Earl Grant facts for kids
Earl Grant (born January 20, 1931 – died June 10, 1970) was an American musician. He was famous for playing the piano and the Hammond organ. He was also a singer. Earl Grant was very popular in the 1950s and 1960s.
Contents
Earl Grant's Music Career
Earl Grant was born in Idabel, Oklahoma. Even though he became known for his keyboard playing and singing, he also played the trumpet and drums. He went to four different music schools and later became a music teacher. While serving in the United States Army at Fort Bliss, Texas, he earned extra money by performing in clubs.
In 1957, Earl Grant signed with Decca Records. His first song, "The End," became a big hit, reaching number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart. His album Ebb Tide (And Other Instrumental Favorites) sold over one million copies. This earned him a gold disc, which means it was a huge success!
He had six more songs that appeared on the music charts, including "Swingin' Gently." He also released six more albums with Decca Records until 1968. Some of his other albums included Yes Sirree! and Trade Winds. The Trade Winds album was special because it featured sounds like "tropical bird calls" made by his electric organ. Another popular song he recorded was "House of Bamboo." Overall, Earl Grant recorded 30 albums for Decca, mostly on their Brunswick label.
Many of his albums also featured the talented saxophone player Plas Johnson.
Earl Grant also appeared in a few movies and TV shows. These included Tender Is the Night (1962), Juke Box Rhythm (1959), It Takes a Thief (1969), and The Ed Sullivan Show (1960). He sang the main song for the 1959 film Imitation of Life.
Sadly, Earl Grant died at age 39 in a car accident in Lordsburg, New Mexico. He was driving from Los Angeles to Juarez, Mexico, for a performance. His cousin's 17-year-old son, Roosevelt Woods III, also passed away in the accident.
Earl Grant's Chart Success
Earl Grant released many albums and singles. Here are some of his albums that made it onto the music charts:
Charted Albums
| Year | Title | Chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| US | ||
| 1961 | Ebb Tide (And Other Instrumental Favorites) | 7 |
| 1962 | At Basin Street East | 92 |
| Beyond The Reef (And Other Instrumental Favorites) | 17 | |
| 1964 | Just for a Thrill | 149 |
| Fly Me to the Moon | 139 | |
| 1965 | Trade Winds | 192 |
| 1968 | Gently Swingin' | 168 |
| 1969 | Winter Wonderland | 14 |
Charted Singles
Here are some of Earl Grant's songs that became hits on the music charts:
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Release date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | ||||
| 1958 | "The End" | 7 | 16 | August 1958 | |
| 1959 | "Evening Rain" | 63 | — | January 1959 | |
| 1960 | "House of Bamboo" | 88 | — | January 1960 | |
| 1962 | "Swingin' Gently" | 44 | — | March 1962 | |
| "Sweet Sixteen Bars" | 55 | 9 | August 1962 | ||
| 1965 | "Stand by Me" | 75 | — | July 1965 | |
| 1969 | "Silver Bells" | 3 | — | December 1969 | |
See also
In Spanish: Earl Grant para niños
