Billy ECKSTINE & His Orchestra " Rhythm In A Riff " !!!

RARE OLDIES SOUNDIES WITH MR BILLY ECKSTINE & HIS ORCHESTRA ! William Clarence Billy Eckstine (July 8, 1914 March 8, 1993) was an American singer of ballads and bandleader of the swing era. 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.
You can watch all my rare oldies soundies on : http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vbG5rLm1zLzA3d2hI or http://www.myspace.com/swingcocktail !Many thanks , NICKY .

Category:

Music

Tags:

• BILLY
• ECKSTINE
• ORCHESTRA
• OLDIES
• SOUNDIES
• SWING

[ecapital46]

@johnnycchops Your list of guys fall short for another important reason that you either forget or are not aware. When Eckstine left Earl Hines he could have taken the path of your list of guys to just sell commercial recordings. But he subjugated his personal success to the success of the new modern jazz of Bird and Diz, an underground music generally castigated in the Press. His sacrifice was crucial to the triumph of the new sound, but it cost Eckstine money and record sales

[ecapital46]

@johnnycchops I read about those guys 35 years ago when I spent time traveling with my Dad's Midwest-based jazz group. I've got their recordings. We are talking different things. It reminds me a debate I had in high school with some guy who was trying to tell me Elton John was a better pianist than Art Tatum because he sold more records. I don't care what success your list of guys had, albeit real, both my Dad and Lena Horne sited Mr. B as THE one. I agree with them.

[ecapital46]

@johnnycchops You have your fact wrong again. I didn't say he was the first, the poster of this video says that in his info caption.  Read it. Bill Kenny's fame is due overwhelmingly to his association with a group, the Ink Spots - granted one of the greatest groups of all time. He had major impact, no doubt, but his solo career was less formidable than the Group's, and in no way does it rival Eckstine's in terms of historical impact and significance. Period, end of discussion.

[johnnycchops]

@johnnycchops Also, EVERYONE on that list had tremendous mainstream success, with white and black fans. Dan Grissom, Harlan Lattimore, Orlando Robeson, Bill Kenny, Claude Trenier, George "Bon Bon" Tunnell, Pha Terrell. Read about these "guys", as you call them.

[johnnycchops]

@ecapital46 I wasn't comparing the popularity of these singers. You said Mr. B was the FIRST, and that's totally incorrect. Also, Bill Kenny with The Ink Spots was a much bigger attraction, and bigger record seller. True. Not comparing anyone's talent, so don't feel the need to defend Mr. B. I'm a pianist, and played with Billy at The Golden Nugget in AC in the 80s. And I liked his accompanist, Bobby Tucker, very much. Amazing together , those two. Anyway, I'm not trying to start a fight here!

[stellapitbull]

I would say that Gene Ammons (who takes the Tenor solo here) had a decent career till doing and after doing time for heroin possession.

[bobandrayfan1]

wish there was a video for "Ooh Bop Sh'Bam!"

[ecapital46]

@johnnycchops Just the facts? NONE of those guys had any wide mainstream success; NONE of those guys led an influential and innovative band; NONE of those guys had a solo career of any impact; NONE of those guys ever broke Sinatra ticket sale records at the Paramount and Carnegie Hall; NONE had 10,000 fans TURNED AWAY due to lack of space; NONE had bobbysoxers swooning at their concerts. See Life magazine 24 April 1950. To compare any of those guys impact with Eckstine's is comical

[minpinned]

Fantastic vintage clip--post more, please!

[cbs2don]

Great band.