James Blake

James Blake (1922February 20, 1979) was a jazz musician and petty thief who became a literary sensation in the 1950s when he published his letters in the Paris Review. Early life James Blake was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and moved with the family to the United States in 1929, at age 7. He grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and studied to be a concert pianist. He attended the University of Illinois and Northwestern University. Career Blake left college and became the accompanist for Anita O'Day, a jazz singer, and for Lord Buckley, a comedian. He also played for Bud Freeman, Stuff Smith, June Christie and Chris Connor.