Before they became pop/rock stars many future icons began in a jazz environment - here are a few.
Bing Crosby: Bing began as part of The Rhythm Boys with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra that included Bix, Trumbauer, the Dorseys and Eddie Lang. Bing always had a jazzy twist to his voice back then. Conversely, Sinatra's jazz sense only emerged many years later with the help of Nelson Riddle.
Nat Cole: The Nat Cole Trio was, perhaps, the swingingest trio around in the 1940s. However, once he signed with Capitol, became 'King' Cole and recorded million-sellers like Mona Lisa and Too Young with lavish string accompaniments, the jazz slipped off the radar despite his being, arguably, the first great bebop jazz pianist.
Frankie Laine: The first of 'The Shouters' as opposed to the smooth and oftimes sickly sentimentality of Sinatra, Fisher and Co(mo). Laine began singing in Chicago joints with Muggsy Spanier. His early recordings, issued here on Oriole, were very jazz oriententated but, once he moved to Colombia where Mitch Miller ruled, jazz disappeared - Sinatra too suffered under Miller.
Despite the emergence of Bill Haley and Elvis the jazz based pop idols moved across the Atlantic to the UK (or England as I thought of it then - still do!)
Lonnie Donegan: He played banjo and guitar with Chris Barber's New Orlean's style band. Just another sideman until Barber let him loose on an old Leadbelly number - Rock Island Line. It sold and, before you knew it, he was on TV singing numbers such as My Old Man's a Dustman and Does Your Chewing Gum Lose its Flavour on the Bedpost Overnight? Leadbelly, I suspect, was turning over in his grave and thinking, why didn't I record that shit?
Eric Burden: Came to fame with The Animals and, later, War. He had/has maybe the earthiest/funkiest sound ever to come out of Newcastle and scorch America. It all began singing with bands in and around Tyneside.
Sting: Also began in Newcastle playing bass guitar with the Newcastle Big Band, the Phoenix Jazzmen and Last Exit. He formed The Police and the rest, as they say, is history.
Ginger Baker: Often referred to as the greatest rock drummer of all-time, Baker's earliest recordings were with Terry Lightfoot's Jazzmen in 1957 where he provided the rhythmic impetus to such gems as I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus and The Old Grey Mare - Cream was a long way away...
Charlie Watts: The Rolling Stones were all into blues but Charlie was the only one who was truly a jazzman at heart. When fame and fortune provided the opportunity he assembled an amazing ensemble for a concert in Fulham Town Hall. You wanna hear a big band playing Flying Home? Forget about Hamp - this is it!
Georgie Fame: Not sure if Georgie qualifies. Although he had massive hits like my favourite Bonnie and Clyde (he hates it!) he's always managed to keep a foot in both worlds but, I guess, he probably wouldn't have had one without the other and he's still going strong -ish.
Amy Winehouse: To many ears, mine included, Amy's was the greatest UK jazz voice ever. From her beginnings with NYJO, to her now treasured albums, Amy proved that, like so many of the others in this post, if you had it at the start, it never left you irrespective of where that road led. Lance
No comments :
Post a Comment