Wild Bill Moore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wild Bill Moore
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | William M. Moore |
| Born | June 13, 1918 Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Died | August 1, 1983 (aged 65) Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | |
| Occupations | Saxophone player |
| Years active | 1930s - 1980s |
William M. "Wild Bill" Moore (born June 13, 1918 – died August 1, 1983) was an American musician. He was a talented tenor saxophone player. Wild Bill played R&B and jazz music. He had a popular song called "We're Gonna Rock, We're Gonna Roll". Some people even say this song was one of the first rock and roll records ever!
Contents
Wild Bill's Early Life and Music
Wild Bill Moore was born in Detroit, Michigan. He started playing the alto saxophone when he was young. Before becoming a full-time musician, he was a boxer. In 1937, he won Michigan's Golden Gloves championship. This was for light heavyweight boxers. He even became a professional boxer for a short time.
By the early 1940s, Moore decided to focus on music. He was inspired by other musicians like Chu Berry and Illinois Jacquet. This led him to switch to playing the tenor saxophone. In 1944, he made his first recording. He played with Christine Chatman for Decca Records.
Playing with Famous Musicians
Between 1945 and 1947, Wild Bill played in Los Angeles. He recorded music with many famous artists. These included Slim Gaillard, Jack McVea, and Big Joe Turner. He also played with Dexter Gordon. Wild Bill was part of Helen Humes' hit song, "Be-Baba-Leba".
The "Rock and Roll" Song
In 1947, Wild Bill Moore moved back to Detroit. He started recording with his own band. His band included Paul Williams, who played the baritone saxophone. Paul Williams later became famous for his song "The Hucklebuck".
In December 1947, Wild Bill recorded "We're Gonna Rock, We're Gonna Roll". This song was released on the Savoy label. It became a modest hit. Today, many people consider it one of the first rock and roll records.
A Groundbreaking Song
The famous radio DJ Alan Freed played "We're Gonna Rock, We're Gonna Roll". He featured it on his "Moondog" radio shows in 1951. The song was special because it used the words "rock" and "roll" together. It also featured exciting saxophone battles between Moore and Williams. In 1949, he recorded another song called "Rock And Roll". Some say Scatman Crothers sang on this track.
Later Career and Legacy
Wild Bill Moore kept recording music and playing in clubs. He performed in and around Detroit. During this time, he also recorded several jazz albums. These albums were for the Jazzland label.
In 1971, the famous singer Marvin Gaye asked Wild Bill to play saxophone. He played on Marvin Gaye's album What's Going On. Wild Bill's saxophone can be heard on the song "Mercy Mercy Me".
Eventually, Wild Bill Moore moved back to Los Angeles, California. He lived there until he passed away at the age of 65.
In 1992, a book called What Was the First Rock 'n' Roll Record? was published. The authors, Jim Dawson and Steve Propes, wrote a whole chapter about Wild Bill Moore. They highlighted his important song "We're Gonna Rock, We're Gonna Roll".
Discography
- Wild Bill's Beat (Jazzland), 1961
- Bottom Groove (Jazzland), 1961
- Things That I Used To Do, (Big Joe Turner), (Pablo), 1977
With Houston Person
- The Real Thing (Eastbound, 1973)
