"Hold Me Close to You" was Billy's next single released a couple of months after this appearance The song was featured in the MGM movie, "Skirts Ahoy!". Written by Harry Warren and Ralph Blane. He also sang his current single and Top 20 hit, "Kiss of Fire" in this episode, which was also posted recently.
Billy Eckstein's bebop big band of the mid 1940s is forgotten today, but it consisted of a who's who of great musicians including Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Sarah Vaughn.
As @akrenwinkle said above, Eckstine would have been a mega-star today, and he very nearly made it with a string of top-ten hits in the late 40's-early 50's ("I Apologize," "A Cottage For Sale," "Everything I Have Is Yours," etc), In fact, it was a LIFE magazine article (4/24/50) chronicling his meteoric rise to pop stardom that curbed his ascent. Following an appearance at NYC's Paramount Theater that broke Frank Sinatra's attendance record, photographer Martha Holmes captured an innocent backstage moment: surrounded by a bevy of female admirers, most of them white, one was shown with her head against Eckstine's chest as she laughed ecstatically. The controversy that resulted from the photograph had a seminal effect on the trajectory of Eckstine's career. [from Wikipedia]: Tony Bennett would recall that "It changed everything... Before that, he had a tremendous following...and it just offended the white community", a sentiment shared by pianist Billy Taylor who said that the "coverage and that picture just slammed the door shut for him." To be clear: Eckstine was far too big to be totally shut-out, but... the film "Skirts Ahoy" ended up being the only major film appearance Eckstine made before MGM let his contract lapse. That next step to superstardom and matinee idol status - Hollywood films, Broadway- that had seemed inevitable in early 1950, stopped cold.
The Late Great Billy E I read Miles Davis Autobiography Billy was a Bad Dude Great Singer but was not to be Played with he'd cut somebody with the quickness read his Bio in 3 days that was 27 years ago Rip Billy and Miles
If Billy was starting out today, he'd be a leading man in films. A treat to the eye and ear.
"Hold Me Close to You" was Billy's next single released a couple of months after this appearance The song was featured in the MGM movie, "Skirts Ahoy!". Written by Harry Warren and Ralph Blane. He also sang his current single and Top 20 hit, "Kiss of Fire" in this episode, which was also posted recently.
the great Billy Eckstine....his voice was in a class of its own
Thanks for another Billy Eckstine clip ….no autocorrect tunes needed there…😂!
Have a great day!
Billy Eckstine on Toast of The Town 1952😀👍🏿
It's another wonderful performance! He had such a rich tone! Smooth like butter!😍💜
LOVE Never Stops Loving LOVE🌎
More Eckstine for my mom and aunt. Great voice.
What a voice
Excellent and elegant voice.
Steel City legend. The great Mr. B.
Billy Eckstine(July 8,1914-March 8,1993)
Most excellent.
Billy Eckstein's bebop big band of the mid 1940s is forgotten today, but it consisted of a who's who of great musicians including Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Sarah Vaughn.
благодарю канал за видео отличного певца. Billy Eckstine
One of my mom's favorite singers.
Smooth Baritone
As @akrenwinkle said above, Eckstine would have been a mega-star today, and he very nearly made it with a string of top-ten hits in the late 40's-early 50's ("I Apologize," "A Cottage For Sale," "Everything I Have Is Yours," etc), In fact, it was a LIFE magazine article (4/24/50) chronicling his meteoric rise to pop stardom that curbed his ascent. Following an appearance at NYC's Paramount Theater that broke Frank Sinatra's attendance record, photographer Martha Holmes captured an innocent backstage moment: surrounded by a bevy of female admirers, most of them white, one was shown with her head against Eckstine's chest as she laughed ecstatically. The controversy that resulted from the photograph had a seminal effect on the trajectory of Eckstine's career.
[from Wikipedia]: Tony Bennett would recall that "It changed everything... Before that, he had a tremendous following...and it just offended the white community", a sentiment shared by pianist Billy Taylor who said that the "coverage and that picture just slammed the door shut for him."
To be clear: Eckstine was far too big to be totally shut-out, but... the film "Skirts Ahoy" ended up being the only major film appearance Eckstine made before MGM let his contract lapse. That next step to superstardom and matinee idol status - Hollywood films, Broadway- that had seemed inevitable in early 1950, stopped cold.
Buena musica
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TRES TRES BELLE VOIX
The Late Great Billy E I read Miles Davis Autobiography Billy was a Bad Dude Great Singer but was not to be Played with he'd cut somebody with the quickness read his Bio in 3 days that was 27 years ago Rip Billy and Miles