Jess Stacy

About

American jazz pianist and bandleader.

Born August 11, 1904 in Bird's Point, Missouri, USA.
Died January 1, 1995 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Married to actress/singer Lee Wiley (1943-1948, divorce).
Stacy was mostly a self-taught stride pianist of the big band era who initially trained on drums. Stacy began his professional career in the early 1920's, playing on Mississippi and Missouri riverboats with local bands.
After 1963, Stacy gave up full-time music altogether, instead selling cosmetics and delivering mail for the Max Factor company. He was eventually tempted out of retirement for the 1974 Newport Jazz Festival, at which time he was 'rediscovered' by a new and appreciative audience.

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