Eddie Jefferson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eddie Jefferson
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Jefferson at Half Moon Bay, California, October 10, 1978
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| Background information | |
| Born | August 3, 1918 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | May 9, 1979 (aged 60) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Associated acts | Richie Cole |
Eddie Jefferson (born August 3, 1918 – died May 9, 1979) was an American jazz singer and songwriter. He is famous for helping to create a special music style called vocalese. In vocalese, singers add words to jazz songs that were originally only played by instruments.
Eddie Jefferson said that another musician, Leo Watson, was his biggest inspiration. One of Jefferson's most well-known songs is "Moody's Mood for Love". He recorded it in 1952. Later, another singer named King Pleasure made it even more popular. King Pleasure even said Eddie Jefferson was a big influence on him! Jefferson also had popular recordings of "Parker's Mood" by Charlie Parker and "Filthy McNasty" by Horace Silver.
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About Eddie Jefferson's Life
Eddie Jefferson was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States. He was very skilled at vocalese. He could take a jazz tune and add clever words to it. For example, his recording of "So What" used music by Miles Davis with words by Christopher Acemandese Hall. This showed off his unique style.
His last recorded performance was at the Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase in Chicago. He performed with Richie Cole on saxophone, John Campbell on piano, Kelly Sill on bass, and Joel Spencer on drums. This show was part of a tour that Eddie Jefferson and Richie Cole did together. They started their tour in Detroit, Michigan, at a famous jazz club called Baker's Keyboard Lounge. Many famous jazz musicians have played there.
A live recording from July 1976 was released in 2009. It was called Eddie Jefferson At Ali's Alley. It featured Eddie Jefferson with drummer Rashied Ali's band.
Sadly, Eddie Jefferson passed away on May 9, 1979, when he was 60 years old. This happened after he left Baker's Keyboard Lounge in Detroit.
The music group The Manhattan Transfer honored Eddie Jefferson and Coleman Hawkins in their song "Body and Soul". This song was on their album Extensions, released in 1979.
Eddie Jefferson's Music Albums
Here are some of the albums Eddie Jefferson released:
- Letter from Home (1962)
- Body and Soul (1968)
- Come Along with Me (1969)
- The Bebop Singers with Annie Ross, Joe Carroll (1970)
- Things Are Getting Better (1974)
- Still on the Planet (1976)
- The Jazz Singer (1976)
- The Main Man (1977)
- The Live-Liest (1979)
Albums with Richie Cole
Eddie Jefferson also worked on albums with saxophonist Richie Cole:
- New York Afternoon (1977)
- Alto Madness (1977)
- Keeper of the Flame (1979)
- Live at the Douglas Beach House 1978 (1995)
- Hollywood Madness (1979)
Albums with Other Musicians
He also recorded with other great jazz artists:
- With Dexter Gordon: Great Encounters (1978)
- With James Moody:
- Moody's Workshop (1954)
- Hi Fi Party (1955)
- Flute 'n the Blues (1956)
- Moody's Mood for Love (1957)
- Hey! It's James Moody (1959)
- Cookin' the Blues (1964)
- Don't Look Away Now! (1969)
- James Moody's Heritage Hum (1971)
- With Frank Wright: Kevin, My Dear Son (1979)
More to Explore
- The Bank Dick (This is a movie that inspired the "Filthy McNasty" character in one of Eddie Jefferson's songs.)
