Billy Eckstine

Billy Eckstine

Photo: William P. Gottlieb

Source: Time Goes By

Born on 8 July 1914 in Pittsburgh, baritone vocalist Billy Eckstine, bridges late swing to R&B. He got moved to Washington DC while in high school, there to attend the Saint Paul Normal and Industrial School as well as Howard University before leaving for Chicago to begin his professional career in 1939 with the Grand Terrace Orchestra of Earl Hines. Eckstine first recorded with Hines on February 13, 1940, in New York City: 'My Heart Beats for You' (Bluebird B10763). Eckstine performed with Hines' orchestra, releasing such as their joint composition, 'Jelly, Jelly' (Bluebird B11065), until 1942. Tom Lord's discography lists his last session with Hines on March 19 to result in 'She'll Always Remember' / 'Skylark' (Bluebird B11512) and 'Second Balcony Jump' / 'Stormy Monday Blues' (B11567).

'My Heart Beats For You'   Billy Eckstine w Earl Hines and His Orchestra

Billy's first-known issued recording

13 Feb 1940 in NYC   Matrix 047057-1   Bluebird B-10763

Trumpet: Walter Fuller / Milton Fletcher / Edward Sims / George Dixon (alto sax)

Trombone: Ed Burke / John "Streamline" Ewing / Joe McLewis

Also sax: Omer Simeon (clarinet) / Leroy Harris

Tenor sax: Jimmy Mundy / Robert Crowder

Piano: Hines   Guitar: Claude Roberts

Bass: Quinn Wilson   Drums: Alvin Burroughs

Music: Al Fisher   Lyrics: Shep Allen / Josephine Kendrick

'Wait 'Till It Happens to You'   Billy Eckstine w Earl Hines and His Orchestra

19 June 1940 in NYC   Matrix 051521-1   Bluebird B-10985

Trumpet: Walter Fuller / Shirley Clay / Edward Sims / George Dixon (alto sax)

Trombone: Ed Burke / John "Streamline" Ewing / Joe McLewis

Also sax: Omer Simeon (clarinet) / Leroy Harris

Tenor sax: Robert Crowder / Budd Johnson

Piano: Hines   Guitar: Claude Roberts

Bass: Quinn Wilson   Drums: Alvin Burroughs

Music: Teddy Walters   Lyrics: Sid Robin

'Jelly, Jelly'   Billy Eckstine w Earl Hines and His Orchestra

2 Dec 1940 in Hollywood   Matrix 055180-1   Bluebird B-11065

Trumpet: Harry "Pee Wee" Jackson / Rostelle Reese / Leroy White

Trombone: Joe McLewis / John "Streamline" Ewing / Edward Fant

Also sax: Leroy Harris / Scoops Carey (clarinet)

Tenor sax: Willie Randall / Budd Johnson (clarinet) / Franz Jackson

Piano: Hines   Guitar: Hurley Ramey

Bass: Truck Parham   Drums: Alvin Burroughs

Composition: Hines / Eckstine

'Water Boy'   Billy Eckstine w Earl Hines and His Orchestra

20 Aug 1941 in Hollywood   Matrix 061543-1   Bluebird B-11329

Trumpet: George Dixon / Harry "Pee Wee" Jackson / Tommy Enoch / Freddie Webster

Trombone: Joe McLewis / George Hunt / John "Streamline" Ewing / Edward Fant

Also sax: Leroy Harris / Scoops Carey (clarinet)

Tenor sax: Willie Randall / Budd Johnson (clarinet) / Franz Jackson

Piano: Hines   Guitar: Hurley Ramey

Bass: Truck Parham   Drums: Rudy Traylor

Composition: Avery Robinson from plantation traditional

Eckstine recorded a jam with Charlie Parker in Chicago in February of 1943 before scratching his first issues as a leader on April 13, 1944, back in New York City. His DeLuxe All Star Band put down 'I Got a Date with Rhythm', 'I Stay in the Mood for You' and 'Good Jelly Blues' for the Deluxe label. Like Frank Sinatra, his major rival, Eckstine would bring crooning to great popularity, scoring numerous high charting issues in R&B. TsorT calculates his overall most popular issue to have been 'My Foolish Heart' (MGM K10623) topping Billboard at #1 in 1950. Below is a sort of Billboard "Top Ten" for Billy:

   I Stay in the Mood for You   Sep 1944   #3 R&B
   A Cottage for Sale   Oct 1945   #3 R&B
   Lonesome Lover Blues   Oct 1945   #4 R&B
   Last Night (And Now Tonight Again)   Oct 1945   #3 R&B
   Prisoner of Love   April 1946   #3 R&B
   You Call It Madness But I Call It Love   July 1946  #3 R&B
   Bewildered   Jan 1949   #4 R&B
   Fools Rush In   Feb 1949   #6 R&B
   Temptation   July 1949   #7 R&B
   Sitting by the Window   Feb 1950   #6 R&B
   My Foolish Heart   March 1950   #4 R&B   (best-selling title overall)
   I Wanna Be Loved   June 1950   #3 Pop
   If   Feb 1951   #10 Pop
   I Apologize   March 1951   #6 Pop #4 R&B
   Kiss of Fire   April 1952   #8 R&B
   No One But You   Nov 1954   #3 UK
   Gigi   Feb 1959   #8 UK

'I Stay In the Mood For You'   Billy Eckstine w His DeLuxe All Star Band

13 April 1944 in NYC   Matrix 108   DeLuxe 2000

Trumpet: Dizzy Gillespie / Freddie Webster / Shorty McConnell / Al Killian

Trombone: Trummy Young / Howard Scott / Claude Jones

Also sax: Budd Johnson / Jimmy Powell

Tenor sax: Wardell Gray / Thomas Crump   Baritone sax: Rudy Rutherford

Piano: Clyde Hart   Guitar: Connie Wainwright

Bass: Oscar Pettiford   Drums: Shadow Wilson

Composition: Avery Robinson from plantation traditional   Arrangement: Gerald Valentine

'Rhythm In a Riff'   Billy Eckstine   Film

From the Film 'Rhythm In a Riff' directed by Leonard Anderson   Released 1947

Composition: Eckstine

IMDb   Wikipedia

'Body and Soul'   Billy Eckstine   Television

20 Nov 1947 on 'The Ed Sullivan Show'

Music: Johnny Green   Lyrics: Edward Heyman / Robert Sour / Frank Eyton

'Cheek to Cheek'   Billy Eckstine w Sarah Vaughan

From the album 'Sarah Vaughan · Billy Eckstine Sing the Best of Irving Berlin'

Album recorded 24-25 April 1957

Composition: Berlin

'If I Can Help Somebody'   Billy Eckstine   Television

17 Dec 1957 on 'The Nat King Cole Show'

Composition: Alma Bazel Androzzo   1946

'What Kind of Fool Am I?'   Billy Eckstine   Television

22 July 1962 on 'The Ed Sullivan Show'

Composition: Leslie Bricusse / Anthony Newley   1961

'Stormy'   Billy Eckstine

1969   Enterprise ENA-9009

Composition: Buddy Buie / James Cobb

'Make It With You'   Billy Eckstine

1971   From the album 'Feel the Warm' on Enterprise 1017

Composition: David Gates

Eckstine recorded his last album with Benny Carter in 1986: 'Billy Eckstine Sings with Benny Carter'.

'You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To'   Billy Eckstine w Helen Merrill

From the album 'Billy Eckstine Sings With Benny Carter' recorded 17-18 Nov 1986 in NYC

Alto sax: Carter   Piano: Bobby Tucker  

Bass: Paul West   Drums: Vernel Fournier

Composition: Cole Porter   1942

'Here's That Rainy Day'   Billy Eckstine

From the album 'Billy Eckstine Sings With Benny Carter' recorded 17-18 Nov 1986 in NYC

Alto sax: Carter   Piano: Bobby Tucker  

Bass: Paul West   Drums: Vernel Fournier

Music: Jimmy Van Heusen   Lyrics: Johnny Burke   1953

Medley   Billy Eckstine   Television

'World On a String' (Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler)

'Tell Mama' (Clarence Carter / Marcus Daniel / Wilbur Terrell)

1987    Venue unknown

Eckstine died of heart attack in Pittsburgh on 8 March of 1993 [obit]. "Basie" is said to have been his last spoken word.