Mr. B
Subtitle: the life and music of Billy Eckstine
By: Cary Ginell ; with a foreword by Ed Eckstein
Series: Hal Leonard jazz biography series; Hal Leonard jazz biography series
Publisher: Hal Leonard Books
Published: 2013
Language: eng
Number of pages: 228
ISBN-13: 9781458419804
Subjects: Singers; Jazz; Jazz singers; Biography; History and criticism
Other titles: Life and music of Billy Eckstine; Music & life of Billy Eckstine
Description: "In 1950, Billy Eckstine was the most popular singer in America. Movie-star handsome with an elegant pencil-thin mustache and a wide vibrato, Eckstine, the man known simply as 'Mr. B.,' possessed one of the most magnificent voices in popular music history. Born in Pittsburgh, Eckstine won a talent contest by imitating Cab Calloway and started leading jazz orchestras under the name Baron Billy. In 1939, he joined Earl Hines' orchestra, composing and performing the hits 'Jelly, Jelly' and 'Stormy Monday blues.' In 1944, he formed what is now considered the first bebop orchestra that included, during its brief three-year run, legendary figures such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, and Sarah Vaughan. Signing with MGM, he rose to superstar status, sold millions of records, marketed his own line of 'Mr. B.' shirt collars, and inspired an army of female admirers, known as 'Billy-soxers.' Eckstine fought all his life for recognition and respect in his quest to become America's first black romantic singing idol, but he faced hardships in the segregated music world of the '40s and '50s. Despite this, he went on to influence many singers who followed, including Arthur Prysock, Johnny Hartman, Johnny Mathis, Kevin Mahogany, Barry White, and even Elvis Presley. In this book, Cary Ginell examines the life of one of the twentieth century's most amazing success stories"--from publisher.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 191-202) and index.