Jimmy Blakemore

Session drummer April 17, 1939 - Aug. 3, 2008 Following graduation (1957), Mr. Blakemore began his career as a professional musician. For about eight years, he was the house drummer at the Holiday House, backing up national acts like Vic Damone, Diahann Carroll, the Mills Brothers, Phyllis Diller, Milton Berle, Totie Fields, Tiny Tim and Professor Irwin Corey. After leaving the Holiday House, Mr. Blakemore spent two years touring with Buddy Greco. While the band was performing at the London Palladium, he was hired by Grammy award-winning vocalist Jack Jones, a musical relationship that lasted more than 30 years. With Mr. Jones, Mr. Blakemore performed on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson more than a dozen times. Mr. Blakemore passed away at the age of 69 from natural causes.