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]
Bill Doggett | |
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![]() Doggett in 1980 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | William Ballard Doggett |
Born | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | February 16, 1916
Died | November 13, 1996 New York City, U.S. | (aged 80)
Genres | |
Occupation | Musician |
Instruments |
|
Years active | 1930s–1996 |
Labels | King |
Biography
editDoggett 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
editSingles
editYear | 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 |
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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) |
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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) |
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"Ding Dong" b/w "Cling To Me" (from Candle Glow) |
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"Shindig" b/w "Hammer Head" |
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"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" |
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"Blues For Handy" b/w "How Could You" (from Dance Awhile With Doggett) |
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"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" |
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"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" |
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"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" |
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1970 | "The Nearness Of You" "Moondust" |
The Nearness Of You | ||
1971 | "Eventide" b/w "In A Sentimental Mood" |
Sentimental Mood |
- 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
- The Hawk Talks (Decca DL-8127, 1952–1953 [rel. 1955])
- 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
editReferences
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Harris, Craig. "Bill Doggett Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 26, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 81. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 31. CN 5585.