Thursday, July 8, 2021

July 8 - Billy Eckstine (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for July 8th are found here: Steve Lawrence; Percy Grainger (2019) and Raffi (2020)

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Billy Eckstine (8 July 1914 – 8 March 1993) was an American jazz and pop singer and a bandleader during the swing era. 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Band Camp 

 

In 1944, Eckstine formed his own big band and it became the finishing school for adventurous young musicians who would shape the future of jazz. Included in this group were Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Charlie Parker, and Fats Navarro,  as well as vocalist Sarah Vaughan. -- Wikipedia

His band found a place at the top

While playing the latest in bop.

The musically cool

Went to finishing school

While honing their chops in his shop.

 

 

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Frank Comparison

His 1950 appearance at the Paramount Theater in New York City drew a larger audience than frank Sinatra at his Paramount performance.  -- Wikipedia

When Eckstine performed at the Paramount,

The box office take was a fair amount.

When matched against Frank

He took more to the bank,

Though still not a cool millionaire amount.

 

 


 


 

 

 

If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing.  [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Takes: Great Art Repurposed.] 

 

 

 

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