James Elbert Raney (August 20, 1927 – May 10, 1995)[1] was an Americanjazz guitarist, born inLouisville, Kentucky, United States,[2] known for his work from 1951 to 1952 and then from 1953 to 1954 with theRed Norvo trio (replacingTal Farlow) and, during the same time period, withStan Getz. In 1954 and 1955, he won theDownBeat Critics' Poll for guitar.[3] Raney worked in a variety of jazz mediums, includingcool jazz,bebop,post bop,hard bop, andmainstream jazz.
In 1946, he worked for a time as guitarist with theMax Miller Quartet at Elmer's in Chicago, his first paying gig. Raney also worked in theArtie Shaw Orchestra and collaborated withWoody Herman for nine months in 1948. He also collaborated and recorded withBuddy DeFranco,Al Haig and later on withBob Brookmeyer. In 1967, alcoholism and other professional difficulties led him to leave New York City and return to his native Louisville.[4] He resurfaced in the 1970s and also did work with his sonDoug, who was also a guitarist.[1] His other son Jon is a jazz pianist and maintains a website,The Raney Legacy devoted to Jimmy and Doug Raney.
Raney lived withMénière's disease for thirty years, a degenerative condition that led to near deafness in both ears, although this did not stop him from playing. He died of heart failure in Louisville on May 10, 1995. His obituary inThe New York Times called him "one of the most gifted and influential postwar jazz guitarists in the world".[5]
