Jimmy McLin

James Archibald McLin (June 26, 1908, Brooksville, Florida – December 15, 1983, St. Petersburg, Florida) was an American jazz banjoist and guitarist.

McLin started on piano before picking up banjo and, later, guitar. He played locally in Florida before relocating to New York City in 1928, playing both guitar and banjo in the early 1930s for James P. Johnson, Ward Pinkett, and Roy Eldridge. Later in the decade he recorded with Willie "The Lion" Smith, Buster Bailey, Midge Williams, and Billie Holiday. In the early 1940s he worked with Sidney Bechet, Dave Nelson, and Claude Hopkins, then played trombone and mellophone in a military band while serving in the United States Navy during World War II. After his discharge he worked again with Hopkins and played guitar for The Ink Spots.

Birth and Death Data: Died December 15, 1983

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1937 - 1939

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 37 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W24245 10-in. 3/21/1939 You're too lovely to last Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia W24246 10-in. 3/21/1939 Under a blue jungle moon Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia W24247 10-in. 3/21/1939 Everything happens for the best Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia W24248 10-in. 3/21/1939 Why did I always depend on you? Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia W24249 10-in. 3/21/1939 Long gone blues Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick B20698 10-in. 2/18/1937 The mood that I'm in Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick B20699 10-in. 2/18/1937 You showed me the way Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick B20700 10-in. 2/18/1937 Sentimental and melancholy Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Brunswick B20701 10-in. 2/18/1937 (This is) My last affair Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 61934 10-in. 4/13/1937 The swampland is calling me Willie "The Lion" Smith and his Cubs instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 61935 10-in. 4/13/1937 More than that Willie "The Lion" Smith and his Cubs instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 61936 10-in. 4/13/1937 I'm all out of breath Willie "The Lion" Smith and his Cubs instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 61937 10-in. 4/13/1937 I can see you all over the place Willie "The Lion" Smith and his Cubs instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 62372 10-in. 7/14/1937 Get acquainted with yourself Willie "The Lion" Smith and his Cubs instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 62373 10-in. 7/14/1937 Knock wood Willie "The Lion" Smith and his Cubs instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 62374 10-in. 7/14/1937 Peace, brother, peace Willie "The Lion" Smith and his Cubs instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 62375 10-in. 7/14/1937 The old stamping ground Willie "The Lion" Smith and his Cubs instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 62593 10-in. 9/15/1937 Blues, why don't you let me alone? Willie "The Lion" Smith and his Cubs instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 62594 10-in. 9/15/1937 I've got to think it over Willie "The Lion" Smith and his Cubs instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 62595 10-in. 9/15/1937 Achin' hearted blues Willie "The Lion" Smith and his Cubs instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 62596 10-in. 9/15/1937 Honeymoonin' on a dime Willie "The Lion" Smith and his Cubs instrumentalist, guitar  
Master M644 10-in. 9/17/1937 Afternoon in Africa Buster Bailey Rhythm Busters Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, guitar  
Master M645 10-in. 9/17/1937 Dizzy debutante Buster Bailey Rhythm Busters Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, guitar  
Master M661 10-in. 9/27/1937 The one Rose (That's left in heart) Midge Williams and her Jazz Jesters Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Master M662 10-in. 9/27/1937 The lady was a tramp Midge Williams and her Jazz Jesters Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
(Results 1-25 of 37 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "McLin, Jimmy," accessed January 7, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/330813.

McLin, Jimmy. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 7, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/330813.

"McLin, Jimmy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 7 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/330813

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.