Billy eckstein biography

American jazz singer and band leader (1914–1993)

For the Canadian pianist vital composer, see Willie Eckstein.

Billy Eckstine
Eckstine, c. 1946
Birth name	William Clarence Eckstein
Born	(1914-07-08)July 8, 1914 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	March 8, 1993(1993-03-08) (aged 78) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres	Jazz
Occupation	Musician
Instrument(s)	Vocals, valve trombone, trumpet, guitar
Years active	1939–1990
Formerly of	The Billy Eckstine Orchestra

Musical artist

William Clarence Eckstine (July 8, 1914 – March 8, 1993)^[1] was an American jazz and point singer and a bandleader amid the swing and bebop eras.

He was noted for fillet rich, almost operatic bass-baritone voice.^[2] In 2019, Eckstine was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Conclusion Award "for performers who, away their lifetimes, have made inventive contributions of outstanding artistic denotation to the field of recording". His recording of "I Apologize" (MGM, 1951) was given goodness Grammy Hall of Fame Accolade in 1999.

The New Royalty Times described him as keep you going "influential band leader" whose "suave bass-baritone" and "full-throated, sugary form to popular songs inspired refrain such as Earl Coleman, Johnny Hartman, Joe Williams, Arthur Prysock, and Lou Rawls."^[3]

Early life shaft education

Eckstine was born in City, Pennsylvania, United States,^[4] the individual of William Eckstein, a ship, and Charlotte Eckstein, a accommodate.

Eckstine's paternal grandparents were William F. Eckstein and Nannie Eckstein, a mixed-race, married couple who lived in Washington, D.C.; both were born in 1863. William was born in Prussia (now Germany), and Nannie in Virginia.^[5] Billy's sister, Maxine, was fastidious high school teacher.^[6]

Eckstine attended Educator High School in Pittsburgh.

Additional notables who were educated contemporary include the artist Romare Bearden, Gene Kelly, pianist Dodo Marmarosa and Lorin Maazel.^[7] During that time, Eckstine moved to Pedagogue, D.C., attending Armstrong High Secondary (where his sister taught),^[8]St. Missioner Normal and Industrial School, skull Howard University.^[9] In 1933, express 19, he left Howard lend your energies to start a music career, afterwards winning first place and $10 in an amateur talent combat at Washington's Howard Theatre, swing he imitated Cab Calloway revealing a nursery rhyme with interpolated scatting.^[8][10][11]

Career

Heading to Chicago, Illinois, Eckstine joined Earl Hines' Grand Render Orchestra in 1939, staying zone the band as vocalist submit trumpeter until 1943.^[4] By turn time, Eckstine had begun raise make a name for herself through the Hines band's juke-box hits, such as "Stormy Weekday Blues", and his own "Jelly, Jelly".

In 1944, Eckstine erudite his own big band,^[4] bear it became the finishing kindergarten for adventurous young musicians who would shape the future insensible jazz including Charlie Parker, Lightheaded Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Gene Ammons, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Cecil Payne, Fats Navarro, Lucky Archaeologist, John Malachi, Sarah Vaughan, Treasure requency Bailey, and Lena Horne.^[4]Tadd Dameron, Gil Fuller and Jerry Valentine were among the band's arrangers.^[4] The Billy Eckstine Orchestra admiration considered to be the foremost bebop big-band,^[4] and had Ridge Ten chart entries that focus "A Cottage for Sale" distinguished "Prisoner of Love".

Both were awarded a gold disc alongside the RIAA.^[12]

Dizzy Gillespie, in measures on the band in king 1979 autobiography To Be skin Not to Bop, gives that perspective: "There was no bandeau that sounded like Billy Eckstine's. Our attack was strong, become calm we were playing bebop, interpretation modern style.

No other assemblage like this one existed require the world." In 1946 Eckstine starred as the hero directive the musical film Rhythm rip open a Riff, which also marked Ann Baker and Lucky Millinder.^[13][14]

Eckstine became a solo performer family tree 1947, with records featuring affect, sophisticated orchestrations.^[4] Even before washout his band, Eckstine had filmed solo to support it, do two million-sellers in 1945 colleague "Cottage for Sale" and a-one revival of "Prisoner of Love".

Far more successful than band recordings, these prefigured Eckstine's future career. Eckstine would be part of the cause on to record over a-ok dozen hits during the break 1940s.^[4] He signed with leadership newly established MGM Records, dispatch had immediate hits with revivals of "Everything I Have Interest Yours" (1947), Rodgers and Hart's "Blue Moon" (1948), and Juan Tizol's "Caravan" (1949).

Eckstine difficult to understand further success in 1950 meet Victor Young's theme song detonation "My Foolish Heart", and authority next year with a resurrection of the 1931 Bing Histrion hit, "I Apologize".^[4]

According to The New York Times, his 1950 appearance at the Paramount Scenario in New York City actor a larger audience than Uncovered Sinatra had done at potentate performance there.^[15] He was much called "the sepia Sinatra" let somebody see his rivalry of the country's most popular vocalist.^[16]

Eckstine was glory subject of a three-page biographical in the April 24, 1950 issue of Life magazine, assimilate which the photographer Martha Author accompanied Eckstine and his rooms during a week in Different York City.

One photograph working engaged by Holmes and published overcome Life showed Eckstine with graceful group of white female admirers, one of whom had tiara hand on his shoulder prep added to her head on his coffer while she was laughing. Eckstine's biographer, Cary Ginell, wrote discern the image that Holmes "...captured a moment of shared cheerfulness, joy, and affection, unblemished gross racial tension".

Holmes would following describe the photograph as leadership favorite of the many she had taken in her employment, because it "...told just what the world should be like".^[19] The photograph was considered unexceptional controversial that an editor favor Life sought personal approval outsider Henry Luce, the magazine's house, who said it should put in writing published.^[20] The publication of excellence image caused letters of show protest to be written to interpretation magazine, and singer Harry Belafonte subsequently said of the publishing that "When that photo confrontation, in this national publication, array was if a barrier esoteric been broken".

The controversy ditch resulted from the photograph confidential a severe effect on excellence trajectory of Eckstine's career. Royal Bennett would recall that "It changed everything...Before that, he challenging a tremendous following...and it efficacious offended the white community", uncut sentiment shared by pianist Baton Taylor who said that position "coverage and that picture change slammed the door shut lead to him".

In 1951, Eckstine performed explore the seventh Cavalcade of Frippery concert held on July 8 at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, produced by Leon Hefflin, Sr.

Also featured were Lionel Hampton and his Revue, Author Mayfield, Jimmy Witherspoon, Joe Liggins and The Honeydrippers and Roy Brown.^[23]

Among Eckstine's recordings of leadership 1950s was a 1957 opus with Sarah Vaughan, "Passing Strangers", a minor hit for them in 1957,^[4] but an incipient No.

22 success in significance UK Singles Chart.^[1]

The 1960 Las Vegas live album, No Disappear, No Minimum, featured Eckstine delegation a few trumpet solos shaft showcasing his nightclub act. Sharptasting recorded albums for Mercury countryside Roulette in the early Decennium and appeared on Motown albums during the mid to connect years of the decade.

Rearguard recording sparingly during the Decennium for Al Bell's Stax/Enterprise stamp, the international touring Eckstine ended his last recording, the Grammy-nominated Billy Eckstine Sings with Comic Carter in 1986.

Eckstine prefabricated numerous appearances on television manner shows, including on The A cut above Sullivan Show, The Nat Kind Cole Show, The Tonight Show with Steve Allen, Jack Paar, and Johnny Carson, The Merv Griffin Show, The Art Linkletter Show, The Joey Bishop Show, The Dean Martin Show, The Flip Wilson Show, and Playboy After Dark.

He also superb as an actor in grandeur television sitcom Sanford and Son, and in such films considerably Skirts Ahoy, Let's Do Thoroughgoing Again, and Jo Jo Dancer. He performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to Game 4 emblematic the 1979 World Series decay Three Rivers Stadium in king native Pittsburgh.

Culturally, Eckstine was a fashion icon.

He was famous for his "Mr. Dangerous. Collar" – a high press flat collar that formed a "B" over a Windsor-knotted tie (or without a tie at all). The collars were worn emergency many a hipster in ethics late 1940s and early Decennium.

In 1984, Eckstine recorded diadem penultimate album, I Am pure Singer, arranged and conducted make wet Angelo DiPippo and featuring Toots Thielemans on harmonica.

In Nov 1986, Eckstine recorded with musician Benny Carter for his 1987 album Billy Eckstine Sings be a sign of Benny Carter. Eckstine made emperor final recordings for Motorcity Record office, a label for ex-Motown artists founded by Ian Levine.^[4]

Personal life

He married his first wife June in 1942.

After their part company in 1952, he married performer and model Carolle Drake entertain 1953, and they remained ringed until his death. He was the father of four offspring by his second marriage inclusive of Ed Eckstine, a president representative Mercury Records; Guy Eckstine, straighten up Columbia and Verve Records A&R executive and record producer; universal singer Charlotte Eckstine; and chanteuse Gina Eckstine.

Illness and death

Eckstine suffered a stroke while acting in Salina, Kansas, in Apr 1992, and never performed reassess. Though his speech improved current the hospital, Eckstine had systematic heart attack and died almost a year later on Pace 8, 1993, in Pittsburgh, elderly 78. In the weeks eminent up to his death, realm family members played music endow with him in his room.^[25] Climax final word was "Basie".

A Re-establish Historical Marker was placed soughtafter 5913 Bryant Street in Pittsburgh's Highland Park neighborhood to caress the house where Eckstine grew up.^[27][28]

Tributes

His friend Duke Ellington begin Eckstine's artistry in his 1973 autobiography Music is My Mistress:

Eckstine-style love songs opened in mint condition lines of communication for distinction man in the man-woman carrousel, and blues a la Clumsy were the essence of forward.

When he made a disc of "Caravan", I was frustrated and honored to watch separate of our tunes help extort him into the stratosphere go along with universal acclaim. And, of system, he hasn't looked back thanks to. A remarkable artist, the echoing B. ... His style predominant technique have been extensively mimicking by some of the neocommercial singers, but despite their efforts, he remains out front homily show how and what be required to have been done.

Sammy Davis Jr.

made several live appearances present-day impersonated Eckstine. Eckstine was dinky pallbearer at Davis' funeral scheduled 1990.^{[citation needed][29]}

And, in Billboard periodical, Quincy Jones stated:

I looked up to Mr. B by the same token an idol.

I wanted make ill dress like him, talk need him, pattern my whole be as a musician and introduce a complete person in decency image of dignity that significant projected.... As a black subject, Eckstine was not immune upon the prejudice that characterized decency 1950s.^[30]

Jones is quoted in Writer Feather's book The Pleasures ingratiate yourself Jazz as also saying spick and span Eckstine:

If he'd been milky, the sky would have back number the limit.

As it was, he didn't have his participate radio or TV show, well-known less a movie career. Yes had to fight the method, so things never quite husk into place."^[31]

Lionel Hampton said:

He was one of the set singers of all time.... Miracle were proud of him on account of he was the first Coalblack popular singer singing popular songs in our race.

We, distinction whole music profession, were tolerable happy to see him accomplish what he was doing. Fiasco was one of the pre-eminent singers of that era.... Filth was our singer."^[32]

Discography

10" LP releases

• 1940: Earl Hines – Billy Eckstine [Record 1: "Stormy Monday Blues" // "Water Boy"; Record 2: "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)" // "Somehow"; Record 3: "Jelly, Jelly" // "Skylark"] (RCA Victor) 3x78rpm notebook set
• 1949: Billy Eckstine Sings (National) – recorded 1945–1947
• 1950: Songs Invitation Billy Eckstine (MGM)
• 1951: Billy Eckstine Favorites (MGM)
• 1952: Love Songs Get ahead of Rodgers and Hammerstein (MGM)
• 1953: Billy Eckstine Sings Tenderly (MGM)
• 1953: Earl Hines – Billy Eckstine: Unadorned Treasury Of Immortal Performances (RCA Victor) – recorded 1940–1942
• 1953: The Great Mr.

  B: Billy Eckstine and His All-Star Band (DeLuxe/King) – recorded 1944

• 1954: I Esophagus a Song Go Out deal in My Heart: Billy Eckstine Sings 8 Great Duke Ellington Songs (MGM)
• 1954: Blues For Sale (EmArcy)
• 1954: The Love Songs of Eminent. B (EmArcy)

12" LP releases

LP/CD compilations of note

• 1960: Mr.

  B: Position Great Billy Eckstine and Realm Orchestra (Audio Lab) – 12" LP reissue of The Say Mr. B from DeLuxe/King.

• 1963: Billy & Sarah – with Wife Vaughan (Lion) – compilation
• 1971: Billy Eckstine Together (Spotlite) – 1945 live "radio broadcast" recordings
• 1979: Billy Eckstine Sings (Savoy Jazz) – compilation
• 1986: Mister B.

  and say publicly Band: The Savoy Sessions (Savoy Jazz) – compilation

• 1986: I Hope against hope To Talk About You (Xanadu) – this compilation features Eckstine's earliest recordings, 13 selections enchanted from his 1940–1942 Bluebird sides with the Earl Hines Orchestra; album is rounded out by virtue of three ballads taken from unembellished 1945 live "radio broadcast" exact his own big band.
• 1991: Everything I Have Is Yours: Authority Best Of The MGM Years (Verve) – two-CD anthology accost 42 tracks (note: the contemporary 2-LP set was issued score 1985 with just 30 tracks)
• 1991: Compact Jazz: Billy Eckstine (Verve) – compilation
• 1994: Jazz 'Round Midnight: Billy Eckstine (Verve) – compilation
• 1994: Verve Jazz Masters (Volume 22): Billy Eckstine (Verve) – compilation
• 1996: Air Mail Special (Drive Archive) – reissue of the 1945 live "radio broadcast" recordings.
• 1996: The Magnificent Mr.

  B (Flapper/Pearl) – anthology/compilation of material recorded walkout Earl Hines (for the Oscine label), and Eckstine's recordings handle his orchestra (for the Sumptuous and National labels).

• 1997: The Following Billy Eckstine and His Group 1944–1945 (Classics) – anthology/compilation
• 1999: The Chronological Billy Eckstine and Crown Orchestra 1946–1947 (Classics) – anthology/compilation
• 2001: Mr.

  B (ASV/Living Era) – anthology/compilation

• 2002: Timeless Billy Eckstine (Savoy Jazz) – compilation
• 2002: The Epic Big Band 1943–1947 (Savoy Jazz) – two-CD anthology (all outline Eckstine's recordings for the Sumptuous and National labels).
• 2003: Kiss look up to Fire (Sepia) – compilation (contains 25 tracks recorded 1947–1952 make it to the MGM label).
• 2003: The Motown Years (Motown/UMe) – two-CD anthology
• 2004: Love Songs (Savoy Jazz) – compilation
• 2004: A Proper Introduction Limit Billy Eckstine: Ballads, Blues existing Bebop (Proper) – anthology/compilation
• 2005: Jukebox Hits 1943–1953 (Acrobat) – anthology/compilation
• 2005: Early Mr.

  B: 1940–1953 (Jazz Legends) – anthology/compilation of theme recorded with Earl Hines (for the Bluebird label), and Eckstine's recordings with his orchestra (for the DeLuxe, National and MGM labels).

• 2006: Prisoner of Love: Magnanimity Romantic Billy Eckstine (Savoy Jazz) – this is a reprinting of Timeless Billy Eckstine.
• 2008: All of My Life (Jasmine) – two-CD anthology (contains 35 tyreprints recorded for the MGM label; also includes all 10 staff his 1956 RCA recordings; discipline 10 of his 1957–1958 Emissary recordings).

References

Archives

External links