James L. Hamilton died on December 31st in Bloomington, MN at the age of 80. Jimmy was an adjunct instructor in Music and Jazz Piano from 1990 until 1999. He was low-key and cool — a consummate jazz pianist — yet very friendly and cordial. Once Jimmy started playing, you knew you were in for a real musical treat. He was well-loved by his students and will be deeply missed by many.
Jimmy is survived by his wife, Barrow; daughter, Darla Hamilton; son, Alan (Trena) Hamilton; and three grandchildren. An obituary can be found on the StarTribune website, and a more complete account of Jimmy’s musical career can be found on the Jazz Police website.
A memorial service will be held this Friday, January 13th, at 11am at Edina Chapel, 7110 France Ave. S., Edina, MN, with a gathering one hour prior to the service. Services are provided by the Cremation Society of Minnesota.
Please keep all of Jimmy’s family, friends, former students and colleagues in your thoughts and prayers.
Comments
We will miss you, dear Jimmy. You swung so hard! And your technique was stunning. You were always a kind but stern mentor to me; patiently hipping me to so many pianists to check out. I am eternally grateful to you for your guidance. See you on the other side.
Jimmy was a wonderful, kind guy with a wry sense of humor. He was a fine musician with a fabulous ear and impeccable time and a talented teacher. I remember hiring him when I was Department Chair around 1990. He had been recommended by a friend in Minneapolis and came down for an interview. We had a nice chat and then I asked him to sit down and play something for us--oh my! Jimmy you will be missed.