Cheatham was born and grew up in Akron, Ohio, the first child^[a] of Elizabeth (née Smart) and Ernest Evans.^[4]^[5] At the age of five, she started having lessons on her aunt's newly-acquired piano, which was soon moved to Cheatham's home when it transpired that she had a talent for music her aunt lacked.^[6] Not long after, she began playing for services at the church her family attended.^[7] Throughout her school years, Cheatham's piano teacher also took her to play at weddings and social events, as well as to give recitals.^[8]

Cheatham first played jazz music when, aged 14, she was asked to join a local 15-piece rehearsal orchestra. While still in high school, she began playing in smaller groups,^[9] and found herself in demand professionally as most younger musicians were drafted into the US Army during World War II. In 1944, she was accepted as a student at the University of Akron,^[10] but was unable to complete more than one year for financial reasons.^[9]^[11]

Writing in the Los Angeles Times in 1992, Dirk Sutro (author of Jazz for Dummies) noted that "Jeannie Cheatham remains one of the under-appreciated greats of jazz and blues, both for her spare, tasteful piano playing, which ranges from boogie-woogie to Monk‑ish surprises, and for her earthy but sensuous voice."^[12]

In 2006, Jeannie and Jimmy Cheatham received a lifetime achievement award at the San Diego Music Awards,^[13] and in November 2022, were inducted into the San Diego Music Hall of Fame.^[14]

Biography

Discography

Notes

References