Cecil Gant

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Cecil Gant (April 4, 1913 - February 4, 1951^[1]) was an American blues singer and pianist.

Biography[edit]

Gant was born in Nashville, Tennessee, where he worked as a musician from the mid-1930s until he joined the army at the start of World War II.^[2] After performing at a War Bond rally in Los Angeles, California, he signed with the Gilt Edge record label. His recording of "I Wonder" (1944) was released under the name "Pvt. Cecil Gant."^[2]

"I Wonder" sold well, and reached number one on the Billboard Harlem Hit Parade (the former name of the R&B chart). Gant toured as "The G.I. Sing-sation".^[2] Gant also released material for King Records (1947), Bullet Records (1948–49), Downbeat/Swingtime (1949), and Imperial Records (1950).^[1] His recording of "Nashville Jumps" opens the 2004 compilation Night Train to Nashville.

Gant died from pneumonia^[3] in Nashville in 1951, at the age of 37. He is buried in Highland Park Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio.