Jimmy Coe

James R “Jimmy” Coe

(March 20, 1921 - February 26, 2004)

Born in Kentucky, Jimmy Coe’s family moved to Indianapolis when he was a toddler.  He played violin and piano and at fourteen began playing piano at house parties. He attended Crispus Attucks High School where he then began playing clarinet but switched to saxophone.  Unfortunately, the competition was so stiff for sax, Coe was unable to get into the school band.  Undaunted he joined a band with Hugh Watts on drums, Filmore Hutchinson on trumpet, and Erroll Grandy on piano and they began to play around town. 

In 1938 at seventeen he auditioned at Sea Ferguson’s Cotton Club on Indiana Avenue.  Ferguson was so taken by Coe’s sound that he introduced him to the Buddy Bryant Orchestra announcing Coe as their new saxophonist.  Thus, began a long, successful career with Sea Ferguson as his manager.  In 1941 he joined the Jay McShann Orchestra which featured alto saxophonist Charlie Parker.  Two years later he joined the Army where he organized many bands including the Armed Forces Service Band that travelled all over the world entertaining troops.  Leaving the service, he briefly traveled to New York but returned to Indianapolis where he met Wes Montgomery while playing at the Ritz nightclub. 

Coe worked several years in Cincinnati, returning to Indianapolis where he worked for the US Post office by day and performed at night at clubs on Indiana Avenue.  In one of his last performances in 2003, Coe performed with Freddie Hubbard, saxophonist David Young, “Pookie” Johnson, Keni Washington and Billy Wooten on vibes at a jazz festival held at the Fountain Square Theater.