Jimmy Hamilton (May 25, 1917 – September 20, 1994)[1] was an American jazz clarinetist and saxophonist, who was a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

Hamilton was born in Dillon, South Carolina, United States,[2] and grew up in Philadelphia.

In 1939, he played with Lucky Millinder, Jimmy Mundy, and Bill Doggett, going on to join the Teddy Wilson sextet in 1940.

[2] His style was different on his two instruments: on tenor saxophone he had an R&B sound, while on clarinet he was much more precise and technical.

After he left the Ellington orchestra, Hamilton played and arranged on a freelance basis before spending the 1970s and 1980s in the Virgin Islands teaching music.