranging for big bands in the late '20s and by the beginning of the next decade was well-placed to take advantage of their popularity. During the '30s he wrote for the bands of Earl Hines (Cavernism), Benny Goodman (Madhouse, Sing, Sing, Sing, Solo Flight) and Gene Krupa. His inclination towards medium and uptempo swingers with impressively orchestrated riffs attracted the interest of Count Basie (Feather Merchant), for whom he arranged throughout the '40s. Late in the decade he also wrote for Dizzy Gillespie. Inevitably, Mundy's tenor saxophone-playing career suffered from his emphasis on his arranging, but he did make some records and briefly led his own band. In the '50s he drifted out of jazz, continuing to arrange for large studio orchestras. He died in 1983.