Hadley Park in Nashville in Davidson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

James "Jimmy" Blanton

Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, August 25, 2022

1. James "Jimmy" Blanton Marker

Inscription. While studying at Tennessee State University, Blanton switched from the violin to the string bass and started playing with the Tennessee State Collegians. Just two years later, in 1939, he joined Duke Ellington's orchestra and quickly became one of the most influential bass players of the Swing Era. Blanton took the bass, which had previously been used only to keep time and lay down a basic harmonic foundation, to a new dimension where it became an instrument of horn-like solos.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment.

Location. 36° 10.137′ N, 86° 48.829′ W. Marker is in Nashville, Tennessee, in Davidson County. It is in Hadley Park. Marker is on Jefferson Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2414 Jefferson St, Nashville TN 37208, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Jerry Maynard (here, next to this marker); Thank You (here, next to this marker); Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement (here, next to this marker); Erica Gilmore (here, next to this marker); Edith Taylor Langster (here, next to this marker); Freedom Riders 14

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(here, next to this marker); Marion Barry (here, next to this marker); Sharon Hurt (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nashville.

Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, August 25, 2022

2. James "Jimmy" Blanton Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 31, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 70 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 2, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.