James Edwards Yancey (February 20, 1894 or 1895 or 1901 – September 17, 1951)  was an American boogie-woogie pianist, composer, and lyricist. One reviewer described him as “one of the pioneers of this raucous, rapid-fire, eight-to-the-bar piano style”.

Yancey was born in Chicago. There is uncertainty over his birth year: at different times he stated 1900 and 1903, and other sources give 1894 or 1898.

Researchers Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc suggest 1901