ENDEIT
Billy Eckstine
Photo: The Library of Congress, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Guitarists · 1914–1993

Billy Eckstine

American musician (1914–1993)

Born
8 July 1914
Pittsburgh
Died
8 March 1993
Pittsburgh
Country
United States
Record labels
Philips Records, Mercury Records, MGM Records
Discography
24 albums

Biography

Billy Eckstine was a jazz musician who played guitar, trumpet, trombone and voice. Billy Eckstine was born on 8 July 1914 in Pittsburgh and died on 8 March 1993 in Pittsburgh. The music is usually filed under jazz. Record labels: Philips Records, Mercury Records and MGM Records. The discography here lists 24 albums, from “Billy Eckstine Favorites” (1950) to “Don’t Worry ’Bout Me & Broadway, Bongos and Mr. “B”” (2013). Honours include Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2019) and star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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 such as Earl Coleman, Johnny Hartman, Joe Williams, Arthur Prysock, and Lou Rawls."

Read the full article on Wikipedia ↗ · From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Discography

Studio and live albums

Billy Eckstine Favorites 1950
Blues for Sale 1954
On Savoy: Billy Eckstine 1954
Mr. B. With a Beat 1955
The Love Songs Of Mr. “B” 1955
Imagination 1958
No Cover, No Minimum 1960 · Live
Once More With Feeling 1960
Broadway Bongos and Mr. “B” 1961
Don’t Worry ’Bout Me 1962
The Modern Sound Of Mr B 1964
The Prime of My Life 1965
My Way 1966
For Love of Ivy 1968
Stormy 1971
Senior Soul 1972
If She Walked Into My Life 1974
Billy Eckstine Sings With Benny Carter 1987
Stormy / Feel the Warm 1994
Mr. B 1998
The Cool Mr. B 2000
Billy Eckstine & Quincy Jones at Basin Street East 2002 · Live
Now Singing in 12 Great Movies 2002
Don’t Worry ’Bout Me & Broadway, Bongos and Mr. “B” 2013

Standards written by Billy Eckstine

TitleKeyFormGroove
I Want To Talk About You E♭ major AABA · 32 Ballad

Awards

Historic 78 rpm records

  • If That's The Way You Feel Billy Eckstine and his Orchestra · Billy Eckstine · G. Valentine · 1944 archive.org ↗
  • 2nd Balcony Jump Billy Eckstine and his Orchestra · Billy Eckstine · Gerald Valentine · 1946 archive.org ↗
  • Cool Breeze Billy Eckstine · Gene Ammons · Dameron · Gillespie · 1946 archive.org ↗
  • I Want To Talk About You Billy Eckstine and his Famous Orchestra · Eckstine · 1951 archive.org ↗

Listen on Spotify

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did Billy Eckstine play?

Billy Eckstine is known for playing guitar, trumpet, trombone and voice.

When and where was Billy Eckstine born?

Billy Eckstine was born 8 July 1914 in Pittsburgh.

What are Billy Eckstine's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include Billy Eckstine Favorites (1950), Blues for Sale (1954), On Savoy: Billy Eckstine (1954), Mr. B. With a Beat (1955) and The Love Songs Of Mr. “B” (1955).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.