Tiny Grimes
Electric Guitar
About
Tiny Grimes was a jazz and R&B guitarist known for playing a four-string electric tenor guitar he bought at a Harlem pawn shop for five dollars. After starting out on drums and piano, he taught himself guitar in 1938 and quickly rose to prominence as a member of the Art Tatum Trio alongside bassist Slam Stewart. In 1944, Grimes led a historic recording session featuring a young Charlie Parker that produced early bebop landmarks including "Red Cross" and "Tiny's Tempo." He later pivoted to R&B with his band the Rockin' Highlanders, scoring Atlantic Records' first hit with "Loch Lomond" in 1948 and co-headlining the Moondog Coronation Ball in 1952, widely recognized as the first rock and roll concert. Grimes returned to jazz in the late 1950s, recording extensively for Prestige and Swingville alongside Coleman Hawkins and other leading players. He remained active in New York until his death in 1989.
Trivia
Tiny Grimes played a four-string tenor guitar his entire career. When asked why he never switched to a standard six-string, he quipped: "'Cause I couldn't afford the other two strings!" His band the Rockin' Highlanders performed on stage wearing tuxedo jackets, silk socks, and Scottish kilts. In 1952, the Highlanders co-headlined the Moondog Coronation Ball in Cleveland, officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the first rock and roll concert ever held.
Early Life
Lloyd "Tiny" Grimes was born on July 7, 1916, in Newport News, Virginia, acquiring his nickname as a child. He was entirely self-taught as a musician, beginning with drums and one-fingered piano. By 1935, he was appearing in amateur shows around the Washington, D.C. area. In 1937, he moved to New York City and played piano at the Rhythm Club in Harlem. The following year, he purchased a beat-up four-string tenor guitar from a Harlem pawn shop for five dollars and taught himself to play, drawing inspiration from the pioneering electric guitarist Charlie Christian. He reportedly jammed with Christian at Minton's Playhouse, the legendary Harlem club considered the birthplace of bebop.
Tiny Grimes Solos
1944
Electric Guitar solo - Tiny's Tempo - 1944
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 209 BPM
Electric Guitar solo - Romance Without Finance - 1944
4/4 swing in E♭ major at 191 BPM
Electric Guitar solo - Red Cross - 1944
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 214 BPM