"Blues Theme" by Bill Cosby

This is a clip from an episode of "The Dick Cavett Show" from 1971. Bill Cosby was the guest. Most people know Bill Cosby as a comedian, actor and Jell-o spokesperson, so they may be surprised to learn, as i was, that he's also a musician. Apparently he was into jazz drumming when he was younger. Anyway, in this clip, he refers to a movie "To All My Friends on Shore", which in addition to writing and starring in, he also wrote the score to. He then proceeds to hum the tune to the band (led by Bobby Rosengarden) and conduct as they play it. I was pretty impressed when i saw this, it's a pretty good song. I'm not sure if the band knew how the song went or if they just improvised to what he said but if it's the latter, as it seems to be, then that's also pretty impressive, I think.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• blues
• theme
• bill
• cosby
• dick
• cavett
• show
• bobby
• rosengarden

[OtherJC]

Lukethelux writes: "I'm not sure if the band knew how the song went or if they just improvised." I was the arranger & music copyist on The Cavett Show and...they WERE playing a real written arrangement. Although Bill was humming, pointing & doing stuff, had he just stood there and picked his nose, you would have heard the exact same notes they played on this clip. That's what makes great TV.

[lukethelux]

@OtherJC Oh, cool... I guess that makes more sense, considering the quality of the performance...

[27natedogg1]

where did you find this? this is great!

[lukethelux]

@27natedogg1 it's from an episode of "the dick cavett show" that you can find on the dvd set "comic legends"...

[dojufitz]

sweet.....

[rajinirulez]

bill rocks!

[PatrickBateman47]

Legend!

[bassbymichele]

One of the coolest things I've ever seen! Bill's one of my biggest idols!!!

[moretoLivefor]

So Classy! Love it. 

[bastlake]

Irresponsibly funky, good job Bill