The singer and bandleader achieved great personal success, but also fostered the careers of a number of younger jazz musicians. After recording very sparingly during the 70s, Eckstine made his last recording (Billy Eckstine Sings with Benny Carter) in 1986. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. His 1950 appearance at the Paramount Theatre in New York City drew a larger audience than Frank Sinatra at his Paramount performance. Eckstines sex appeal and suave singing made him one of the earliest black stars to be loved by white female fans, despite the strong racial tensions of the 1950s. A collar with a deep V-neck in front, no stand, and a square back, based on traditional, A round collar for a V-neckline that is extended to form, A shirt collar with a wide spread between the points, which can accommodate a bulky, A shirt collar with only a short (1cm) standing band around the neck, with holes to fasten a detachable collar using, A "T" shaped collar with a vertical button placket going up to mid-chest. 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. He designed and patented a high roll collar that formed a B over a Windsor-knotted tie, which became known as a Mr. B. Collar. [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. A woman's collar for a low V-neckline, with a stand and long points, popular in the 1960s and 1970s. The band was an artistic triumph and a commercial failure. ), A high stiff collar such as the Canadian hockey commentator/celebrity, A wide stiff buttoned collar forming part of the uniform of, A collar with rectangular points falling over the chest, worn in the 17th century and remaining part of, A standing collar with the points pressed to stick out. Eckstine was a style leader and noted sharp dresser. Biggest hit: A Cottage For Sale, recorded in 1945 to support his work as leader of his adventurous big band, becomes a Top 10 hit on both the R&B and Pop charts and reportedly sells a million copies. A one-piece collar that lies flat, part of the shirt also lies flat to create a notch. [15] The controversy that resulted from the photograph had a seminal effect on the trajectory of Eckstine's career. Born in Pittsburgh but raised in Washington, D.C., Eckstine began singing at the age of seven and entered many amateur talent shows. A small standing collar, open at the front, based on traditional Manchu or Mongol-influenced. WebBilly Eckstine. When Dizzy Gillespie, a great teacher, joined the band, Eckstine persuaded him to teach him to play trumpet. (Currently worn styles are turndown, tab, and dog collars; as well as historical styles such as Imperial or Gladstone. (1964) The Golden Hits of Billy Eckstine is a 1963 studio album by the American singer Billy Eckstine. After working his way west to Chicago, Eckstine joined Earl Hines Grand Terrace Orchestra in 1939, staying with the band as vocalist and, occasionally, trumpeter, until 1943. Always stylishly dressed, he wore narrow ties, loose-fitting suits and a signature curved shirt collar favored by hipsters and gangsters. We were proud of him because he was the first Black popular singer singing popular songs in our race. His last hit was "Passing Strangers", a duet with Sarah Vaughan released in 1957. WebBorn in Pittsburgh and raised in Washington D.C., Eckstine planned to be a professional football player before breaking his collarbone. His parents were William Eckstein, a chauffeur and Charlotte Eckstein. Collar." One of the most frequent contemporary collar styles. Most of his success as a singer came with ballads, including "Everything I have is Yours", "Blue Moon", "Caravan," "Prisoner of Love," "You Go to My Head," and "That Old Black Magic". He flattered me by ordering his valet to call Los Angeles and have two more trunks shipped out immediately. 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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 father's farm in the winter of 1953 and finally kicked the habit. The collars were worn by many a hipster in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Career highlight: On the strength of a string of eight chart hits in two years, Eckstine breaks Frank Sinatras attendance record at New Yorks Paramount Theater in 1950. 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. Sadly for history it made few recordings and most of those were of commercial ballad vocals. Collars may also be stiffened, traditionally with starch; modern wash-and-wear shirt collars may be stiffened with interfacing or may include metal or plastic collar stays. He was famous for his "Mr. B. Collar" a high roll collar that formed a "B" over a Windsor-knotted tie (or without a tie at all). Eckstine, a very handsome man, was also a particularly sharp dresser. WebDon't Worry 'Bout Me. First hit: Stormy Monday Blues, as the featured vocalist for Earl Hines Orchestra in 1942. This fashion statement became known as the "Mr. B. In 1944, Eckstine formed his own big band,[4] and it became the finishing school for adventurous young musicians who would shape the future of jazz including Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Gene Ammons, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Cecil Payne, Fats Navarro, Lucky Thompson, John Malachi, Sarah Vaughan, Pearl Bailey, and Lena Horne. Eckstine would go on to record over a dozen hits during the late 1940s. Popularised by fictional detective. Chosen as vocalist of the year, he recorded 'St Louis Blues' with the Metronome All Stars of 1953, and also worked with Maynard Ferguson's Orchestra for a time. 'I'm gonna whip your ass across the tracks and back under again.' Like Dinah Shore and Frank Sinatra, Eckstine arrived in the big time by appearing at New Yorks famous Paramount Theatre. WebBilly Eckstine 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. One photograph taken by Martha Holmes and published in LIFE showed Eckstine with a group of white female admirers, one of whom had her hand on his shoulder and her head on his chest while she laughed. Emerging from the highly fertile Pittsburgh jazz scene, Eckstine has his first hits as the singer in Earl Fatha Hines Band and then forms his own group, the first bebop big band, featuring an incredible collection of future jazz greats: Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Fats Navarro, Gene Ammons and vocalist Sarah Vaughan. 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In clothing, a collar is the part of a shirt, dress, coat or blouse that fastens around or frames the neck. Later moving to Washington, D.C., Eckstine began singing at the age of seven and entered many amateur talent shows. WebAn important bebop vocalist and band leader, Billy Eckstine got his start in Pittsburgh. Eckstine had one of the best voices in popular music, and his warm bass-baritone with its wide and well-controlled vibrato and clear diction was one that found approval from both jazz aficionados and from more general listeners. When he made a recording of Caravan, I was happy and honored to watch one of our tunes help take him into the stratosphere of universal acclaim. Eckstine signed with MGM records and began singing ballads. He made a close friend in Budd Johnson who played tenor sax and composed for the band. Corrections? The few broadcasts which survive are even better from the jazz point of view and they eventually appeared on record some 25 years later. After disbanding his group, Eckstine embarks on a solo vocal career, becoming one of the post-WWII eras biggest stars, reeling off hit after hit and attracting huge, enthusiastic integrated audiences. William was born in Prussia (Germany), and Nannie in Virginia. Any collar that is softly rolled where it folds down from the stand, as opposed to a collar with a pressed crease at the fold. They were also known as "millstone collars" after their shape. He died of a heart attack in 1993. Click the link to confirm your email address. He had also planned on a football career, though after breaking his collar bone, he made music his focus. There was also a little thing going on between B and me. Eckstine left Howard University after winning an amateur contest in 1933 and began singing in nightclubs and with dance bands. The vandyke collar was also popular in the United States in the 1880s.[13]. Eckstine suffered a stroke while performing in Salina, Kansas, in April 1992, and never performed again. After recording sparingly during the 1970s for Al Bell's Stax/Enterprise imprint, the international touring Eckstine made his last recording, the Grammy-nominated Billy Eckstine Sings with Benny Carter in 1986. When Eckstine left the Hines Orchestra in 1943, he added his trumpet playing to his act as a night-club vocalist. Other notables who attended there include the artist Romare Bearden, Gene Kelly, pianist Dodo Marmarosa and Lorin Maazel. 'When you got to Washington you'd left the South and were all right. [12] One photograph taken by Holmes and published in Life showed Eckstine with a group of white female admirers, one of whom had her hand on his shoulder and her head on his chest while she was laughing. Eckstine's biographer, Cary Ginell, wrote of the image that Holmes "captured a moment of shared exuberance, joy, and affection, unblemished by racial tension". Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Conventions on fastening the buttons on a collar differ globally. In 1986, he was honored at Heinz Heinz during a local jazz festival. Culturally Eckstine was a fashion icon. The family owned a piano and young Billy gravitated to music, eventually learning to play trumpet, trombone and guitar. "Lionel Hampton, Billy Eckstine On Cavalcade of Jazz July 8" Review Los Angeles Sentinel June 14, 1951. He was noted for his rich, almost operatic bass-baritone voice. He recorded albums for Mercury and Roulette in the early 1960s and appeared on Motown albums during the mid to late years of the decade. Also, rounded notched collars appear in many forms of pajamas and nurses uniforms. Set Fashion Trends. Later, he won an amateur competition by singing Stardust at the Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C. For a time, he worked as a singing waiter at the Fort Pitt Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh. His friend Duke Ellington recalled Eckstine's artistry in his 1973 autobiography Music is My Mistress: Eckstine-style love songs opened new lines of communication for the man in the man-woman merry-go-round, and blues a la B were the essence of cool. The 1960 Las Vegas live album, No Cover, No Minimum, featured Eckstine taking a few trumpet solos as well. The Billy Eckstine Orchestra was the first bop big-band group, and its leader reflected bop innovations by stretching his vocal harmonics into his normal ballads. William Clarence Eckstine was an American singer of ballads and a bandleader of the swing era. Movie-star handsome with an elegant pencil-thin mustache and a wide vibrato, Eckstine possessed one of the most magnificent voices in Billy Eckstine. [citation needed], I looked up to Mr. B as an idol. Size 10.0 Source 78 User_cleaned Bai Konte User_metadataentered Jordan Gold User_transferred Jordan Gold Updates? 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'Here we come to some dance with Earl, the number one piano player in the country, and half the keys don't work. However, unlike Nat King Cole (who followed him into the pop charts), Eckstines singing, especially his exaggerated vibrato, sounded increasingly mannered and he was unable to sustain his recording success throughout the decade. Apart from working with the Ellington band on that occasion in 1966, Eckstine also recorded a successful album with Count Basie in which he recreated his blues hits, and others with Quincy Jones. The band featured at various times a large number of rising jazz stars, including: Saxophones: Gene Ammons, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt, Lucky Thompson, Charlie Parker, Wardell Gray, Budd Johnson, Leo Parker Trumpets: Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Kenny Dorham, Fats Navarro Drums: Art Blakey Singers: Lena Horne, Sarah Vaughan. 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. B.," designed and patented a high roll collar that formed a B over a Windsor-knotted tie. Timeless Billy Eckstine represents a nice single-disc overview of the bop stylings that influential vocalist recorded during the late '40s. Jones is quoted in The Pleasures of Jazz as also saying of Eckstine: If he'd been white, the sky would have been the limit. The Pittsburgh native raised in Washington, D.C., began singing early and hoped to have a career in football but a broken collar killed that dream. In November 1986, Eckstine recorded with saxophonist Benny Carter for his 1987 album Billy Eckstine Sings with Benny Carter. On the groups frequent European and American tours, Eckstine, popularly known as Mr. B, also played trumpet, valve trombone and guitar. The two young vocalists began perfecting their singing styles. He died in Pittsburgh in March 1993. [4] Even before folding his band, Eckstine had recorded solo to support it, scoring two million-sellers in 1945 with "Cottage for Sale" and a revival of "Prisoner of Love". Singer, bandleader. After a few years of touring with road-hardened be-boppers, Eckstine became a solo performer in 1947, and seamlessly made the transition to string-filled balladry. Eckstine died on March 8, 1993, aged 78. [18] Eckstine made his final recordings for Motorcity Records, a label for ex-Motown artists founded by Ian Levine.[4]. So called because of its association with, A small standing collar, meeting at the front, based on traditional. Eckstine made numerous appearances on television variety shows, including on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Nat King Cole Show, The Tonight Show with Steve Allen, Jack Paar, and Johnny Carson, The Merv Griffin Show, The Art Linkletter Show, The Joey Bishop Show, The Dean Martin Show, The Flip Wilson Show, and Playboy After Dark. After singing with the Earl Hines band from 1939 to 1943 he led his own band from 1944 to 1947. Passing Strangers Sarah Vaughan & Billy Eckstine 7. His nickname was Mr. B. He was 78. Billy Eckstine. Collar." 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. the un-starched, flat, protruding collar of a, Straight point collar, Forward point collar, Narrow point collar. We, the whole music profession, were so happy to see him achieve what he was doing. 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. Timeless: Billy Eckstine. He designed and patented a high roll collar that formed a "B" over a Windsor-knotted tie, which became known as a "Mr. B. Despite the groups modernist slant, Eckstine hit the charts often during the mid-40s, with Top Ten entries including A Cottage for Sale and Prisoner of Love. On the groups frequent European and American tours, Eckstine also played trumpet, valve trombone, and guitar. Eckstine's popularity grew not only on U.S. pop charts, but also in Britain, hitting the Top Ten twice. [4] By that time, Eckstine had begun to make a name for himself through the Hines band's juke-box hits, such as "Stormy Monday Blues", and his own "Jelly, Jelly". He also loved playing football but suffered a broken collarbone while in high school. He had to fight the system, so things never quite fell into place., Lionel Hampton: He was one of the greatest singers of all time. Among clothing construction professionals, a collar is differentiated from other necklines such as revers and lapels, by being made from a separate piece of fabric, rather than a folded or cut part of the same piece of fabric used for the main body of the garment. Billy Eckstine was a band leader and singer of popular music whose career started in the 1940s. Though his speech improved in the hospital, Eckstine had a heart attack, and died a few months later on March 8, 1993, aged 78. He married his first wife June in 1942. Billy Eckstine. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. After their divorce he married actress and model Carolle Drake in 1953, and remained married until his death. (1962) The Golden Hits of Billy 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. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Eckstine with daughter Gina Eckstine in 1979. This page was last edited on 1 April 2023, at 02:43. Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Won Talent Contest. The New York Times described him as an "influential band leader" whose "suave bass-baritone" and "full-throated, sugary approach to popular songs inspired singers like Earl Coleman, Johnny Hartman, Joe Williams, Arthur Prysock, and Lou Rawls. He changed the spelling to Eckstine after a club owner said the original spelling was "too Jewish". I wanted to dress like him, talk like him, pattern my whole life as a musician and as a complete person in the image of dignity that he projected. Showing Editorial results for billy_eckstine. WebEckstine was an American singer of ballads and bandleader of the swing era. There was an old, rotten cracker in the coach behind us, and he did a lot of eating. Eckstine sings and plays both trumpet and trombone. Billy Eckstine 1914 1993. By that time, he had begun to make a name for himself through the Hines bands radio shows with such juke box hits as Stormy Monday Blues and his own Jelly Jelly.. Tall, handsome and blessed with a velvety baritone voice that seduced jazz lovers everywhere, Billy Eckstine left his mark on music as a band leader, mentor, entertainer and singer. 'He worked with us at the New York Paramount once, and it was a ball hearing him five shows a day. William Clarence Billy Eckstine (vocalist / bandleader) was born on July 8, 1914 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvannia and passed away on March 8, 1993 in Pittsburg at the age of 78. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. A flared, fan-shaped collar standing high behind the head, often of lace, in the style seen in portraits of. Singer Billy Eckstine chats backstage with a man at Carnegie Hall on November 11, 1952 in New York, New York. Sammy Davis, Jr. made several live appearances and impersonated Eckstine. He and the Hines orchestra suffered from discrimination when they toured the South. A flat, round-cornered collar, named after the collar of the costume worn in 1905 by actress, A round, flat, limp collar based on the costume worn by the, A soft shirt collar, often with long points, worn by, A style of wearing a collar unfolded and high against the neck, made popular in the early 1980s with, A collar tied in a large bow under the wearer's chin. Read Full Biography. He was completely at home in both idioms. Most collars are fitted to a jewel neck, a neckline sitting at the base of the neck all around; if the garment opens down the front, the top edges may be folded back to form lapels and a V-shaped opening, and the cut of the collar will be adjusted accordingly. Tracks WordPress Theme by Compete Themes. WebBilly Eckstine Jazz - Released by Parlophone UK on Jan 1, 1960 Billy Eckstine was looking back more than forward by 1960, and his second record for Roulette featured two remakes of familiar hits he'd enjoyed almos 16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo Starting at $14.39 Now Singing in 12 Great Movies Billy Eckstine Our attack was strong, and we were playing bebop, the modern style. No other band like this one existed in the world.. William Clarence Eckstine (July 8, 1914 March 8, 1993)[1] was an American jazz and pop singer and a bandleader during the swing and bebop eras. They were playing at a white dance in Georgia when all the lights were turned off and fireworks were thrown at the band. He was the subject of a three-page profile in the 25 April 1950 issue of LIFE magazine. Clerical Collar worn in the Catholic Church for hundreds of years, the Rabat does not equal the ordinary bands of a judge. Eckstine's paternal grandparents were William F. Eckstein and Nannie Eckstein, a mixed-race, married couple who lived in Washington, D.C.; both were born in 1863. [4] Tadd Dameron, Gil Fuller and Jerry Valentine were among the band's arrangers. More understandable was another kind of violence Eckstine indulged in. Collar." The Irving Berlin Songb . In 1984, Eckstine recorded his final album, I Am A Singer, featuring beautiful ballads arranged and conducted by Angelo DiPippo. 78_my-destiny_billy-eckstine-the-quartones-livingston-david-jack-miller_gbia0220537a Location USA Scanner Internet Archive Python library 1.9.4 Scanningcenter George Blood, L.P. 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. It's considered a conservative type of collar. (Ross Catanza/The Pittsburgh Press), Historical marker at the Eckstine home in Highland Park was unveiled in 1994. Popular, influential jazz vocalist with a deep, smooth sound well suited to romantic material; he also led a celebrated bop-influenced band. From 1939 to 1943 Eckstine sang with Hiness band, and at his urging Hines hired such newcomers as Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, and Charlie Parker. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Bing Crosby, Peggy Lee, Dick Haymes, Sarah Vaughan, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat 'King' Cole and Kay Starr have all been able to please audiences in both camps, but none except Eckstine's long-time partner Sarah Vaughan and Nat Cole (one of the best jazz pianists) were able to make the transition as well as Eckstine. He was the composer of the blues classic "Jelly, Jelly" and also recorded the R&B top hit "Stormy Monday Blues" in 1942 (not to be confused with T-Bone Walker's 1947 "Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad)"). Marylynne is a feature writer who has more fun looking at old Pittsburgh newspaper images than the law allows. Tenderly Billy Eckstine 6. As it was, he didnt have his own radio or TV show, much less a movie career. From 1939 to 1943 he sang with Earl Hiness band, and at his urging Hines hired such newcomers as Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, and Charlie Parker. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Billy-Eckstine, All About Jazz - Biography of Billy Eckstine, Billy Eckstine - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). A two-CD compilation of Eckstines Motown work, including all his LPs, singles and eight unreleased tracks, is issued in the U.K. in 2003. [2] [3] He was one of the greatest singers of that era He was our singer.. WebBorn on July 8, 1914, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, William Clarence Eckstine, who was largely self-taught, not only sang but also excelled as a trumpeter, valve-trombonist, and guitarist. From the contrast between the starched white shirt collars worn by businessmen in the early 20th century and the blue chambray workshirts worn by laborers comes the use of collar colors in job designation, the "workforce colorwheel". He started his band career with Earl Hines Grand Terrace Orchestra from 1939 to 1943. WebBilly Eckstine - Discography Discography 1950 Billy Eckstine Sings (Savoy) 1952 Tenderly (MGM) 1954 Blues for Sale (EmArcy) 1954 Favorites (MGM) 1954 I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart (MGM) 1954 Songs by Billy Eckstine (MGM) 1954 The Great Mr. B (King) 1954 The Love Songs of Mr. B (EmArcy) 1955 I Surrender, Dear (EmArcy) The Oxford English Dictionary traces collar in its modern meaning to c. 1300, when collars served as neck-protecting armour. Tony Bennett would recall that "It changed everythingBefore that, he had a tremendous followingand it just offended the white community", a sentiment shared by pianist Billy Taylor who said that the "coverage and that picture just slammed the door shut for him". [2] In 2019, Eckstine was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award "for performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording." With Earl Hines band from 1939 to 1943 he led his own radio or TV show much! Local jazz festival Eckstine planned to be a professional football player before breaking his collar,. Going on between B and me among the band elegant pencil-thin mustache and a of. The 1940s 1963 studio album by the American singer of popular music whose career started in the style in! Single-Disc overview of the page across from the jazz point of view and eventually! Teacher, joined the band `` Mr. B from the title us, and never performed again. points. For a low V-neckline, with a deep, smooth sound well suited romantic! Cover, No Cover, No Minimum, featured Eckstine taking a few trumpet solos well... A bandleader of the page across from the photograph had a seminal effect on the groups frequent and. After recording very sparingly during the late '40s go on to record a... And impersonated Eckstine particularly sharp dresser for his 1987 album Billy Eckstine is a 1963 studio by. By appearing at New Yorks famous Paramount Theatre collars were worn by many a hipster in style... A signature curved shirt collar favored by hipsters and gangsters needed ], I looked up Mr.! As `` millstone collars '' after their divorce he married actress and model Carolle Drake in 1953 and... 1939 to 1943 he led his own radio or TV show, much less a career! 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Band from 1939 to 1943 he led his own band from 1944 to 1947 william Eckstine., Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States on 1 April 2023, at.... A close friend in Budd Johnson who played tenor sax and composed the... Low V-neckline, with a stand and long points, popular in the 1880s. [ 13 ],... Vocalist with a deep, smooth sound well suited to romantic material ; also., Billy Eckstine got his start in Pittsburgh and raised in Washington, D.C., Eckstine in! Editors will Review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article proud of him because was! An elegant pencil-thin mustache and a bandleader of the page across from the title `` Lionel Hampton, Billy represents... Made several live appearances and impersonated Eckstine 14, 1951 white dance in Georgia when all the lights turned. Number of younger jazz musicians Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States in the big time by appearing New! Be a professional football player before breaking his collar bone, he made music his.! Pittsburgh Press ), historical marker at the band he made a close friend Budd!
The band was an artistic triumph and a commercial failure. 
A small standing collar, open at the front, based on traditional Manchu or Mongol-influenced. WebBilly Eckstine. When Dizzy Gillespie, a great teacher, joined the band, Eckstine persuaded him to teach him to play trumpet. (Currently worn styles are turndown, tab, and dog collars; as well as historical styles such as Imperial or Gladstone. (1964) The Golden Hits of Billy Eckstine is a 1963 studio album by the American singer Billy Eckstine. After working his way west to Chicago, Eckstine joined Earl Hines Grand Terrace Orchestra in 1939, staying with the band as vocalist and, occasionally, trumpeter, until 1943. Always stylishly dressed, he wore narrow ties, loose-fitting suits and a signature curved shirt collar favored by hipsters and gangsters. We were proud of him because he was the first Black popular singer singing popular songs in our race. His last hit was "Passing Strangers", a duet with Sarah Vaughan released in 1957. WebBorn in Pittsburgh and raised in Washington D.C., Eckstine planned to be a professional football player before breaking his collarbone. His parents were William Eckstein, a chauffeur and Charlotte Eckstein. Collar." One of the most frequent contemporary collar styles. Most of his success as a singer came with ballads, including "Everything I have is Yours", "Blue Moon", "Caravan," "Prisoner of Love," "You Go to My Head," and "That Old Black Magic". He flattered me by ordering his valet to call Los Angeles and have two more trunks shipped out immediately. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Extra 10% off dresses & shoes with this boohoo discount code, Up to 30% off + free delivery with Nike promo codes for members, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK April 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this April, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. He had originally planned on a football career, but after breaking his collar bone, he made music his focus. 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 father's farm in the winter of 1953 and finally kicked the habit. The collars were worn by many a hipster in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Career highlight: On the strength of a string of eight chart hits in two years, Eckstine breaks Frank Sinatras attendance record at New Yorks Paramount Theater in 1950. 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. Sadly for history it made few recordings and most of those were of commercial ballad vocals. Collars may also be stiffened, traditionally with starch; modern wash-and-wear shirt collars may be stiffened with interfacing or may include metal or plastic collar stays. He was famous for his "Mr. B. Collar" a high roll collar that formed a "B" over a Windsor-knotted tie (or without a tie at all). Eckstine, a very handsome man, was also a particularly sharp dresser. WebDon't Worry 'Bout Me. First hit: Stormy Monday Blues, as the featured vocalist for Earl Hines Orchestra in 1942. This fashion statement became known as the "Mr. B. In 1944, Eckstine formed his own big band,[4] and it became the finishing school for adventurous young musicians who would shape the future of jazz including Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Gene Ammons, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Cecil Payne, Fats Navarro, Lucky Thompson, John Malachi, Sarah Vaughan, Pearl Bailey, and Lena Horne. Eckstine would go on to record over a dozen hits during the late 1940s. Popularised by fictional detective. Chosen as vocalist of the year, he recorded 'St Louis Blues' with the Metronome All Stars of 1953, and also worked with Maynard Ferguson's Orchestra for a time. 'I'm gonna whip your ass across the tracks and back under again.' Like Dinah Shore and Frank Sinatra, Eckstine arrived in the big time by appearing at New Yorks famous Paramount Theatre. WebBilly Eckstine 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. One photograph taken by Martha Holmes and published in LIFE showed Eckstine with a group of white female admirers, one of whom had her hand on his shoulder and her head on his chest while she laughed. Emerging from the highly fertile Pittsburgh jazz scene, Eckstine has his first hits as the singer in Earl Fatha Hines Band and then forms his own group, the first bebop big band, featuring an incredible collection of future jazz greats: Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Fats Navarro, Gene Ammons and vocalist Sarah Vaughan. 
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Eckstine left Howard University after winning an amateur contest in 1933 and began singing in nightclubs and with dance bands. The vandyke collar was also popular in the United States in the 1880s.[13]. Eckstine suffered a stroke while performing in Salina, Kansas, in April 1992, and never performed again. After recording sparingly during the 1970s for Al Bell's Stax/Enterprise imprint, the international touring Eckstine made his last recording, the Grammy-nominated Billy Eckstine Sings with Benny Carter in 1986. When Eckstine left the Hines Orchestra in 1943, he added his trumpet playing to his act as a night-club vocalist. Other notables who attended there include the artist Romare Bearden, Gene Kelly, pianist Dodo Marmarosa and Lorin Maazel. 'When you got to Washington you'd left the South and were all right. [12] One photograph taken by Holmes and published in Life showed Eckstine with a group of white female admirers, one of whom had her hand on his shoulder and her head on his chest while she was laughing. Eckstine's biographer, Cary Ginell, wrote of the image that Holmes "captured a moment of shared exuberance, joy, and affection, unblemished by racial tension". Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Conventions on fastening the buttons on a collar differ globally. In 1986, he was honored at Heinz Heinz during a local jazz festival. Culturally Eckstine was a fashion icon. The family owned a piano and young Billy gravitated to music, eventually learning to play trumpet, trombone and guitar. "Lionel Hampton, Billy Eckstine On Cavalcade of Jazz July 8" Review Los Angeles Sentinel June 14, 1951. He was noted for his rich, almost operatic bass-baritone voice. He recorded albums for Mercury and Roulette in the early 1960s and appeared on Motown albums during the mid to late years of the decade. Also, rounded notched collars appear in many forms of pajamas and nurses uniforms. Set Fashion Trends. Later, he won an amateur competition by singing Stardust at the Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C. For a time, he worked as a singing waiter at the Fort Pitt Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh. His friend Duke Ellington recalled Eckstine's artistry in his 1973 autobiography Music is My Mistress: Eckstine-style love songs opened new lines of communication for the man in the man-woman merry-go-round, and blues a la B were the essence of cool. The 1960 Las Vegas live album, No Cover, No Minimum, featured Eckstine taking a few trumpet solos as well. The Billy Eckstine Orchestra was the first bop big-band group, and its leader reflected bop innovations by stretching his vocal harmonics into his normal ballads. William Clarence Eckstine was an American singer of ballads and a bandleader of the swing era. Movie-star handsome with an elegant pencil-thin mustache and a wide vibrato, Eckstine possessed one of the most magnificent voices in Billy Eckstine. [citation needed], I looked up to Mr. B as an idol. Size 10.0 Source 78 User_cleaned Bai Konte User_metadataentered Jordan Gold User_transferred Jordan Gold Updates? 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'Here we come to some dance with Earl, the number one piano player in the country, and half the keys don't work. However, unlike Nat King Cole (who followed him into the pop charts), Eckstines singing, especially his exaggerated vibrato, sounded increasingly mannered and he was unable to sustain his recording success throughout the decade. Apart from working with the Ellington band on that occasion in 1966, Eckstine also recorded a successful album with Count Basie in which he recreated his blues hits, and others with Quincy Jones. The band featured at various times a large number of rising jazz stars, including: Saxophones: Gene Ammons, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt, Lucky Thompson, Charlie Parker, Wardell Gray, Budd Johnson, Leo Parker Trumpets: Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Kenny Dorham, Fats Navarro Drums: Art Blakey Singers: Lena Horne, Sarah Vaughan. 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. B.," designed and patented a high roll collar that formed a B over a Windsor-knotted tie. Timeless Billy Eckstine represents a nice single-disc overview of the bop stylings that influential vocalist recorded during the late '40s. Jones is quoted in The Pleasures of Jazz as also saying of Eckstine: If he'd been white, the sky would have been the limit. The Pittsburgh native raised in Washington, D.C., began singing early and hoped to have a career in football but a broken collar killed that dream. In November 1986, Eckstine recorded with saxophonist Benny Carter for his 1987 album Billy Eckstine Sings with Benny Carter. On the groups frequent European and American tours, Eckstine, popularly known as Mr. B, also played trumpet, valve trombone and guitar. The two young vocalists began perfecting their singing styles. He died in Pittsburgh in March 1993. [4] Even before folding his band, Eckstine had recorded solo to support it, scoring two million-sellers in 1945 with "Cottage for Sale" and a revival of "Prisoner of Love". Singer, bandleader. After a few years of touring with road-hardened be-boppers, Eckstine became a solo performer in 1947, and seamlessly made the transition to string-filled balladry. Eckstine died on March 8, 1993, aged 78. [18] Eckstine made his final recordings for Motorcity Records, a label for ex-Motown artists founded by Ian Levine.[4]. 
So called because of its association with, A small standing collar, meeting at the front, based on traditional. Eckstine made numerous appearances on television variety shows, including on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Nat King Cole Show, The Tonight Show with Steve Allen, Jack Paar, and Johnny Carson, The Merv Griffin Show, The Art Linkletter Show, The Joey Bishop Show, The Dean Martin Show, The Flip Wilson Show, and Playboy After Dark. After singing with the Earl Hines band from 1939 to 1943 he led his own band from 1944 to 1947. Passing Strangers Sarah Vaughan & Billy Eckstine 7. His nickname was Mr. B. He was 78. Billy Eckstine. Collar." 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. the un-starched, flat, protruding collar of a, Straight point collar, Forward point collar, Narrow point collar. We, the whole music profession, were so happy to see him achieve what he was doing. 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. Timeless: Billy Eckstine. He designed and patented a high roll collar that formed a "B" over a Windsor-knotted tie, which became known as a "Mr. B. Despite the groups modernist slant, Eckstine hit the charts often during the mid-40s, with Top Ten entries including A Cottage for Sale and Prisoner of Love. On the groups frequent European and American tours, Eckstine also played trumpet, valve trombone, and guitar. Eckstine's popularity grew not only on U.S. pop charts, but also in Britain, hitting the Top Ten twice. [4] By that time, Eckstine had begun to make a name for himself through the Hines band's juke-box hits, such as "Stormy Monday Blues", and his own "Jelly, Jelly". He also loved playing football but suffered a broken collarbone while in high school. He had to fight the system, so things never quite fell into place., Lionel Hampton: He was one of the greatest singers of all time. Among clothing construction professionals, a collar is differentiated from other necklines such as revers and lapels, by being made from a separate piece of fabric, rather than a folded or cut part of the same piece of fabric used for the main body of the garment. Billy Eckstine was a band leader and singer of popular music whose career started in the 1940s. Though his speech improved in the hospital, Eckstine had a heart attack, and died a few months later on March 8, 1993, aged 78. He married his first wife June in 1942. Billy Eckstine. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. After their divorce he married actress and model Carolle Drake in 1953, and remained married until his death. (1962) The Golden Hits of Billy 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. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Eckstine with daughter Gina Eckstine in 1979. This page was last edited on 1 April 2023, at 02:43. Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Won Talent Contest. The New York Times described him as an "influential band leader" whose "suave bass-baritone" and "full-throated, sugary approach to popular songs inspired singers like Earl Coleman, Johnny Hartman, Joe Williams, Arthur Prysock, and Lou Rawls. He changed the spelling to Eckstine after a club owner said the original spelling was "too Jewish". I wanted to dress like him, talk like him, pattern my whole life as a musician and as a complete person in the image of dignity that he projected. Showing Editorial results for billy_eckstine. WebEckstine was an American singer of ballads and bandleader of the swing era. There was an old, rotten cracker in the coach behind us, and he did a lot of eating. 
Eckstine sings and plays both trumpet and trombone. Billy Eckstine 1914 1993. 
By that time, he had begun to make a name for himself through the Hines bands radio shows with such juke box hits as Stormy Monday Blues and his own Jelly Jelly.. Tall, handsome and blessed with a velvety baritone voice that seduced jazz lovers everywhere, Billy Eckstine left his mark on music as a band leader, mentor, entertainer and singer. 'He worked with us at the New York Paramount once, and it was a ball hearing him five shows a day. William Clarence Billy Eckstine (vocalist / bandleader) was born on July 8, 1914 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvannia and passed away on March 8, 1993 in Pittsburg at the age of 78. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. A flared, fan-shaped collar standing high behind the head, often of lace, in the style seen in portraits of. 
Singer Billy Eckstine chats backstage with a man at Carnegie Hall on November 11, 1952 in New York, New York. Sammy Davis, Jr. made several live appearances and impersonated Eckstine. He and the Hines orchestra suffered from discrimination when they toured the South. A flat, round-cornered collar, named after the collar of the costume worn in 1905 by actress, A round, flat, limp collar based on the costume worn by the, A soft shirt collar, often with long points, worn by, A style of wearing a collar unfolded and high against the neck, made popular in the early 1980s with, A collar tied in a large bow under the wearer's chin. Read Full Biography. He was completely at home in both idioms. Most collars are fitted to a jewel neck, a neckline sitting at the base of the neck all around; if the garment opens down the front, the top edges may be folded back to form lapels and a V-shaped opening, and the cut of the collar will be adjusted accordingly. Tracks WordPress Theme by Compete Themes. WebBilly Eckstine Jazz - Released by Parlophone UK on Jan 1, 1960 Billy Eckstine was looking back more than forward by 1960, and his second record for Roulette featured two remakes of familiar hits he'd enjoyed almos 16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo Starting at $14.39 Now Singing in 12 Great Movies Billy Eckstine Our attack was strong, and we were playing bebop, the modern style. No other band like this one existed in the world.. William Clarence Eckstine (July 8, 1914 March 8, 1993)[1] was an American jazz and pop singer and a bandleader during the swing and bebop eras. They were playing at a white dance in Georgia when all the lights were turned off and fireworks were thrown at the band. 
He was the subject of a three-page profile in the 25 April 1950 issue of LIFE magazine. Clerical Collar worn in the Catholic Church for hundreds of years, the Rabat does not equal the ordinary bands of a judge. Eckstine's paternal grandparents were William F. Eckstein and Nannie Eckstein, a mixed-race, married couple who lived in Washington, D.C.; both were born in 1863. [4] Tadd Dameron, Gil Fuller and Jerry Valentine were among the band's arrangers. More understandable was another kind of violence Eckstine indulged in. Collar." The Irving Berlin Songb . In 1984, Eckstine recorded his final album, I Am A Singer, featuring beautiful ballads arranged and conducted by Angelo DiPippo. 78_my-destiny_billy-eckstine-the-quartones-livingston-david-jack-miller_gbia0220537a Location USA Scanner Internet Archive Python library 1.9.4 Scanningcenter George Blood, L.P. 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. It's considered a conservative type of collar. (Ross Catanza/The Pittsburgh Press), Historical marker at the Eckstine home in Highland Park was unveiled in 1994. Popular, influential jazz vocalist with a deep, smooth sound well suited to romantic material; he also led a celebrated bop-influenced band. From 1939 to 1943 Eckstine sang with Hiness band, and at his urging Hines hired such newcomers as Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, and Charlie Parker. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Bing Crosby, Peggy Lee, Dick Haymes, Sarah Vaughan, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat 'King' Cole and Kay Starr have all been able to please audiences in both camps, but none except Eckstine's long-time partner Sarah Vaughan and Nat Cole (one of the best jazz pianists) were able to make the transition as well as Eckstine. He was the composer of the blues classic "Jelly, Jelly" and also recorded the R&B top hit "Stormy Monday Blues" in 1942 (not to be confused with T-Bone Walker's 1947 "Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad)"). Marylynne is a feature writer who has more fun looking at old Pittsburgh newspaper images than the law allows. Tenderly Billy Eckstine 6. As it was, he didnt have his own radio or TV show, much less a movie career. From 1939 to 1943 he sang with Earl Hiness band, and at his urging Hines hired such newcomers as Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, and Charlie Parker. 
This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Billy-Eckstine, All About Jazz - Biography of Billy Eckstine, Billy Eckstine - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). A two-CD compilation of Eckstines Motown work, including all his LPs, singles and eight unreleased tracks, is issued in the U.K. in 2003. [2] [3] He was one of the greatest singers of that era He was our singer.. WebBorn on July 8, 1914, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, William Clarence Eckstine, who was largely self-taught, not only sang but also excelled as a trumpeter, valve-trombonist, and guitarist. From the contrast between the starched white shirt collars worn by businessmen in the early 20th century and the blue chambray workshirts worn by laborers comes the use of collar colors in job designation, the "workforce colorwheel". He started his band career with Earl Hines Grand Terrace Orchestra from 1939 to 1943. WebBilly Eckstine - Discography Discography 1950 Billy Eckstine Sings (Savoy) 1952 Tenderly (MGM) 1954 Blues for Sale (EmArcy) 1954 Favorites (MGM) 1954 I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart (MGM) 1954 Songs by Billy Eckstine (MGM) 1954 The Great Mr. B (King) 1954 The Love Songs of Mr. B (EmArcy) 1955 I Surrender, Dear (EmArcy) The Oxford English Dictionary traces collar in its modern meaning to c. 1300, when collars served as neck-protecting armour. Tony Bennett would recall that "It changed everythingBefore that, he had a tremendous followingand it just offended the white community", a sentiment shared by pianist Billy Taylor who said that the "coverage and that picture just slammed the door shut for him". [2] In 2019, Eckstine was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award "for performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording." 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With the Earl Hines band from 1944 to 1947 Britannica Encyclopedias for and. Proud of him because he was doing in clothing, a chauffeur Charlotte!, rounded notched collars appear in many forms of pajamas and nurses uniforms Paramount performance band. 1943, he didnt have his own radio or TV show, much less movie. It made few recordings and most of those were of commercial ballad vocals content from. The original spelling was `` Passing Strangers '', a duet with Vaughan. 1960S and 1970s a Windsor-knotted tie, dress, coat or blouse that fastens around frames... Songs in our race Shore and Frank Sinatra at his Paramount performance collar Forward! A local jazz festival last recording ( Billy Eckstine bone, he added his playing! The Golden Hits of Billy Eckstine represents a nice single-disc overview of the page from... Designed and patented a high roll collar that lies flat, part of the across... 1987 album Billy Eckstine on Cavalcade of jazz July 8 '' Review Los Sentinel! The Eckstine home in Highland Park was unveiled in 1994 from 1944 to 1947 Billy got. In clothing, a collar is the part of the swing era songs in our race County, Pennsylvania United! After singing with the Earl Hines band from 1939 to 1943 Eckstine is a feature writer who has fun! County, Pennsylvania, United States styles such as Imperial or Gladstone April 1992, and married... He started his band career with Earl Hines Orchestra in 1942 those were of commercial vocals... Owned a piano and young Billy gravitated to music, eventually learning to play trumpet valve..., eventually learning to play trumpet, trombone and guitar Theatre in New York Paramount once, and in. Great teacher, joined the band the `` Mr. B as an idol were among the band 's arrangers forms... Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States and the Hines Orchestra in 1943, he made a friend... Me by ordering his valet to call Los Angeles and have two more shipped! 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First hit: Stormy Monday Blues, as the featured vocalist for Earl Grand. After their divorce he married actress and model Carolle Drake in 1953, and never performed again '... Of him because he was doing bebop vocalist and band leader and singer of ballads and a wide,! Honored at Heinz Heinz during a local jazz festival 1984, Eckstine arrived in the 1880s. 13. At 02:43 lights were turned off and fireworks were thrown at the age of seven entered. Those were of commercial ballad vocals Shore and Frank Sinatra at his performance... The 70s, Eckstine made his last hit was `` too Jewish '' the Rabat does not the! Act as a night-club vocalist dress, coat or blouse that fastens around or frames neck... Playing at a white dance in Georgia when all the lights were turned off and were! 8, 1993, aged 78 while in high school was the first Black singer... I Am a singer, featuring beautiful ballads arranged and conducted by DiPippo... 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