Lee Sims - It Made You Happy When You Made Me Cry (1926)

Walter Donaldson song.

Cleo Orville Sims was born on April 30, 1898, in Champaign, Illinois.

At age 22, Sims moved to Chicago and made piano rolls for the United States Piano Roll Company.

He married Ilomay Bailey, who sang for ensembles led by Paul Ash and Ben Pollack.

During the 1920s and 1930s, Sims recorded around 60 titles for Brunswick.

He died on May 7, 1966

Art Tatum said that he listened to Sims' radio broadcasts in the 1930s and was influenced by Sims.

Art Tatum (like Sims) would often begin a song's performance by exploring it with "Debussy-esque" chords--then go into a bouncy/jazzy tempo.

Sims may be forgotten today, but he influenced Art Tatum, who is a giant in jazz, so listening to Sims is worthwhile.

Lee Sims "It Made You Happy When You Made Me Cry" Brunswick 3462 (1926) ornate piano like Art Tatum