Mr. Acker Bilk - "Stranger On The Shore" (1961)

Bernard Stanley "Acker" Bilk MBE (born 28 January 1929, Pensford, Somerset, England) is an English clarinetist. He is known for his trademark goatee, bowler hat, striped waistcoat and his breathy, vibrato-rich, lower-register clarinet style.

Bilk earned the nickname Acker from the Somerset slang for 'friend' or 'mate'. His parents tried to have him learn the piano, but Bilk as a boy found it restricting upon his love of outdoor activities including football. He also lost two front teeth in a school fight and half a finger in a sledging accident, both of which Bilk has claimed to have affected his eventual clarinet style. He learned the clarinet while serving in the Royal Engineers in the Suez Canal Zone, and by the mid-1950s he was playing professionally.

Bilk was part of the boom in traditional jazz that swept the United Kingdom in the late 1950s. He first joined Ken Colyer's band in 1954, and then formed his own ensemble, The Paramount Jazz Band, in 1956. Four years later, his single "Summer Set" (a pun on his home county) hit the British charts and it began a run of eleven top 50 hit singles.

Bilk has been described as "Great Master of the Clarinet" and is often said to be the originator of 'Hyung-Tiger' playing, often copied by such artists as Johnny Range and Ted Morton. His clarinet sound and style was at least as singular as had been those of American jazzmen such as Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, and Russell Procope, and "Stranger on the Shore" -- which he was once quoted as calling "my old-age pension" -- remains a beloved standard of jazz and popular music alike.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Mr.
• Acker
• Bilk
• Stranger
• On
• The
• Shore
• clarinet
• 1961
• TheBacmaster
• Music
• Videos

[cars8709]

This was my Dad's favorite song. I had it played at his funeral for him. Everytime I hear this song it brings back memories of my Dad. Thank you so much for having it hear so I can listen to it anytime I need to think of him.

[HotVoodooWitch]

Ah! This is the version I grew up on and that I prefer. He recorded others that often appear on instrumental compilations but this is the real deal. Thank you!

[chessman39]

This might have already been posted... but just in case...

the song was wriiten by Sidney Bechet on his arrival in France. Bechet had given up

on America and its treatment of black musicians and went to France where he, his music and talent was more appreciated. It would be many years before he and his

ilk were appreciated here. Our loss to be sure. Acker's rendition is certainly the best. Thanks.

[coralreef3728]

Beautiful MV of the Great Legend !

[mihaljnadj]

nagyon jo - extra....

[shebadog61]

f...fantastic

[kort1713]

Piękne granie to mój uwielbiony klarnecista.

[Heechee1010]

I was 5 when I first heard this song and I have never forgotten it and always loved it

[wonderfulpisces]

my lovely Dad was always whistling this when i was a kid ....it will always be his tune ......we danced to this at my wedding ...love it love it

[virtute71]

Brings back lots of memories. Used to play this exact version on my clarinet as a teenager.

[andyshand82]

Wonderful tune. It still takes me back to my holiday at Butlins holiday camp as a child, they would play this music in the morning to wake you up. Fantastic times...

[loungerenownrecords]

Great instumental song that I remember very well when I was 13 years-old

in 1961!!! "I Want Yo' Number."