Billy Eckstine

Billy Eckstine

William Clarence Eckstine (July 8, 1914 – March 8, 1993) was an American jazz and pop singer and a bandleader during the swing and bebop eras. He was noted for his rich, almost operatic bass-baritone voice. 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." His recording of "I Apologize" (MGM, 1951) was given the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999. 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."

Birth and Death Data: Born July 8, 1914 (Pittsburgh), Died March 8, 1993 (Pittsburgh)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1940 - 1948

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, songwriter

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BS-047057	10-in.	2/13/1940	My heart beats for you	Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Victor	BS-051521	10-in.	6/19/1940	Wait 'till it happens to you	Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, songwriter
Victor	BS-051523	10-in.	6/19/1940	Ann	Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Victor	PBS-055177	10-in.	12/2/1940	I'm falling for you	Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Victor	PBS-055180	10-in.	12/2/1940	Jelly, jelly	Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, songwriter
Victor	PBS-061543	10-in.	8/20/1941	Water boy	Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Victor	BS-063331	10-in.	4/3/1941	Julia	Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Victor	BS-068401	10-in.	11/17/1941	The jitney man	Earl Hines Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Victor	BS-068403	10-in.	11/17/1941	You don't know what love is	Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Victor	BS-070332	10-in.	10/28/1941	Somehow	Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Victor	BS-070333	10-in.	10/28/1941	I got it bad and that ain't good	Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine ; Madeline Green ; Three Varieties	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and mixed vocal ensemble	vocalist
Victor	BS-073460	10-in.	3/19/1942	Skylark	Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Victor	BS-073462	10-in.	3/19/1942	Stormy Monday blues	Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, songwriter
Victor	D7VB-2933	10-in.	12/22/1947	Cool breeze	Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra ; Dizzy Gillespie ; Kenny Hagood	Male vocal duet, with jazz/dance band	songwriter

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Eckstine, Billy," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106570.

Eckstine, Billy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106570.

"Eckstine, Billy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.