James Milton Caves
August 29,1932 - April 28th, 2018 James Milton Caves, entertainer and local celebrity, died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, April 28th, 2018.
Born in Lumberton, MS and raised nearby in Biloxi, MS by Monroe and Lena Caves, he showed an early interest in music and his grandmother encouraged that love by providing piano lessons. By his mid-high school years, Jimmy played in local night clubs with bands of older, more experienced musicians and learned the showmanship that would last him a lifetime.
After graduating from Catholic high school, he joined the Navy in 1950, traveling the world, and serving in both Korea and the Philippines.
The Navy introduced him to California, and taught him to swim, a valuable skill when he once fell off the bow of the carrier while in port, and ultimately returned him to Biloxi, where he helped with his father's nightclub, and coached girls' basketball. His love of California soon drew him and his wife, Ollie, to California where they remained from 1957 for most of their lives.
He had several bands over multiple decades, first joining a 5-piece group called the Fantastics. As time passed, the group diminished to a quartet, then a trio, then a duo with bassist Bill Martin. They found a drummer and a sax player and formed a new group, the Fabulous Four, playing throughout Southern California and doing several tours for the USO, including two to Vietnam.
In the spring of 1971, his agent booked Jimmy's band at the Sky Chief in Yuma, and he just kept coming back by both popular demand and personal preference. Jimmy moved to Yuma permanently in 1980, and played all the local nightclubs of the day, and more recently, all the local casinos.
Jimmy was preceded in death by parents Monroe and Lena Caves, and wife and mother of two of his daughters, Ollie Caves.
He is survived by life-partner of 47 years, Sandi Griffin; sister, Evelyn Mason; daughters Darlene James, Yenise (Collins) Peoples, and Lisa Griffin, 7 grandchildren (Autumn, Marielle, Trey, James, Danielle, Joshua and Michael), and 3 great-grandchildren. He lived for all his grandkids and helped raise Michael from the time he was born.
Jimmy was an avid bowler for more than 35 years, a member of the Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion Posts 56 and 19, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He will be remembered for his smooth jazz style, warm smile, and his collection of unique tee shirts.
Jimmy was passionate about both children and his home state of Mississippi, so in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to All Hands and Hearts, the first charity on the ground after Hurricane Katrina who continue to focus on aid to impoverished families, or to Jazz Foundation of America, providing emergency housing assistance, medical coverage, and employment opportunities to musicians displaced by natural disaster.
A celebration of his life and music will be held Saturday, May 19th at Ricky's Other Place, 3950 W. 24th Street, from 2-4pm.
Please sign the guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/yumasun