The Resume

(July 8, 1908-February 4, 1975)
Born in Brinkley, Arkansas
Nicknamed the ‘King of the Jukebox’ and the ‘Father of Rhythm & Blues’
Songs include ‘What’s the Use of Getting Sober (When You Gonna Get Drunk Again, 1942),’ ‘Ration Blues (1943),’ ‘G.I. Jive (1944),’ ‘Is You Is Or Is You (Ain’t Ma Baby 1944),’ ‘Mop! Mop! (1945),’ ‘Caldonia (1945),’ ‘Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens (1946)’ ‘Let the Good Times Roll (1946),’ ‘Open the Door Richard (1947),’ ‘Run Joe (1948),’ ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ (with Ella Fitzgerald, 1949) and ‘Beans and Corn Bread (1949)’
Inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame (2005)

Why he might be annoying:

He referred to Johnny Otis as an ‘ofay trying to pass for a negro’ (white trying to be black).
He married five times.
In 1951, when their popularity was on the wane, he put together a big band that didn’t last long.
He said rock n’ roll was R&B by white artists.
He received few royalties for his many compositions.

Why he might not be annoying:

His mother died when he was young, leaving his father to raise and musically train him.
‘Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t Ma Baby’ was featured in the Tom & Jerry short ‘Solid Serenade (1946).’
One of his big bands was a powerhouse at the Savoy Ballroom’s ‘cutting contests’ (musical battle between stride pianists, often involving interference in the other’s performance).
Despite his claims about rock n’ roll, he provided many building blocks for the emerging genre.
He also unwittingly provided some building blocks for the rap genre.
James Brown listed him as an influence (‘he could sing, he could dance, he could play, he could act, he could do it all’).
Chuck Berry listed him as an influence (‘I identify myself with Louis Jordan more than any other artist’).
B.B. King paid tribute to him with an album called ‘Let the Good Times Roll — The Music of Louis Jordan,’ which included remakes of ‘Caldonia’ and ‘Let the Good Times Roll.’

Credit: Cool It All Right?

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Celebrities Born on the Same Date [July] (Ranked: 7081908)
• Cool It All Right?'s Profiles [Series 04]
• Ed Sullivan Show Guests
• Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (Ranked: 2018)
• I am on a U.S. Postage Stamp [H-L]
• I Died in 1975 (Ranked: 66)
• I Married at Least Five Times [I Do! I Do! I Do! I Do! I Do!]
• Joker Faces/Huge Grins
• Joy of Sax(ophone)
• My Music was Lost in the 2008 Universal Studios Fire
• My Song was Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame (Ranked: 2013)
• My Song was Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame (Ranked: 1998)
• Profiles 21751-22000 (Ranked: 21890)
• Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists (Ranked: 59)
• We Covered/Parodied 'Baby Its Cold Outside' (Ranked: 3)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 13 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 11 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 15 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 18 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 19 Votes: 57.89% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 30 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 12 Votes: 33.33% Annoying