Bill Doggett
With his instrumental hit "Honky Tonk" in February 1956, Bill Doggett (born William Ballard Doggett) created one of rock's greatest instrumental tracks. Although it generated scores of offers to perform in rock & roll clubs throughout the United States, Doggett remained tied to the jazz and organ-based R&B that he had performed since the 1930s. Continuing to record for the Cincinnati-based King label until 1960, he went on to record for Warner Brothers, Columbia, ABC-Paramount and Sue. His last session came as a member and producer of an all-star jazz/R&B group, Bluesiana Hurricane in 1995.
Born on the north side of Philadelphia, Doggett struggled with poverty as a youngster. Although he initially dreamed of playing the trumpet, his family was unable to afford lessons. Persuaded by his mother (a church pianist), to try keyboards instead, he quickly mastered the instrument. Hailed as a child prodigy by his 13th birthday, he formed his first band, the Five Majors, at the age of 15.
Performing with the Jimmy Gorman Band, the pit orchestra at the Nixon Grand Theater, while still in high school, Doggett assumed leadership of the group in 1938. The experience was brief, however, as Doggett sold the orchestra to Lucky Millinder, with whom he continued to work off and on for the next four years. He made his recording debut on Millinder's tracks, "Little Old Lady From Baltimore" and "All Aboard" in 1939.
Although he formed a short-lived orchestra with Benny Goodman's arranger, Jimmy Mundy, in late 1939, Doggett continued to work primarily as a sideman. Playing piano and arranging for the Ink Spots from 1942 until 1944, he went on to arrange tunes for Count Basie's band and tour and/or record with Coleman Hawkins, Johnny Otis, Wynonie Harris, Ella Fitzgerald and Lionel Hampton. Replacing Wild Bill Davis in Louis Jordan's band, in 1947, he appeared on the influential tunes, "Saturday Night Fish Fry" and "Blue Light Boogie." He made his debut as an organist during June 1951 recording sessions with Ella Fitzgerald.
Debuting his own organ-led combo at New York nightclub, the Baby Grand, in June 1952, Doggett recorded more than a dozen singles before striking gold with "Honky Tonk" four years later.
A longtime resident of Long Island, New York, Doggett died on November 13, 1996, three days after suffering a heart attack.
© Craig Harris /TiVo
Artistas semelhantes
Discografia
45 álbum(ns) • Ordenado por Mais vendidos
-
The Right Choice
Blues - Lançado por After Hours Records em 1 de jan. de 1991
Disponível em16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Honky Tonk - The Best of Bill Doggett
Blues - Lançado por AP MUSIC LTD em 1 de jan. de 2013
Disponível em16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Golden Selection (Remastered)
R&B - Lançado por Master Tape Records em 14 de ago. de 2020
Disponível em16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Honky Tonk: the Best of Bill Doggett
Soul - Lançado por Classic Music International em 30 de nov. de 2010
Disponível em16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Everybody Dance the Honky Tonk
R&B - Lançado por Mojo Workin' em 8 de fev. de 2022
Disponível em16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Everyday, I have the blues (1971)
Jazz - Lançado por Disques Black & Blue em 1 de jul. de 2002
Disponível em16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Am I Blue (1978) (1978 Re-recording - Blues Reference)
Blues - Lançado por Disques Black & Blue em 1 de jan. de 1978
Disponível em16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Summer 1978 (1978 Re-recording)
Harry "Sweets" Edison, Bill Doggett, Milt Hinton, Oliver Jackson
Jazz - Lançado por Disques Black & Blue em 31 de mar. de 2017
Disponível em16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Oops!: The Best of Bill Doggett
Jazz - Lançado por Mach60 Music em 12 de out. de 2012
Disponível em16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Lionel Hampton Presents: Bill Doggett
Jazz - Lançado por Good Time Records em 23 de ago. de 1977
Disponível em16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
The Swinging Sounds of Bill Doggett and His Combo. Oops! / Prelude to the Blues
Jazz - Lançado por BLUE MOON em 10 de fev. de 2017
Disponível em16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
-
In a Mellow Tone
Pop - Lançado por Jerden em 11 de mar. de 2014
Disponível em16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
-
As You Desire Me
Jazz - Lançado por CoolNote em 6 de jan. de 2022
Disponível em16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Honky Tonk, Pt. 1 / Honky Tonk, Pt. 2 (Rerecorded Version)
R&B - Lançado por K-Tel em 4 de abr. de 2024
Disponível em24-Bit/96 kHz Estéreo -
Honky Tonk
Gospel - Lançado por Reminisce Music em 17 de mar. de 2023
Disponível em16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
As You Desire Me
World - Lançado por TP4 Music em 6 de jan. de 2022
Disponível em16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Jumping & Swinging
Jazz - Lançado por CoolNote em 1 de jan. de 1967
Disponível em16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo -
Hot Doggett
World - Lançado por TP4 Music em 6 de jan. de 2021
Disponível em16-Bit/44.1 kHz Estéreo