SKF NOTE: When I was learning to play brushes, Jimmy Crawford was a key influence. I would put on headphones and play along with Crawford on albums by pianists Eddie Heywood, Jr. and John Wright.

Joe Morello and Alan Dawson also admired Jimmy Crawford’s drumming.

This is Mr. Crawford’s obituary from Down Beat in June 1980.

Here’s a clip of a young Jimmy Crawford with the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra — a killer band. Lunceford’s group appears at about 1:40 in this video.