C Jam Blues
King Records 533
1957
From the back cover: His real name is William Ballard Doggett. Born in February 16, 1916 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At an early age, Bill developed "an ear" for music and believe it or not, it wasn't for the organ. At the ripe old age of nine, the little fellow's ambition was to become a trumpet player. His family was not financially able to fulfill his desire, so the family's permanent household fixture, the piano, became his choice.
That was how it all began...
His first job with Jimmy Gorman's Orchestra paid eighteen bucks. That was a lot of money in those days, so he stuck with it. He worked as a sideman for a number of top bandleaders. Bill became a well-seasoned musician in time. It wasn't long before he organized his own band. That was in 1938.
After a few months of playing engagements in the top theaters and at a number of the leading night clubs, Bill sold the entire band to Lucky Millinder. What a deal that was! Lucky and Bill often talk about it when they meet... Bill said "I'll settle for a coke," and a coke it was. Lucky said, "I got a better deal that when the Indians sold the Island of Manhattan." But seriously, Bill wanted to devote his time to writing and arranging then. He continued with the band as pianist-arranger, and did an awful lot of writing. It was one of his arrangements that made Millinder's first hit record, a song called "Trouble In Mind."
In 1940 Bill joined Jimmy Mundy's band. Later in October of the same year, he rejoined Lucky Millinder. This association lasted for two years and during this time, Bill married Angeles Farlington. They are still happily married, both share Bill's blueprint for the future which is moving along smoothly.
Bill became the pianist and arranger for the original Ink Spots in 1942 and remained until 1944. During this time he was the instigator of many of their long to be remembered hit records.
Most of Bill's friends, personal and professional, invariably inquire as to why a person who was enjoying so much success as a pianist would suddenly switch to the Hammond organ. To explain this we must go back to the year 1947.
Bill was flown from New York to Los Angeles, California to be the chief arranger for the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. The Hampton band had been playing one-night stands in the Frisco-Oakland area and had just returned to Los Angeles to record. When Bill arrived in Los Angeles, he was informed by a friend that Louis Jordan was looking for a pianist and arranger and if he was interested in the position to contact Jordan at Billy Berg's Club, where the band was doing an engagement. This Bill did. He and Louis had met several years before, when they both were playing around Philly. After a brief chat with Jordan, Bill was informed the job was his. Little did he know that the young man he was replacing with the Jordan crew was to be the great influence in his musical career.
For the first time, Bill Doggett met Bill Davis who was leaving the band because he had an idea about the Hammond organ as an instrument of jazz, and wanted to devote his time to experimenting with the idea. The two Bill's struck up an immediate honest and sincere friendship.
Several months passed before the two Bill's met again. By the Davis was the rage of the Hammond organ, the newest thing in the world of swingdom. To climax the whole thing, Louis Jordan hired Bill Davis to go on his tour of theater dates at three times the salary that he was paying Bill Doggett for arranging and as the pianist with the band. As Bill put it, "that was the bitter end."
One year later, Bill left the Jordan outfit to study the Hammond organ. In August 1951, after studying vigorously on the organ, Bill had a phone call from Bill Davis. It seems that Ella Fitzgerald had a recording date and wanted an organist. Davis was under contract to another record company and couldn't record, so he gave the date to Doggett.
This was his first time to play the organ outside of the house, but luck and talent paid off. The first record that he made with Ella, "Smooth Sailing" was a tremendous hit and rave notices poured in on that wonderful organ background. that was supplied by Bill Doggett. After that the going was easy; with Ella, two more hit were rolled off – "Rough Riding" and "Air Mail Special." Bill's popularity soared and club owners were after his talents. Doggett's first date was as a swing organist at the K.C. Tavern in Brooklyn and then to Copa City in Jamaica, Long Island.
In June 1952, Bill was prevailed upon to organize his own combo. Bill like the idea and on June 6, The Bill Doggett Combo played their first date.
Bill created quite a stir in swing circles on his first professional engagement at New York's famous Baby Grand Club, and since that time has annexed many honors.
She Shepherd, drums; Billy Butler, guitar and Clifford Scott, saxophone are the three other musicians who make up the group. She has been with Doggett almost since the formation of his group. Born in Central America, She moved to Philadelphia when he was very young and had been playing around the East coast for some time. Because of the long association with Doggett and because of his natural feel for the beat, She has proved himself a standout performer with the group. Billy Butler, another native Philadelphian joined the group in January 1955. Since that time he has written several excellent instrumentals as well as giving the group a tremendous lift with his intricate and driving guitar work. Clifford Scott, the youngest and newest member of the group hails from San Antonio. His imaginative sax work on such tunes as "Honky Tonk," "Slow Walk" and "Ram-Bunk-Shus" has won him wide acclaim. On tunes "Caravan" and "C Jam Blues" in this album Clifford is featured playing the flute.
From Billboard - April 27, 1957: Sock instrumental wax which should move in the R&B and also pop markets. Doggett's solid organ solos and Clifford Scott's sensuous tenor sax work are highlighted on this collection of great Duke Ellington compositions – "I've Got It Bad And That Ain't Good," "Caravan," etc. Should appeal to an unusually wide market, with particularly strong spin potential among the hipper mike men.
Caravan
Prelude To A Kiss
I'm Just A Luck So And So
Solitude
I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
Don't Get Around Much Anymore
I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good
Don't You Know I Care
C Jam Blues
Sophisticated Lady
Satin Doll
Perdido
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