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Category: vintage History

Meet Bill Doggett – The King of 1950s Jazz and R&B Organ

I LOVE receiving emails from my readers (so thank you!), but my absolute favourite is when a family member from a past musican, fashion designer, etc. reaches out wanting to share stories about their loved one.

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to have this happen again when Bill Doggett II sent an email introducing me to his uncle, Bill Doggett. Bill was the pianist and arranger for the 1939-42 Savoy Ballroom Swing Band, The Lucky Millinder Band (one of his many career highlights). He also was considered by many as the King of 1950s Jazz and R&B organ.

Let’s take a high level look at a talented artist who I am excited to have gotten to know more about and now share with all of you!

Bill Dogget. Pianist and Arranger for the Lucky Millinder Orchestra & The King of 1950s Jazz and R&B Organ

William Ballard Doggett was born February 16, 1916, on the north side of Philadelphia. Although he initially dreamed of playing the trumpet, his family was unable to afford lessons. Persuaded by his mother (a church pianist), to try keyboards instead, he quickly mastered the instrument. Hailed as a child prodigy by his 13th birthday, he formed his first band, the Five Majors, at the age of 15 (Source).

The Savoy Ballroom

In 1938, Lucky Millinder was looking for a new band — the way Millinder worked was that he bought out, and took over the leadership, of existing bands, which then became “the Lucky Millinder Orchestra”.

This incarnation of the Lucky Millinder Orchestra, the one that was put together by Doggett before Millinder took the band over (Doggett reputedly traded the entire outfit to Millinder for a soda-NOT sure how true this is), is the one that got a residency at the Savoy after Chick Webb’s band stopped playing there. Doggett stayed on with Millinder as his pianist (pictured below) (Source).

1941 image of the Lucky Millinder Orchestra playing at the famous Savo

1941 image of the Lucky Millinder Orchestra playing at the Savoy Ballroom. Bill Doggett is at the piano.

Source: Billdoggettcentennial.com

As pianist with Lucky Millinder, Bill Doggett has his film premiere in the important 1939 All Black Cast Harlem movie, Paradise in Harlem that showcases the legenday blues singer, Mamie Smith (Source).

“The Lonesome Road”, 1941. Early footage of Sister Rosetta Tharpe when she was band vocalist with Lucky Millinder Orchestra (Video Link).

“Four Or Five Times”, 1941. Sister Rosetta Tharpe with Lucky Millinder Orchestra (Video Link).

Watch for the young Bill Doggett “Piano solo” at 0:33-0:48. PLUS enjoy some lindy hop in this video!

Louis Jordan

In 1947, he replaced “Wild” Bill Davis (top organist at the time) on piano in Louis Jordan’s Tympany Five, at the time the hottest Black band on records.  He appeared on the influential tunes, “Saturday Night Fish Fry” and “Blue Light Boogie.” (Video Link).

Bill’s career really takes off from here!

Ella Fitzgerald-Bill made his debut as an organist during Ella’s June 1951 recording sessions.

After Chick Webb’s death, Bill became Ella’s most important collaborator as her pianist, arranger and music director (1943-44). Then arranger and collaborator on her 1951-52 big hits, Smooth Sailing, Rough Riding and Tea Leaves and her 1962 “Stereo Demonstration Record” Rhythm is My Business.  

Ella Fitzgerald

King Records

Doggett achieved his greatest popularity from 1952 to 1960 when he headed a small band that recorded for King Records. In 1952, on his first King record, he played organ on “Big Dog,” which illustrated the new, swinging, amplified dance music (Video Link).

In 1956-Bill releases his Rhythm and Blues hit “Honky Tonk”

Doggett achieved universal popularity with “Honky Tonk.” The famous instrumental tune was recorded in two parts by King Records, one on each side of a 45-rpm single. It would top the R&B chart and was at #2 on the pop chart. By 1979, it had sold more than 3 million copies (Source).

“Honky Tonk, Parts 1 and 2” came about almost by accident. As Doggett told the story, his biggest hit started out at a dance in Lima, Ohio on a Sunday night. The group were playing their normal set and people were dancing as normal, but then during a brief break a music jam happened. This impromptu, never played before jam would become Honky Tonk and the rest is history (Source).

The hit is considered one of rock’s greatest instrumental tracks (Source).

Check out the song below (Video Link).

FACT: Bill did much to popularize the organ as an instrument for swinging Rhythm & Blues (Source).

1950s R&B Artist Bill Doggett record album

In later years, Doggett was a respected organist who would play hundreds of shows a year, until his death in 1996 aged eighty.

He played “Honky Tonk” at every show, saying “I just wouldn’t be Bill Doggett if I didn’t play ‘Honky Tonk’. That’s what the people pay to hear, so that’s what they get.” (Source).

Last Cool Fact:

The years 1941-1945, Doggett was a Decca Records artist who joined two other iconic artists on the label, The Ink Spots (vocal quartet who became the most popular Black act of the forties) and Ella Fitzgerald (mentioned early).

Several of the famous and well remembered Ink Spots hits were actually arranged and recorded with Bill Doggett, the pianist (Source). (Video Link)

Thanks for stopping by an learning a bit about the wonderful Bill Doggett! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I had putting it together.

ALSO…Special thanks to Bill Doggett’s nephew for reaching out and bringing his uncle to my attention.

For more information please visit (and there is so much more to his story):

Bill Legacy and Jazz Roots

Bill Doggett Organist & Pianist

500 Songs-Bill Doggett (Podcast)-Super podcast episode!

Liz

The Biggest Rock n Roll Show of 1956 Performed at Maple Leaf Gardens Toronto

In 2019 I was Djing at a vintage Rock n Roll night and during 1 of my 2 sets I played a special group of songs around a particular Rock N Roll Show that happened on April 30th, 1956 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. This tour is going to be the subject of my blog post today.

It was a 45 date tour and labelled the “Biggest Rock N Roll Show of ‘1956” featuring:

  • Bill Haley & Comets (Headliner)
  • Platters
  • Bo Diddley
  • Drifters
  • LaVern Baker
  • Clyde McPhatter
  • Big Joe Turner
  • Red Prysock
  • Shirley & Lee
  • Roy Hamilton
  • Five Keys
  • The Turbans
  • Frankie Lymon & Teenagers
1956 Rock and roll show program of performers- 1950s music.
1956 Rock and roll show program of performers- 1950s music.

Source: WorthPoint

What was different from other shows like this? It was the ONLY one that featured all African American acts with the exception of the headliner Bill Haley.

1950s Music 1956 Rock n Roll Party Poster for Bill Haley and his Comets -May 6th.

However…..the blog, ‘A Rock n’ Roll Historian‘ shares: “As racial tensions are peaking throughout the country, the potential for trouble exists at every tour stop.  Several shows are cancelled because of racial troubles including bomb threats, protests, pickets, and violence.”

AND add in parents and religious leaders across the country who were up and arms over this new “craze”sending their kids into hysteria.

“1 have met a lot of young people, and older people too. who have learned the three Rs—Rock. Roll and Regret . . . Have you ever felt that way after a session of rock ‘n roll? When you tried to get to sleep, you couldn’t because deep down in your heart you felt that the whole business of pleasure-seeking and self-indulgence was a mockery and a sham . . . Sorry, young reader. I can’t promise you that there is any easy way out of this situation.”

– Jane Scott, a Toronto Telegram religious columnist-

But among all of this, the tour is a resounding SUCCESS! and winds up with two dates being added, making it a 47-date tour.

1950s Vintage Photo of Bill Haley and the Comets performing on stage in 1956.

Source-Shorpy: Performance by Bill Haley and the Comets and LaVern Baker at the Sports Arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania.” From photos by Ed Feingersh for the Look magazine article “The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Controversy

The tours rolls into Cincinnati, OH. “By the third quarter of the show, they were in the aisles, all over the floor and unaware of anything but the music.” -Cincinnati Post 5/10/1956

1956 Newspaper clip of a group of people who attended a 1950s Rock n Roll show in Cincinnati featuring Bill Haley

Source: Bill Haley Official

THE TOUR COMES TO TORONTO AT MAPLE LEAF GARDENS

A record setting crowd of 13,000 for a single show.  The press and TV are pressing Haley about whether rock and roll is dangerous (Source).

1950s vintage photo of Bill Haley and the Comets, 1956 Maple Leaf Gardens

Bill Haley and the Comets perform at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto

Clyde McPhatter, on stage.

(Note: this image at the Toronto Archives says it’s from 1960 at the Rock n Roll Show but I don’t think this is right unless the show came back. Anyone know?)

1956 vintage photo of Clyde McPhatter, on stage at Maple Leaf Gardens

Canada’s Maclean’s Magazine (Barbara Moon to be exact), attended the concert in Toronto and went on to write a review of what she saw in the below article entitled “What you don’t need to know about Rock n Roll“.

1950s Vintage Magazine Article: Canada's Maclean's Magazine (Barbara Moon to be exact), attended the concert in Toronto and went on to write a review of what she saw in the below article entitled "What you don't need to know about Rock n Roll".
1950s Vintage Magazine Article: Canada's Maclean's Magazine (Barbara Moon to be exact), attended the concert in Toronto and went on to write a review of what she saw in the below article entitled "What you don't need to know about Rock n Roll".

Source: Maclean’s Magazine

It is an EXTREMELY interesting read (this woman is very very against the music) and I recommend taking the time to do so. Here are some “snippets” of what was printed:

NOT LONG AGO a Toronto eighteen-year old was fined fifty dollars for riding his motorcycle with his hands in the air. “A car radio was playing a real gone rock ‘n roll song,” he defended himself, ‘i just had to keep time to that sound.”

“That sound” is the latest teen-age craze. And in the two years since it became epidemic rock ‘n roll has been responsible for more than mere careless driving. It has, for example:

Packed the biggest available arenas in the biggest cities of the continent for some ol the biggest gross revenues in entertainment history.

Pitchforked a raucous-voiced hillbilly named Elvis Presley into overnight stardom.

-Stimulated snake dances, cop-baiting and outbursts of vandalism and mayhem in many centres. (Teen-agers in Brooklyn tore up a subway car after a rock ‘n roll jamboree; in Minneapolis they pelted police with empty beer tins.)

Caused Variety to call it “the most explosive show biz phenomenon of the decade.” I he trade journal of the entertainment world added ponderously, “It may be getting too hot to handle.”

Induced amnesia in many adults: their alarm is such that they forget all inconvenient earlier parallels for the fad.

-Saturated the continent with songs whose hit parade ratings vary according to their decibel ratings. One deafening litany, called Blue Suede Shoes, invites the hearer to knock the singer down, step in his face, slander his name, burn his house, steal his car and drink his liquor as long as he, the hearer, stays off his, the singer’s, blue suede shoes. Ten thousand copies of Shoes were sold in one month in Ontario alone.

For such reasons as these I was assigned recently to investigate the phenomenon for Maclean’s. “What is it and why is it?” the editors wanted to know……..

Fans watch Bill Haley and the Comets in concert at Vancouver’s Kerrisdale Arena on June 27, 1956.

Source-Vancouver Sun. Fans watch Bill Haley and the Comets in concert at Vancouver’s Kerrisdale Arena on June 27, 1956.

“There were twelve acts, twenty extra policemen on duty and 12.764 young people in attendance. They seemed to be a cross-section, everything from blackleather windbreakers to Harris tweeds and from tight jeans to tulle frocks. Proceedings began at 8.30 and took two and a half hours with a truce at halftime to remove the wounded. The smattering of adults included a skinny grey-mustached man sitting beside me with a young girl.”

-Barbara Moon-
Young people dancing — despite police efforts to stop them — at Bill Haley and the Comets’ concert at Vancouver’s Kerrisdale Arena on June 27, 1956.

Source-Vancouver Sun. Young people dancing — despite police efforts to stop them — at Bill Haley and the Comets’ concert at Vancouver’s Kerrisdale Arena on June 27, 1956.

Curious on what would of been played at the concert that caused all this hysteria? Here are some of the songs that you would of heard.

Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers-Why Do Fools Fall in Love

The Platters – You’ve got the magic touch

LaVern Baker – Jim Dandy

The Five Keys – She’s The Most I LOVE THIS SONG!

SO GOOD!!!!!!

Friends, I hope you enjoyed a look back at this outstanding and historic musical tour of 1956. If any of my readers happened to of attended this concert, whether in Toronto or somewhere else please share in the comments below! And even if you were not, who would you have been excited to have seen at the show?

FURTHER READING:

Liz