Earl Bostic facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Earl Bostic
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Eugene Earl Bostic |
| Born | April 25, 1913 Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States |
| Died | October 28, 1965 (aged 52) Rochester, New York, United States |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Alto saxophone |
| Years active | 1931–1965 |
| Associated acts | Lionel Hampton, John Coltrane, Benny Golson, Blue Mitchell |
Eugene Earl Bostic (born April 25, 1913 – died October 28, 1965) was an American musician. He was famous for playing the alto saxophone. Earl Bostic's music was very varied. He played jazz, swing, jump blues, and helped create the R&B style.
He had many popular songs. Some of his hits include "Flamingo", "Harlem Nocturne", and "Temptation". These songs showed off his special "growl" sound on the saxophone. He was also a big influence on other famous musicians, like John Coltrane.
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Earl Bostic's Musical Journey
Earl Bostic was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1913. He started his music career at 18 years old. His first recordings were with the famous musician Lionel Hampton in 1939. He also played with many other jazz legends.
In the early 1940s, Bostic was a regular at famous jam sessions. These were informal music gatherings where musicians played together. He started his own band in 1945. Later, he began focusing on R&B music.
His biggest hits included "Temptation", "Sleep", and "Flamingo". Many talented musicians played in his band. These included John Coltrane, Benny Golson, and Stanley Turrentine. They all became famous later on.
Earl Bostic also wrote music for other big bands. He wrote arrangements for Paul Whiteman and Louis Prima. His song "Let Me Off Uptown" was a hit for Anita O'Day. His signature song, "Flamingo," was recorded in 1951. It is still popular today, especially in Carolina Beach Music.
In 1953, Earl Bostic and his band played at a big concert. It was called the "Cavalcade of Jazz" in Los Angeles. Other stars like Nat King Cole and Louis Armstrong were also there.
Later in his life, Bostic lived in New York City. He then moved to Los Angeles. There, he focused on writing music after a heart attack. He even opened his own R&B music club called the Flying Fox.
His Unique Style and Influence
Earl Bostic was a master of the saxophone. Many musicians, including John Coltrane, looked up to him. Coltrane once said that Bostic "showed me a lot of things on my horn." He added that Bostic had amazing skills on his instrument.
Another musician, James Moody, said Bostic knew his instrument "inside out." If you listen closely to Bostic's solos, you can hear how he influenced Coltrane's fast playing style.
Bostic was also influenced by Sidney Bechet and European classical music. He was known for his incredible skill on the saxophone. He could play very high notes with perfect control. He was so good that he could keep up with, and even outplay, other famous saxophonists like Charlie Parker in jam sessions.
Lou Donaldson, another alto saxophonist, remembered seeing Bostic play. He said Bostic was the "greatest saxophone player I ever knew." He could play "three octaves, louder, stronger and faster." Art Blakey, a drummer, said that working with Bostic was like "attending a university of the saxophone."
Bostic was also a master of the blues. He used his skills in many different types of music. He recorded many popular albums. He also showed off his amazing skills in live performances. He could make audiences go wild with his dazzling playing.
In the late 1940s, Bostic changed his style to reach more people. He added his famous "rasp" or "growl" sound. His songs became shorter and more danceable. This new sound helped his song "Temptation" become a Top Ten R&B hit in 1948.
Earl Bostic proved that saxophone songs could become big hits. Other saxophonists like Boots Randolph and Stanley Turrentine have said he influenced them.
Bostic once explained his way of playing music. He said he liked simple melodies. He tried to keep a basic tune in his mind and then create new versions of it. He loved the blues, saying it had "basic rhythmic quality" and "personality." He believed blues and jazz were connected.
His Final Performance
Earl Bostic passed away on October 28, 1965. He had a heart attack while performing with his band in Rochester, New York. He was buried in California. In 1993, he was honored by being inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.
Albums and Recordings
Earl Bostic recorded many albums during his career. Here are some of his notable recordings:
- Earl Bostic and His Alto Sax, Volume 1 (1953)
- (Dance to) The Best of Bostic (1956)
- Alto-Tude (1956)
- Bostic Rocks (Hits of the Swing Age) (1958)
- Jazz As I Feel It (1963)
- A New Sound by Earl Bostic (1964)
- Harlem Nocturne (1969)
Many of his recordings have been put together into CD collections. These help new generations discover his amazing music.
