Louis Jordan's Single, "Let The Good Times Roll," Debuts

On December 21, 1946, Louis Jordan's single, "Let the Good Times Roll," debuted on the Rhythm and Blues charts.

Over the next twenty-two weeks, the recording held fast to the chart, occupying the number two position for four weeks. "Let the Good Times Roll" was paired with the fast paced and humorous "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens"—a phenomenally popular release that ranked number one for seventeen weeks. Such success was commonplace for Jordan. From 1943 until 1950, his singles topped the R&B chart more than 25% of the time. Fifteen hits crossed over to the pop charts.

Born in Brinkley, Arkansas in 1908, Louis Jordan started playing saxophone at seven. As a teenager, he toured with the famed Rabbit Foot Minstrels and backed blues singers including Bessie Smith. In the 1930s, Jordan settled in New York City. There, he began performing under band leader Chick Webb. Webb pulled the saxophonist out of the ensemble to sing the novelty songs that would remain a crucial part of Jordan's repertoire.

Louis Jordan (July 8, 1908 – February 4, 1975) was a pioneering American jazz, blues and rhythm & blues musician, songwriter and bandleader who enjoyed his greatest popularity from the late 1930s to the early 1950s. Known as "The King of the Jukebox", Jordan was highly popular with both black and white audiences in the later years of the swing era. In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him #59 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.