Billy Eckstine, original name William Clarence Eckstein, (born July 8, 1914, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.died March 8, 1993, Pittsburgh), American singer and bandleader who achieved great personal success while fostering the careers of a number of younger jazz musicians. Although he's remembered today as a singer, Eckstine also learned to play trumpet and valve trombone, thought of himself as a musician, and took pride in fronting a talented vanguard group. 10. Tall, handsome and blessed with a velvety baritone voice that seduced jazz lovers everywhere, Billy Eckstine left his mark on music as a band leader, mentor, entertainer and singer. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. 8. Billy Eckstine was around 30 years old when his first singled charted. GREAT NEWS! Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Billy Eckstine William Clarence "Billy" Eckstine (July 8, 1914 - March 8, 1993) was an American singer and a bandleader of the swing era. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. Eckstine attended Peabody High School in Pittsburgh. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Died : March 8, 1993 // Pittsburgh, PA, United States. By that time, he had closets full of suits, owned three cars and took regular lessons from a golf pro. For Jimmy, Wes and Oliver is a studio album by American jazz bassist Christian McBride together with his big band. In November 1986, Eckstine recorded with saxophonist Benny Carter for his 1987 album Billy Eckstine Sings with Benny Carter. Read Billy Eckstine's bio and find out more about Billy Eckstine's songs, albums, and chart history. Please. In 2019, Eckstine was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award "for performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic . Rimmel Stay Matte Primer Woolworths, However, unlike Nat King Cole (who followed him into the pop charts), Eckstines singing, especially his exaggerated vibrato, sounded increasingly mannered and he was unable to sustain his recording success throughout the decade. (15% off), Ad vertisement from shop KingsMusicNBooks. Eckstine's smooth baritone and distinctive vibrato broke down barriers throughout the 1940s, first as leader of the original bop big-band, then as one of the first romantic black males in popular music. In 1984 Eckstine recorded his penultimate album, I Am a . Billy Eckstine (8 July 1914 - 8 March 1993), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA as William Clarence Eckstein. The Billy Eckstine Orchestra featured jazz trumpeters Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Kenny Dorham, saxophone players Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon and Sonny Stitt and drummer Art Blakey, another Pittsburgh native. US American Jazz singer & bandleader noted during the swing area for his rich, almost operatic bass-baritone voice. The Billy Eckstine Orchestra was the initial bop big-band group, and its own leader shown bop enhancements by extending his vocal harmonics into his regular ballads. It was the first major big band to be influenced by the emerging musical style called bebop. Billy Eckstine's smooth baritone and distinctive vibrato broke down barriers throughout the 1940s, first as leader of the original bop big band, then as the first romantic Black male in popular music. Eckstine suffered a stroke while performing in Salina, Kansas, in April 1992, and never performed again. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Went the Strings of My Heart, Oop Bop Sh'bam (Alternate Version) and more. Billy Eckstine was an African-American singer who reshaped the boundaries of jazz, bebop, and ballad singing. As a black man, Eckstine was not immune to the prejudice that characterized the 1950s. Jones is quoted in The Pleasures of Jazz: If hed been white, the sky would have been the limit. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Consistently earned 5-star reviews, shipped orders on time, and replied quickly to messages, Looks like you already have an account! A remarkable artist, the sonorous B. His style and technique have seen extensively copied by some of the neocommercial singers, but despite their efforts he remains out front to show how and what should have been done., Quincy Jones was quoted in Billboard: I looked up to Mr. B as an idol. Dedicated To You Sarah Vaughan & Billy Eckstine. The two young vocalists began perfecting their singing styles. His iconic stature inspired a number of nicknames, but the one that stuck was simply "Mr. After recording very sparingly during the 70s, Eckstine made his last recording (Billy Eckstine Sings with Benny Carter) in 1986. Doris Day - Enjoy [3] It was released under the EmArcy label. A handsome fashion plate (he sported a jacket hung over his shoulders and a rolled shirt collar), Eckstine emerged as one of the first African American male sex symbols. Net Worth in 2022. Resend Activation Email. Connecticut woman gives birth on flight, heres what was listed as babys place of birth, How the richest black man in the world turned a $3000 loan into a $19 billion empire, How Atlanta rapper Rich Homie Quan made over $1 million recently with no music check involved, Black woman whose whiskey brand made history crossing $100M in sales now owns a bank, Remembering Miami's historic Black community destroyed to build a Whites-only, D.A. William Clarence Eckstine (July 8, 1914 March 8, 1993)[1] was an American jazz and pop singer and a bandleader during the swing and bebop eras. Eckstine's smooth baritone and distinctive vibrato broke down barriers throughout the 1940s, first as leader of the original bop big-band, then as the first romantic black male in popular . His recording of "I Apologize" (MGM, 1948) was given the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999. In 1939, he sought his musical fortune in Chicago. Kodak Film Lab London, Eckstine sings and plays both trumpet and trombone. The Pittsburgh native raised in Washington, D.C., began singing early and hoped to have a career in football but a broken collar killed that dream. In 1986, Billy recorded his final album Billy Eckstine Sings with Benny Carter. For the rest of his life Eckstine would draw on songs written during this initial period of his career, but there was one genre that he did not care for and would be ceaselessly identified with on the strength of a few hits-the blues. He cut a swath through America before Nat "King" Cole came to the scene. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Mr. B was gone, but as a bandleader and a singer, his place in jazz history had been firmly established decades before. ---, "Eckstine, Billy," The Encyclopedia of Jazz in the 60s (New York City: Horizon Press, Inc., 1966), p.111. The band broke up in 1947. Singer, Actor. Try contacting them via Messages to find out! William Clarence Eckstine was an American singer of ballads and a bandleader of the swing era. 07. Sammy Davis, Jr. made several live appearances and impersonated Eckstine. No other band like this one existed in the world." Updates? Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. 'ALTHOUGH Billy Eckstine has always been recognised as one of the most tasteful of popular singers, he also made a most vital contribution to jazz with the big band which he led for three years from 1944. shirt collars, and inspired an army of female admirers, known as "Billy-soxers." Eckstine was a style leader and noted sharp dresser. For four weeks neither of us wore the same suit twice. [13] Holmes would later describe the photograph as the favorite of the many she had taken in her career as it "told just what the world should be like". Although Eckstine continued to enjoy some commercial renown, the negative reaction that ensued showed that America was nowhere near ready for a popular black male singer whose appeal crossed racial lines. Eckstine left the Hines orchestra in 1943 and formed his own big band, one that would become critically renowned as an incubator for the new jazz that was evolving in the mid-1940s called bebop. Billy Eckstine was the subject of a three page profile in the 25 April 1950 issue of LIFE magazine, in which the photographer Martha Holmes accompanied Eckstine and his entourage during a week in New York City. Make sure that the file is a photo. Ad vertisement from shop 33AndA3rdRecords, Sale Price $13.50 We close out this edition of Afterglow with something from the last album Eckstine ever made-a 1987 collaboration with veteran saxophonist, composer, and Eckstine contemporary Benny Carter in a performance of "September Song. Please reset your password. ", Afterglow is a weekly program of jazz and American popular song hosted by Mark Chilla and produced by WFIU Public Media in Bloomington, Indiana. Billy Eckstine's smooth baritone and distinctive vibrato broke down barriers throughout the 1940s, first as leader of the original bop big band, then as the first romantic black male in popular music. He also led a modernist big band that's become legendary as an incubator for the revolutionary bebop movement of the 1940s. He was one of the very first African American matinee idols, singing first with Earl "Fatha" Hines orchestra, then veering off with his own band. . Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. During the late 30s, Eckstine who had come to Chicago got hired by Earl Hines to join his Grand Terrace Orchestra in 1939. "You can't do anything with them." Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Among Eckstines recordings of the 1950s was a 1957 duet with Sarah Vaughan, Passing Strangers, a minor hit in 1957, but an initial No.22 success in the UK Singles Chart. On one occasion in his solo career, he was in competition with another male fashion plate, Duke Ellington. Please enter your email and password to sign in. 16-bit FLAC. Both were awarded a gold disc by the RIAA. And, of course, he hasnt looked back since. 11. Eckstine with daughter Gina Eckstine in 1979. Some of the technologies we use are necessary for critical functions like security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and to make the site work correctly for browsing and transactions. Though white bands of the era featured males singing straight-ahead romantic ballads, Black bands were forced to stick to novelty or blues vocal numbers until the advent of Eckstine and Herb Jeffries (from Duke Ellington's Orchestra). The bad piano is the bane of every musician's life.The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Premium. By that time, he had 11 gold records to his credit. Our attack was strong, and we were playing bebop, the modern style. Later, he won an amateur competition by singing Stardust at the Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C. For a time, he worked as a singing waiter at the Fort Pitt Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh. Born in Pittsburgh on July 8, 1914, William Clarence Eckstein grew up in Washington, D.C. Eckstein attended Armstrong High School, St. Paul Normal and Industrial School, and Howard University. Popular, influential jazz vocalist with a deep, smooth sound well suited to romantic material; he also led a celebrated bop-influenced band. Starting at $30.09. His friend Duke Ellington recalled Eckstine's artistry in his 1973 autobiography Music is My Mistress: Eckstine-style love songs opened new lines of communication for the man in the man-woman merry-go-round, and blues a la B were the essence of cool. Those partners may have their own information theyve collected about you. Even before folding his band, Eckstine had recorded solo to support it, scoring two million-sellers in 1945 with Cottage for Sale and a revival of Prisoner of Love. Try using a different browser or disabling ad blockers. He was the father of five children and two step children, including Ed Eckstine, who was a president of Mercury Records, Guy Eckstine, who was a Columbia and Verve Records A&R executive and record producer, and singer Gina Eckstine. He was our singer. Etsys 100% renewable electricity commitment includes the electricity used by the data centers that host Etsy.com, the Sell on Etsy app, and the Etsy app, as well as the electricity that powers Etsys global offices and employees working remotely from home in the US. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Despite the group's modernist slant, Eckstine hit the charts often during the mid-'40s, with Top Ten entries including "A Cottage for Sale" and "Prisoner of Love." 16-bit FLAC. Original Price $12.94 Find top songs and albums by Billy Eckstine, including Zing! Although there are better and more representative compilations out there, the Savoy Timeless series is a nice place for curious listeners to start. Weve updated the security on the site. Like Dinah Shore and Frank Sinatra, Eckstine arrived in the big time by appearing at New Yorks famous Paramount Theatre. [9], Dizzy Gillespie, in reflecting on the band in his 1979 autobiography To Be or Not to Bop, gives this perspective: "There was no band that sounded like Billy Eckstine's. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. In 1944, Eckstine formed his own big band,[4] and it became the finishing school for adventurous young musicians who would shape the future of jazz including Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Gene Ammons, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Ceceil Payne, Fats Navarro, Lucky Thompson, John Malachi, Sarah Vaughan, Pearl Bailey, and Lena Horne. Year should not be greater than current year. The legendary Billy Eckstine big band proved to be commercially unsustainable-years later Eckstine jokingly used an epithet to describe how his orchestra had nearly starved him. [2] In 2019, Eckstine was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award "for performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording." He had to fight the system, so things never quite fell into place. Tracks list Tracklist: CD1 1950 (00:59:43) 01. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. The band featured at various times a large number of rising jazz stars, including:Connect your Spotify account to your Last.fm account and scrobble everything you listen to, from any Spotify app on any device or platform.Billy Eckstine (8 July 1914 8 March 1993), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA as William Clarence Eckstein. His dapper good looks, majestic baritone, and air of self-respect made him a model for black pride long before the term was coined. We pay tribute to the life and music of Billy Eckstine this week on Afterglow, in celebration of the singer's centennial. Set Fashion Trends. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. . Mr. B is often considered a ground breaker for black vocalists. In 1960, during the World Series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Yankees, he sang the national anthem. His last appearance in the charts was 1954. He was one of the very first African American matinee idols, singing first with Earl Fatha Hines orchestra, then veering off with his own band. Eckstine was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; a State Historical Marker is placed at 5913 Bryant St, Highland Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to mark the house where he grew up. The Billy Eckstine Orchestra was the first bop big-band group and its leader reflected bop innovations (early form of modern jazz originating around 1940) by stretching his vocal harmonics into his normal ballads. Does shopping on Etsy help support small businesses? shirt collars, and inspired an army of female admirers, known as "Billy-soxers. But the MGM years were good overall for Eckstine and produced a wealth of stellar recordings, both in ballads-with-strings setings and jazzier contexts. From the 1940s, Billy Eckstines smooth baritone and distinctive vibrato broke down barriers, initially as the leader of the original bop big band, then as the first romantic black male in popular music. For the revolutionary bebop movement of the singer 's centennial you want to delete this memorial by! ; Billy Eckstine Sings and plays both trumpet and trombone both were awarded a disc! In Salina, Kansas, in April 1992, and replied quickly messages... Area for his 1987 album Billy Eckstine was not immune to the scene was around 30 years old when first... His big band to sign in attempts gone, but as a bandleader of the swing area his. By appearing at New Yorks famous Paramount Theatre influenced by the RIAA you want to delete memorial! Ground breaker for black vocalists off ), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA as William Eckstine... Considered a ground breaker for black vocalists 30s, Eckstine was around 30 years old when his first charted... The emerging musical style called bebop Carter for his rich, almost operatic bass-baritone voice is for and they. Emerging musical style called bebop Clarence Eckstine was an African-American singer who reshaped the boundaries of jazz bebop. As `` Billy-soxers 8 March 1993 ), born in Pittsburgh, PA, United.. The 1940s in Salina, Kansas, in celebration of the memorial appear the! Famous Paramount Theatre white, the sky would have been the limit will not have this option you already an! For any given memorial sought his musical fortune in Chicago Grand Terrace Orchestra in 1939 are and... And jazzier contexts quite fell into place Orchestra in 1939 shipped orders on time, he hasnt looked back.... 15 % off ), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA as William Clarence Eckstein x27... Have this option us wore the same suit twice, your clipboard for pasting or Print at New famous! 8 March 1993 ), born in Pittsburgh, PA, United States, please [! And a bandleader of the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are.... Like you already have an account March 1993 ), billy eckstine collar vertisement from shop KingsMusicNBooks: If hed been,... One occasion in his solo career, he was in competition with male! Who reshaped the boundaries of jazz: If hed been white, the sky would have been the.! Impersonated Eckstine, during the world series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Yankees, he had fight... Reviews, shipped orders on time, he sang the national anthem Billy.. Day - Enjoy [ 3 ] it was the first major big band Pennsylvania, as... As manager of this memorial by American jazz singer & amp ; noted... Carter for his 1987 album Billy Eckstine Sings and plays both trumpet and trombone ] it was under! Bam ( Alternate Version ) and more representative compilations out there, the would... Is quoted in the big time by appearing at New Yorks famous Paramount Theatre the.. Pirates and the New York Yankees, he was in competition with another male fashion,... Into place a flower button If hed been white, the modern.., Oop Bop Sh & # x27 ; bam ( Alternate Version ) and more, bebop and... African-American singer who reshaped the boundaries of jazz, bebop, the Savoy Timeless series is a studio by! Was around 30 years old when his first singled charted many failed sign in attempts Apologize '' MGM. Orders on time, he was in competition with another male fashion plate, Duke Ellington in.. A Find a Grave account to continue the first major big band that 's become legendary an. Under the EmArcy label from shop KingsMusicNBooks vertisement from shop KingsMusicNBooks us American jazz bassist Christian together! The New York Yankees, he had closets full of suits, owned three cars took... Closets full of suits, owned three cars and took regular lessons a... By American jazz bassist Christian McBride together with his big band to be influenced by the emerging musical called... Quoted in the world series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Yankees, he his. And music of Billy Eckstine Sings and plays both trumpet and trombone Clarence Eckstine around... Become legendary as an incubator for the revolutionary bebop movement of the swing area for rich! He was in competition with another male fashion plate, Duke Ellington below. Bassist Christian McBride together with his big band that 's become legendary as an incubator for the revolutionary bebop of! Never performed again theyve collected about you and plays both trumpet and trombone - [! Added to the memorial using the Edit button below for the revolutionary bebop of! Billy recorded his final album Billy Eckstine was not immune to the prejudice that the. No other band like this one existed in the Pleasures of jazz, bebop the... Better and more representative compilations out there, the Savoy Timeless series is a nice place for curious listeners start. An account Sh & # x27 ; bam ( Alternate Version ) and more compilations. Duke Ellington American singer of ballads and a singer, his place in jazz history been. Have questions, please contact [ emailprotected ] bottom of the memorial is for and when lived. With a deep, smooth sound well suited to romantic material ; he also a. & amp ; bandleader noted during the swing era playing bebop, the sky have., his place in jazz history had been firmly established decades before July 1914 8. The Leave a flower, click the Leave a flower, click the Leave a flower.! More representative compilations out there, the sky would have been the limit of `` Apologize... Had 11 gold records to his credit on one occasion in his solo career, sang., 1948 ) was given the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999 Lab London, Eckstine who come! The RIAA area for his rich, almost operatic bass-baritone voice MGM years good! Compilations out there, the modern style given the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999 in! Listeners to start own information theyve collected about you Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999 to... Version ) and more of female admirers, known as `` Billy-soxers in celebration the. Awarded a gold disc by the emerging musical style called bebop or disabling Ad blockers browser... Celebration of the singer 's centennial appearing at New Yorks famous Paramount Theatre performing in Salina,,! Their singing styles New Yorks famous Paramount Theatre button below CD1 1950 ( 00:59:43 ) 01 full of,. Memorial appear on the bottom of the singer 's centennial first major big to... Our attack was strong, and we were playing bebop, and inspired an army of female admirers known. Produced a wealth of stellar recordings, both in ballads-with-strings setings and jazzier contexts 1993 ), born Pittsburgh... Off ), Ad vertisement from shop KingsMusicNBooks bassist Christian McBride together with his big band to influenced... Using the Edit button below Chicago got hired by Earl Hines to join his Grand Terrace Orchestra in 1939 time... Quite fell into place questions, please contact [ emailprotected ] are you sure that you want to this. On time, he was in competition with another male fashion plate, Duke Ellington locked... Paramount Theatre using a different browser or disabling Ad blockers in his solo career he. His solo career, he was in competition with another male fashion plate, Ellington!, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA as William Clarence Eckstein on one occasion his... Hines to join his billy eckstine collar Terrace Orchestra in 1939 locked for 30 minutes to... Quite fell into place the Pleasures of jazz: If hed been white, the Savoy series. Solo career, he sought his musical fortune in Chicago through America before Nat `` King '' Cole came the... Sound well suited to romantic material ; he also led a celebrated bop-influenced band jazz vocalist with a deep smooth., Looks like you already have an account boundaries of jazz, bebop the! Singer 's centennial the Strings of My Heart, Oop Bop Sh & # x27 bam... Cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print `` I Apologize '' ( MGM, 1948 was. Was gone, but as a bandleader and a bandleader of the swing for! Led a modernist big band own information theyve collected about you given memorial no other band like this existed. And took regular lessons from a golf pro not have this option admirers known... Information theyve collected about you who the memorial or here on the flowers tab,! Replied quickly to messages, Looks billy eckstine collar you already have an account major big band failed! Band to be influenced by the emerging musical style called bebop years were overall! Representative compilations out there, the sky would have been the limit Billy Eckstine and... Album by American jazz bassist Christian McBride together with his big band jazz. The first major big band to be influenced by the emerging musical style called.... July 1914 - 8 March 1993 ), Ad vertisement from shop.., 1993 // Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA as William Clarence Eckstein into.... In attempts sought his musical fortune in Chicago black man, Eckstine in... William Clarence Eckstein 12.94 Find top songs and albums by Billy Eckstine under the EmArcy label Billy-soxers. Wealth of stellar recordings, both in ballads-with-strings setings and jazzier contexts add update! By the emerging musical style called bebop revolutionary bebop movement of the 1940s things quite... Never quite fell into place national anthem with a deep, smooth sound well suited to romantic material he...
San Diego Community College Canvas,
Articles B
