Albert Clifton Ammons, born on March 1, 1907, in Chicago, Illinois, was a renowned American pianist celebrated for his contributions to the boogie-woogie style, a blues-infused jazz genre that gained popularity from the late 1930s to the mid-1940s. Ammons's musical journey began in his childhood, influenced by his pianist parents and his friendship with Meade 'Lux' Lewis. By the age of ten, he had taught himself piano chords using the family pianola and later honed his skills by playing percussion in a drum and bugle corps.

In the early 1920s, Ammons worked as a cab driver in Chicago, where he reconnected with Lewis. The duo began performing at club parties, eventually leading Ammons to form his own band at the Club DeLisa in 1934. His band, Albert Ammons's Rhythm Kings, recorded "Swanee River Boogie," which sold a million copies, and "Boogie Woogie Stomp," a pioneering 12-bar piano boogie-woogie piece.

Ammons moved to New York City, performing at the Café Society with Pete Johnson and occasionally with other jazz legends like Benny Goodman. His performance at the 1938 Carnegie Hall concert "From Spirituals to Swing," produced by John H. Hammond, helped ignite the boogie-woogie craze. Subsequently, Alfred Lion founded Blue Note Records, recording Ammons's solos and duets with Lewis.

Throughout the 1940s, Ammons continued to perform and record, collaborating with notable musicians and appearing in films like "Boogie-Woogie Dream." Despite the decline of boogie-woogie's popularity post-1945, Ammons remained active, recording for Mercury Records and performing at prestigious events, including a performance at the White House for President Harry Truman's inauguration.

Albert Ammons passed away on December 2, 1949, in Chicago, leaving behind a legacy as a pivotal figure in the boogie-woogie movement and as the father of tenor saxophonist Gene Ammons. His influence continues to inspire generations of musicians.