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Bill Doggett

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Bill Doggett
Doggett in 1980
Background information
Birth nameWilliam Ballard Doggett
Born(1916-02-16)February 16, 1916
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedNovember 13, 1996(1996-11-13) (aged 80)
New York City, U.S.
Genres
OccupationMusician
Instruments
  • Piano
  • organ
Years active1930s–1996
LabelsKing

William Ballard Doggett (February 16, 1916 – November 13, 1996)[1] was an American pianist and organist.[2] He began his career playing swing music before transitioning into rhythm and blues.[3] Best known for his instrumental compositions "Honky Tonk" and "Hippy Dippy", Doggett was a pioneer of rock and roll.[4] He worked with the Ink Spots, Johnny Otis, Wynonie Harris, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Jordan.[1]

Biography

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Doggett was born in Philadelphia.[1] During the 1930s and early 1940s he worked for Lucky Millinder, Frank Fairfax and arranger Jimmy Mundy.[2] In 1942 he was hired as the Ink Spots' pianist and arranger.[2]

In 1951, Doggett organized his own trio and began recording for King Records.[2] His best known recording is "Honky Tonk", a rhythm and blues hit of 1956,[2] which sold four million copies (reaching No. 1 R&B and No. 2 Pop), and which he co-wrote with Billy Butler.[5] The track topped the US Billboard R&B chart for over two months.[6] He also arranged for many bandleaders and performers, including Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Lionel Hampton.[2]

He continued to play and arrange until he died, aged 80, from cancer in New York City.[1]

Discography

[edit]

Singles

[edit]
Year Titles (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated 		Chart positions Album
US US R&B
1945 "Be-Baba-Leba"
b/w "Every Now and Then"
Both sides feature vocalist Helen Humes 		3 Non-album tracks
"He May Be Your Man"
b/w "Blue Prelude"
Both sides feature vocalist Helen Humes
1953 "Moondust" / 18 Moon Dust
"Early Bird" 21 Hot Doggett
"No More In Life" (Vocals by Mildred Anderson)
b/w "Real Gone Mambo" (from The Many Moods Of Bill Doggett) 		20 Non-album track
"Eventide"
b/w "And The Angels Sing" (from The Doggett Beat For Happy Feet) 		Moon Dust
"The Christmas Song"
b/w "Winter Wonderland" 		All Time Christmas Favorites (later on 12 Songs Of Christmas)
1954 "It's A Dream"
b/w "The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On)" (from Dance Awhile With Doggett) 		Moon Dust
"There's No You"
b/w "Easy" (from The Doggett Beat For Happy Feet)
"Sweet Lorraine"
b/w "Tailor Made" (from Dance Awhile With Doggett) 		Dame Dreaming
"High Heels"
b/w "Sweet Slumber" (from Moon Dust) 		15 Hot Doggett
"Honey"
b/w "The Nearness Of You" (from Moon Dust) 		The Doggett Beat For Happy Feet
"Gumbo"
b/w "Tara's Theme" (from Moon Dust) 		Hot Doggett
1955 "My Reverie"
b/w "King Bee" (from The Doggett Beat For Happy Feet) 		Moon Dust
"I'll Be Around"
b/w "Wild Oats" (from Hot Doggett)
"Oof!"
b/w "Street Scene" (from Moon Dust) 		Hot Doggett
"Quaker City"
b/w "True Blue"
"Shove Off"
b/w "You Don't Know What Love Is" (from Moon Dust)
"Honey Boy"
b/w "Misty Moon" (from Dance Awhile With Doggett)
1956 "In A Sentimental Mood"
b/w "Who's Who" (from Hot Doggett) 		Candle Glow
"Squashy"
b/w "We Found Love" (from Candle Glow) 		Hot Doggett
"The Bo-Do Rock"
b/w "Mean To Me"
Both sides with Earl Bostic 		Non-album tracks
"What A Diff'rence A Day Made"
b/w "Stella By Starlight" (from Candle Glow) 		The Doggett Beat For Happy Feet
"Honky Tonk"—Parts 1 & 2 2 1 Everybody Dance The Honky Tonk
"Bubbins Rock"
b/w "Indiana"
Both sides with Earl Bostic 		Non-album tracks
"Slow Walk"
b/w "Hand In Hand" (from Candle Glow) 		26 4 Everybody Dance The Honky Tonk
"Honky Tonk" (Vocals by Tommy Brown)
b/w "Peacock Alley" (from Everybody Dance The Honky Tonk) 		The Many Moods Of Bill Doggett
1957 "Ram-Bunk-Shush"
b/w "Blue Largo" (from The Many Moods Of Bill Doggett) 		67 10 The Doggett Beat For Happy Feet
"Chloe"
b/w "Number Three" (from Everybody Dance The Honky Tonk)
"Ding Dong"
b/w "Cling To Me" (from Candle Glow)
"Shindig"
b/w "Hammer Head"
"Soft"
b/w "Hot Ginger" 		35 11
"Leaps and Bounds"—Part 1
b/w Part 2 		13 Everybody Dance The Honky Tonk
1958 "Hippy Dippy"
b/w "Flying Home" (from Dance Awhile With Doggett) 		Hold It!
"Boo-Da-Ba"
b/w "Pimento"
"Blues For Handy"
b/w "How Could You" (from Dance Awhile With Doggett)
"Blip Blop"
b/w "Tanya" 		82 11
"Hold It"
b/w "Birdie" 		92 3
"Rainbow Riot"—Part 1
b/w Part 2 		15
1959 "Monster Party"
b/w "Scott's Bluff" 		27 High and Wide
"Ocean Liner"
b/w "The Madison" 		On Tour
"After Hours"
b/w "Big City Drag" 		Big City Dance Party
"Yocky Dock"—Part 1
b/w Part 2 		30 On Tour
"Goofy Organ"
b/w "Zee" (from On Tour) 		Back Again With More Bill Doggett
"Smokie"—Part 2
b/w "Evening Dreams" (from On Tour) 		95
1960 "Raw Turkey"
b/w "Back Woods" (Non-album track) 		On Tour
"Smoochie"
"Big Boy" (from Everybody Dance The Honky Tonk) 		Dance Awhile With Doggett
"The Slush"
b/w "Buttered Popcorn" 		Back Again With More Bill Doggett
"Trav'lin Light"
b/w "A Lover's Dream" (from The Many Moods Of Bill Doggett) 		For Reminiscent Lovers, Romantic Songs
"Slidin'"
b/w "Afternoon Jump" (from Everybody Dance The Honky Tonk) 		Back Again With More Bill Doggett
"Earl's Dog" (With Earl Bostic)
B-side by Earl Bostic: "Special Delivery Stomp" 		Non-album tracks
"(Let's Do) The Hully Gully Twist"
b/w "Jackrabbit" 		66 3,046 People Danced 'Til 4 AM
1961 "Honky Tonk"—Part 2
b/w "Floyd's Guitar Blues" (from Big City Dance Party) 		57 21 Everybody Dance The Honky Tonk
"Let's Do The Continental"
b/w "Pony Walk" 		The Band With The Beat
"You Can't Sit Down"—Part 1
b/w Part 2 		3,046 People Danced 'Til 4 AM
"The Doodle"
b/w "Bugle Nose" 		Back Again With More Bill Doggett
"High and Wide"
b/w "In The Wee Hours" 		High and Wide
1962 "The Doodle Twist"
b/w "Gene's Dream" 		Non-album tracks
"Lady's Choice"
b/w "Buster" 		Oops! The Swinging Sounds Of Bill Doggett and His Combo
"George Washington Twist"
b/w "Eleven O'clock Twist" 		The Many Moods Of Bill Doggett
"Moondust"
b/w "Teardrops" (from Candle Glow) 		Moon Dust
"Oops"
b/w "Choo Choo" 		Oops! The Swinging Sounds Of Bill Doggett and His Combo
"For All We Know"
b/w "Hometown Shout" (from On Tour) 		For Reminiscent Lovers, Romantic Songs
1963 "Soda Pop"
b/w "Ham Fat" 		Prelude To The Blues
"Honky Tonk Bossa Nova"—Part 2
b/w "Ocean Liner Bossa Nova" 		American Songs In Bossa Nova Style
"Down Home Bossa Nova"
b/w "Si-Si-Nova"
"Groovy Movie"
b/w "The Fog" (from The Many Moods Of Bill Doggett) 		Impressions
"The Worm"
b/w "Hot Fudge" 		Fingertips
1964 "Fat Back"
b/w "Si Si Cisco" 		Non-album tracks
"Night Train"—Part 1
b/w Part 2 		Back Again With More Bill Doggett
"Hey, Big Boy, Hey Hey"
b/w "The Rail" (from Big City Dance Party) 		The Best Of Bill Doggett
"Crackers"
b/w "That's Enough, Lock 'Em Up"
"The Kicker"
b/w "Mudcat" 		Wow!
"Snuff Box"
b/w "Blood Pressure" (Non-album track) 		The Best Of Bill Doggett
1965 "Slidin'"
b/w "Teardrops" 		Bonanza Of 24 Songs
1967 "Sapphire"
b/w "Ko-Ko" 		Honky Tonk A-La Mod!
"Lovin' Mood"
b/w "The Funky Whistler" 		Non-album tracks
1969 "Twenty-Five Miles"
b/w "For Once In My Life" (Non-album track) 		Honky Tonk Popcorn
"Honky Tonk Popcorn"
b/w "Honky Tonk"
1970 "The Nearness Of You"
"Moondust" 		The Nearness Of You
1971 "Eventide"
b/w "In A Sentimental Mood" 		Sentimental Mood

7" EPs (all on King)

[edit]
  • KEP-259 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo, Vol. 1 (1954)
  • KEP-325 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo, Vol. 2 (1954)
  • KEP-326 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo, Vol. 3 (1954)
  • KEP-334 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo, Vol. 4 (1955)
  • KEP-346 All Time Christmas Favorites (1955)
  • KEP-352 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo, Vol. 5 (1955)
  • KEP-382 Doggett Dreams, Vol. 6 (1956)
  • KEP-388 Doggett Jumps, Vol. 7 (1956)
  • KEP-390 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo: Honky Tonk! (1956)
  • KEP-391 Bill Doggett, Volume 1 (1956)
  • KEP-392 Bill Doggett, Volume 2 (1956)
  • KEP-393 Bill Doggett, Volume 3 (1956)
  • KEP-394 As You Desire Me (Volume 1) (1956)
  • KEP-395 As You Desire Me (Volume 2) (1956)
  • KEP-396 As You Desire Me (Volume 3) (1956)
  • KEP-397 Earl Bostic – Bill Doggett (1956)
  • KEP-399 A Salute To Ellington (Volume 1) (1957)
  • KEP-400 A Salute To Ellington (Volume 2) (1957)
  • KEP-401 A Salute To Ellington (Volume 3) (1957)
  • KEP-402 Dame Dreaming (Volume 1) (1957)
  • KEP-403 Dame Dreaming (Volume 2) (1957)
  • KEP-404 Dame Dreaming (Volume 3) (1957)
  • KEP-407 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo: Hot Doggett (1957)
  • KEP-408 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo: Soft (1957)
  • KEP-424 Hold It! (Volume 1) (1958)
  • KEP-425 Hold It! (Volume 2) (1958)
  • KEP-426 Hold It! (Volume 3) (1958)
  • KEP-442 High And Wide (Volume 1) (1959)
  • KEP-443 High And Wide (Volume 2) (1959)
  • KEP-444 High And Wide (Volume 3) (1959)
  • KEP-448 Big City Dance Party (Volume 1) (1959)
  • KEP-449 Big City Dance Party (Volume 2) (1959)
  • KEP-450 Big City Dance Party (Volume 3) (1959)

10" LPs

[edit]
  • Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo, Volume 1 King 295-82 (1954)
  • Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo, Volume 2 King 295-83 (1954)
  • All Time Christmas Favorites King 295-89 (1954)
  • Sentimentally Yours King 295-102 (1955)

12" LPs

[edit]
  • Moon Dust King 395-502 (1956)
  • Hot Doggett King 395-514 (1956)
  • As You Desire Me King 395-523 (1956) [reissue of King 295-102 plus 4 additional tracks]
  • Everybody Dance the Honky Tonk King 395-531 (1956)
  • Dame Dreaming King 395-532 (1957)
  • A Salute to Ellington King 533 (1957)
  • Doggett Beat for Dancing Feet King 557 (1957)
  • Candle Glow King 563 (1958)
  • Swingin' Easy King 582 (1958)
  • Dance Awhile with Doggett King 585 (1958)
  • 12 Songs Of Christmas King 600 (1958) [reissue of King 295-89 plus 6 additional tracks]
  • Hold It! King 609 (1959)
  • High And Wide King 633 (1959)
  • Big City Dance Party King 641 (1959)
  • Bill Doggett on Tour [this is NOT a live album] King 667 (1959)
  • For Reminiscent Lovers, Romantic Songs By Bill Doggett King 706 (1960)
  • Back With More Bill Doggett King 723 (1960)
  • The Many Moods Of Bill Doggett King 778 (1962)
  • Bill Doggett Plays American Songs, Bossa Nova Style King 830 (1963)
  • Impressions [compilation] King 868 (1963)
  • The Best Of Bill Doggett [compilation] King 908 (1964)
  • Bonanza Of 24 Songs [compilation] King 959 (1966)
  • Take Your Shot King 1041 (1969)
  • Honky Tonk Popcorn King 1078 (1970)
  • The Nearness Of You [compilation] King 1097 (1970)
  • Ram-Bunk-Shush [compilation] King 1101 (1970)
  • Sentimental Mood [compilation] King 1104 (1971)
  • Soft [compilation] King 1108 (1971)
  • 14 Original Greatest Hits [compilation; reissued as All His Hits] King-Starday 5009 (1977)
  • Charles Brown: PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS [this vocal album includes 4 instrumental tracks by Bill Doggett] King-Starday 5019 (1978)

12" LPs issued by other labels

[edit]
  • 3,046 People Danced 'Til 4 A.M. To Bill Doggett [this is a live album] Warner Bros. WS-1404 (1961)
  • The Band With The Beat! Warner Bros. WS-1421 (1961)
  • Bill Doggett Swings Warner Bros. WS-1452 (1962)
  • Rhythm Is My Business (Ella Fitzgerald with Bill Doggett) Verve V6-4056 (1962)
  • Oops! The Swinging Sounds Of Bill Doggett Columbia CL-1814/CS-8614 (1962)
  • Prelude To The Blues Columbia CL-1942/CS-8742 (1963)
  • Fingertips Columbia CL-2082/CS-8882 (1963)
  • Wow! ABC-Paramount S-507 (1964)
  • Honky Tonk A-La-Mod! Roulette SR-25330 (1966)
  • Bill Doggett Disques Black And Blue 33.029 (1971) - later released on CD as I Don't Know Much About Love (Black & Blue 59.029) in 1991.
  • Bill Doggett feat. Eddie Davis & Eddie Vinson Disques Black And Blue 33.138 (1978) - with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
  • Midnight Slows, Vol. 9 Disques Black And Blue 33.145 (1978)
  • Midnight Slows, Vol. 10 Disques Black And Blue 33.160 (1979) - with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis
  • Mister Honky Tonk Disques Black And Blue 33.562 (1980)
  • The Right Choice After Hours/Ichiban AFT-4112 (1991) - note: this is Doggett's last recorded album of original material; also released on CD.

CD releases/compilations of note

[edit]
  • Gon' Doggett Charly R&B CRB-1094 [LP] (1985)
  • Trading Licks Charly R&B CD-51 (1987) [shared CD with Earl Bostic; 12 tracks by Doggett and 8 tracks by Bostic; all King material]
  • Leaps And Bounds Charly R&B CD-281 (1991)
  • The EP Collection See For Miles SEECD-689 (1999)
  • Everyday, I Have The Blues (The Definitive Black & Blue Sessions) Black & Blue BB-911 (2002)
  • Honky Tonk: The Very Best Of Bill Doggett Collectables 2876 (2004)
  • The Chronological Bill Doggett 1952-1953 Classics (Blues & Rhythm Series) 5097 (2004)
  • Am I Blue Black & Blue BB-468 (2005)
  • The Chronological Bill Doggett 1954 Classics (Blues & Rhythm Series) 5175 (2006)
  • Honky Tonk Popcorn Beat Goes Public/BGP CDBGPD-249 (2012) reissue of King 1078 plus 5 bonus tracks.
  • Everybody Dance The Honky Tonk/Doggett Beat For Dancing Feet Soul Jam 806174 (2019) 2LP-on-1CD
  • Dancing With Doggett: Bill Doggett, His Organ & Combo 1955-1960 Jasmine JASMCD-3142 (2019) - compilation that also includes the entire 3,046 People Danced 'Til 4 A.M. album.

As sideman

[edit]
With Ella Fitzgerald
  • Lullabies of Birdland (Decca DL-8149, 1945–1955 [rel. 1956]) note: includes "Rough Ridin'", "Smooth Sailing", and "Air Mail Special" with Doggett on organ.
With Coleman Hawkins
With Helen Humes
  • Complete 1927–1950 Studio Recordings (Jazz Factory JFCD-22844, 2001) 3-CD set - note: includes the 5 tracks that Humes recorded with Doggett's octet for Philo/Aladdin in 1945: "Unlucky Woman", "Every Now And Then", "He May Be Your Man", "Blue Prelude", and "Be-Baba-Leba".
With Willis Jackson
  • Call of the Gators (Delmark, DD-460, 1949–1950 Apollo recordings [rel. 1992])
With Illinois Jacquet
  • Illinois Jacquet And His Tenor Sax (Aladdin LP-708 [10-inch], 1945–1947 [rel. 1954]; Aladdin LP-803 [rel. 1956]; Imperial LP-9184/LP-12184 [rel. 1962])
With Louis Jordan
  • Jivin' with Jordan (Proper Box 47, 1938–1951 Decca recordings [rel. 2002]) 4-CD set
With Lucky Millinder
  • The Chronological Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra 1941–1942 (Classics 712, 1993)
  • The Chronological Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra 1943–1947 (Classics 1026, 1998)
With Paul Quinichette
  • The Vice Pres (EmArcy MG-36027, 1951–1952 [rel. 1954])
With Buddy Tate
  • Jumping on the West Coast (Black Lion 760175, 1947–1949 Supreme recordings [rel. 1992])
With Lucky Thompson
  • The Chronological Lucky Thompson 1944–1947 (Classics 1113, 2000)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Doc Rock. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 1996 - 1997". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Archived from the original on January 4, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 384. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  3. ^ Harris, Craig. "Bill Doggett Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 26, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  4. ^ Seymour, Gene (November 21, 1996). "From the archive: Blues musician Bill Doggett dies". Newsday. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  5. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 81. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  6. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 31. CN 5585.
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