Jimmie Elkins
Jimmie Elkins | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 January 1902 Sydney, Australia |
| Died | 13 November 1971 (aged 69) |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Years active | 1918–1928 |
James Warren "Jimmie" Elkins (1 January 1902 – 13 November 1971) was an Australian pianist, bandleader, and architect. He is was as an influential figure in Australian jazz during the 1920s, with his orchestra being described as "the best jazz band in [Australia]" before it disbanded.
Early life
Elkins was born in Sydney, Australia to Henry Samuel Elkins and Ada Sophia Elkins. He learned piano as a child and, by the age of 16, was performing piano for silent films in Sydney's suburbs and at the Sydney Haymarket Theatre.[1]
Career
Early musical career
In the early 1920s, Elkins began leading ensembles, including a residency at the Regent Palais de Danse in Cremorne. By 1924, he led a band on the Hoyts circuit of theatres in Melbourne and subsequently rose to prominence in the Sydney music scene.[1]
The Jimmie Elkins Orchestra
Between 1925 and 1928, the Jimmie Elkins Orchestra emerged as one of Australia's leading jazz ensembles. The band opened the Coogee Casino in September 1925 and, during 1926, had its performances at the Dungowan Restaurant broadcast over radio station 2BL. On 13 October 1926, his orchestra made the first electrical recordings pressed for commercial release in Australia at the Columbia Graphophone factory in Homebush.[2] These sessions produced the tracks "Talking to the Moon" and "When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along".[3]
Throughout 1927 and 1928 the band played as Jimmie Elkins and his Wintergarden Orchestra as part of a residence at the Wentworth Hotel in Sydney.[4] This period represented the zenith of its success, with the American magazine Variety describing Elkins as having "the best jazz band in [Australia] at the present" in April 1927.[5]
Architectural practice
Elkins disbanded his band in October 1928 After concluding the Wentworth Hotel residency, going on to complete architecture studies at the University of Sydney.[1]
Legacy
The Jimmie Elkins Orchestra served as an incubator for a new generation of jazz musicians, including Jim Davidson and Jim Gussey. After it was disbanded, many of Elkins' sidemen were recruited into the Jack Woods’ Orchestra at the Ambassadors Restaurant. Davidson subsequently recruited a number of former Elkins players to form the Jim Davidson ABC Dance Band, which went on to become one of the most popular jazz bands in the country.[2]
The JW and BK Elkins Architectural Award at the University of Sydney was established in 1972 after a gift from James' wife.[6]
References
- 1 2 3 "Jimmie Elkins (1902–1971)". Australian Record and Music Review (2): 3–10. July 1989. Archived from the original on 27 June 2026.
- 1 2 Jack, Mitchell (1982). "OBITUARY: JIM DAVIDSON 1902-1982" (PDF). Jazz Magazine.
- ↑ "Disc Recording - Columbia, "Talkin' to the Moon" & "When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along", Jimmie Elkins, circa 1925". Museums Victoria.
- ↑ "Jimmy Elkins and His Orchestra for the Wentworth". Sunday Times. Sydney, NSW. 22 April 1928. p. 31. Retrieved 31 March 2026 – via Trove (National Library of Australia).
- ↑ "Australia". Variety. 86 (12): 2. 6 April 1927.
- ↑ "JW and BK Elkins Architectural Award". University of Sydney.