You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. 9. He was tall and handsome, sported a pencil-thin mustache and sang in a distinctive baritone. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. ---, "Eckstine, Billy," The Encyclopedia of Jazz in the 60s (New York City: Horizon Press, Inc., 1966), p.111. Billy Eckstine's Imagination. While many of the items on Etsy are handmade, youll also find craft supplies, digital items, and more. And despite the racial attitudes of the '40s and '50s, he was one of the first black artists with mainstream leading-man appeal. He also performed as an actor in the TV sitcom Sanford and Son, and in such films as Skirts Ahoy, Let's Do It Again, and Jo Jo Dancer. Regardless of the group's modernist slant, Eckstine strike the charts frequently during the middle-'40s, with TOP entries including "A Cottage on the market" and . "You can't do anything with them." [13] The photograph was considered so controversial that an editor at Life sought personal approval from Henry Luce, the magazine's publisher, who said it should be published. [4] He signed with the newly established MGM Records, and had immediate hits with revivals of "Everything I Have Is Yours" (1947), Rodgers and Hart's "Blue Moon" (1948), and Juan Tizol's "Caravan" (1949). 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 . Learn more about managing a memorial . He 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. $9.06, $12.94 Fan pandemonium often surrounded his apperances, and his young fans were dubbed "Billy Soxers.". Eckstine attended Peabody High School in Pittsburgh. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. We, the whole music profession, were so happy to see him achieve what he was doing. '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. Billy Eckstine, an influential band leader and a suave bass-baritone whose full-throated, sugary approach to popular songs inspired singers like Joe Williams, Arthur Prysock and Lou Rawls, died . [18] Eckstine made his final recordings for Motorcity Records, a label for ex-Motown artists founded by Ian Levine.[4]. He also loved playing football but suffered a broken collarbone while in high school. By that time, he had closets full of suits, owned three cars and took regular lessons from a golf pro. Billy Eckstine drove his fans wild. [5] Billy's sister, Maxine, was a high school teacher.[6]. Billy Eckstine (8 July 1914 - 8 March 1993), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA as William Clarence Eckstein. William Clarence "Billy" Eckstine (alk.Eckstein; 8. heinkuuta 1914 Pittsburgh - 8. maaliskuuta 1993 Pittsburgh) oli yhdysvaltalainen laulaja ja orkesterinjohtaja. After disbanding his group, Eckstine embarks on a solo vocal career, becoming one of the post-WWII era's biggest stars, reeling off hit after hit and attracting huge, enthusiastic integrated audiences. Yes! Passing Strangers Sarah Vaughan & Billy Eckstine. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Make sure that the file is a photo. . We pay tribute to the life and music of Billy Eckstine this week on Afterglow, in celebration of the singer's centennial. Far more successful than his band recordings, these prefigured Eckstines future career. William Clarence "Billy" Eckstine (July 8, 1914 - March 8, 1993) was an American singer of ballads and bandleader of the swing era. Tracks WordPress Theme by Compete Themes. Won Talent Contest. . He was also quite popular in Britain, hitting the Top Ten there twice during the '50s -- "No One But You" and "Gigi" -- as well as several duet entries with Sarah Vaughan. [7] After high school, he moved to Washington, D.C. where he attended Armstrong High School, St. Paul Normal and Industrial School, and Howard University. He left Howard in 1933, after winning first place in an amateur talent contest. The controversy that resulted from the photograph had a seminal effect on the trajectory of Eckstines career. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. 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. 'When he was forced to break up the band Eckstine returned to his career as a solo singer and by the end of the Forties had become the most popular vocalist in the United States. ", This was easily the most comprehensive collection of modern jazz stars ever assembled, and the music, much of it composed by Tadd Dameron and Budd Johnson, was so far ahead of its time that it is not surprising that the dancing public was not impressed. Eckstine was a pallbearer at Davis' funeral in 1990. He appeared in several. Billy Eckstine died on March 8, 1993, in Pittsburgh. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. ", Afterglow is a weekly program of jazz and American popular song hosted by Mark Chilla and produced by WFIU Public Media in Bloomington, Indiana. 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. In 1944, Eckstine formed his own big band and made it a fountainhead for young musicians who would reshape jazz by the end of the decade, including Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Charlie Parker, and Fats Navarro. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. 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. While enjoying success in the middle-of-the-road and pop fields, Eckstine occasionally returned to his jazz roots, recording with Vaughan, Count Basie and Quincy Jones for separate LPs, and he regularly topped the Metronome and Down Beat polls in the Top Male Vocalist category: He won Esquire magazines New Star Award in 1946; the Down Beat magazine Readers Polls from 1948 to 1952; and the Metronome magazine award as Top Male Vocalist from 1949 to 1954. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. 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. Billy Eckstine 1914 - 1993. . This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Once, when Eckstine came across a disheveled Davis in the depths of his heroin excess, his remark Looking sharp, Miles served as a wake-up call for Davis, who promptly returned to his fathers farm in the winter of 1953 and finally kicked the habit. Billy is originated from United States. Benefit Brow Zings Which Shade, Born in Pittsburgh but raised in Washington, D.C., Eckstine began singing at the age of seven and entered many amateur talent shows. Nat King Cole - Mona Lisa [03:26] 02. Billy Eckstine continued performing for the rest of his life, though his recording activities ceased after stints with Motown and other labels in the 1960s and 70s, an era that produced few memorable tracks. He cut a swath through America before Nat "King" Cole came to the scene. He attended Armstrong High School, St. Paul Normal and Industrial School, and Howard University. In November 1986, Eckstine recorded with saxophonist Benny Carter for his 1987 album Billy Eckstine Sings with Benny Carter. He had also planned on a football career, though after breaking his collar bone, he made music his focus. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Singer, bandleader. He was one of the greatest singers of that era He was our singer.. Despite the groups modernist slant, Eckstine hit the charts often during the mid 1940s, with Top Ten entries including A Cottage for Sale and Prisoner of Love. Legend has it that his refined appearance even had an effect on trumpeter Miles Davis. The 1960 Las Vegas live album, No Cover, No Minimum, featured Eckstine taking a few trumpet solos as well. He drew record-breaking crowds in New York and Los Angeles. His last appearance in the charts was 1954. 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. He recorded several albums for Mercury and Roulette during the early 1960s, and he appeared on Motown for a few standards albums during the mid to late 1960s. B. Collar. In addition to looking cool, the collar could expand and contract without popping open, which allowed his neck to swell while playing his horns..The collars were worn by many a hipster in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The band included the greatest stars in the new jazz movement of the time - Dizzy Gillespie (who was its musical director), Charlie Parker and Sarah Vaughan - and it provided a platform on which the new music, bebop, could be developed. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. 11. Judy Garland - Get Happy [02:48] 03. Bay Of Naples Meaning, 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. About Billy Eckstine William Clarence Eckstine (July 8, 1914 - March 8, 1993) was an American jazz and pop singer and a bandleader during the swing era. The father of five boys and two girls, Mr. Eckstine sometimes performed with his daughter, Gina, the youngest of his seven children. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. This very phenomenon ended up causing a backlash for Eckstine, after a photo appeared in a 1950 issue of Life which showed a number of white female fans clustered around the singer, one of them clinging to his chest. 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. Eckstine suffered a stroke while performing in Salina, Kansas, in April 1992, and never performed again. He was the subject of a three-page profile in the 25 April 1950 issue of LIFE magazine. 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. Came to the life and music of Billy Eckstine this week on Afterglow, in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Submitted and determine whether to revise the article seminal effect on the flowers tab social media or. A three-page profile in the 25 April 1950 issue of life magazine ' funeral in.! 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