Widely known for his iconic recording of Night Train, tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest was born January 24, 1920 in St. Louis, Missouri. In his early career he played with Fate Marable, Jay McShann and later with Andy Kirk for six years. Following his time with Kirk, Forrest joined the Duke Ellington Orchestra for a while before leaving in the early 1950s to lead his own small groups. During that decade Forrest also played with Al Grey, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Miles Davis and Count Basie.

On November 27, 1951 Jimmy Forrest went into the studio to make the first recording of Night Train. It was released by United Records on March 1, 1952, and went to #1 on the Billboard Magazine R&B chart that same month. The record remained in the top spot for seven consecutive weeks. The tune was created using parts of an Ellington composition called That’s the Blues, Old Man, which Ellington also included in one of the movements of his Deep South Suite. Forrest shares writing credits for Night Train along with Oscar Washington and Lewis P. Simpkins.

Late in his career Forrest played regularly in New York City with an all-star group that included trumpeter Howard McGhee, pianist John Hicks, bassist Major Holley and with Charlie Persip on drums. He also toured occasionally with Basie during the 1970s. His music was reportedly a favorite of world heavyweight champion Sonny Liston who would play Forrest records during his workouts. Over the course of his lifetime, Jimmy Forrest also played with greats like Jack McDuff, Blue Mitchell, Grant Green, Joe Williams, Bennie Green and Cat Anderson. Jimmy Forrest passed away in Grand Rapids, Michigan in August of 1980 at the age of 60.

Here is a link to that original Jimmy Forrest recording of Night Train:

"NIGHT TRAIN"