Hot Doggett - Bill Doggett

 

True Blue

Hot Doggett

Bill Doggett and His Organ and Combo

King Records 514 (disc label identifier - KLP-12-29)

1957

From the back cover: One of the swingingest organists in the country today is William Ballard Doggett. At an early age Bill developed an ear for music, and believe it or not i was not for the organ. At the 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 fixture, the piano, became his choice and that was how his musical life all began.

He worked as a side man for a number of top musicians after he completed high school. He became a seasoned musician in time and it wasn't long before he organized his own band in 1938. After a few months of playing engagements in the top theaters and a few engagements in night clubs, Bill sold the entire band to Lucky Millinder, and 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 than the Indians did when they sold the Island of Manhattan." But Bill wanted to devote his time to writing and arranging. He then continued with the band as pianist and arranger and did a lot of writing. It was one of his arrangements that made Millinder's first hit record called "Trouble In Mind."

In 1940 Bill joined Bill Mundy's band – later in October of the same year he rejoined Lucky Millinder. This association lasted two years and during that time Bill married Angeline Farlington. They are still happily married and both share Bill's blueprint in his plans for a big future which is moving along smoothly.

Bill became pianist-arranger for The Ink Spots and re- mained until 1944, during which time he arranged 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 had flown from New York to Los Angeles, California, to be the chief arranger for the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. The Hampton band had just 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 Louie Jordan was looking for a pianist-arranger, and if he was interested to contact Jordan at Billy Berg's club where the band was doing an engagement. This Bill did.

He and Louie had met several years before when they were both playing around Philadelphia, Bill's home town. After a brief chat with Jordan, Bill was informed that 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 swing, and wanted to devote his time to experimenting with the idea. The two Bills struck up an immediate honest and sincere friendship.

Several years passed before they met again. By then Bill Davis was the rage of the Hammond organ – the newest thing in the world of swingdom. To climax the whole thing, Jordan hired Davis to go on his tour of theater dates at three times the salary he was paying Doggett for arranging and as the pianist in 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, Bill had a phone call from Davis. It seemed Ella Fitzgerald had a recording engagement and wanted an organist. Davis was under contract to another company and couldn't re- cord so he gave the date to Bill Doggett. This was his first time to play the organ outside the house, but luck and talent paid off. The first record that he made with Ella, "Smooth Sailing," was a big fat hit and an array of notices poured in on the background that was supplied by Bill Doggett. After that the going was pretty easy with Ella. Two more hits rolled off with "Rough Riding" and "Air Mail Special."

Bill's popularity soared and club owners sought his tal- ents. Bill's first date was at the KC Tavern in Brooklyn. In June of 1952 Bill was prevailed upon to organize his own combo by his personal manager. Bill liked the idea, and on June 6th the Bill Doggett combo played their first date. Bill created quite a stir in the swing circles on his first en- gagement at New York's famous Baby Grand, and since that time he has annexed many, many honors.

In 1953, his first year of active recording, Bill Doggett was named one of the top three small instrumental groups in the country, and his good friend Louie Jordan flew into Philadelphia to be on hand when they presented Bill with the award. In 1955 Bill won the Cashbox award as the nation's top small instrumental group.

This is the second 12" long play album for Bill Doggett and it features a series of originals for the most part in up tempo, a style that has made Doggett a favorite wherever he is heard.

High Heels

Honey Boy

True Blue

Wild Oats

Gumbo

Squashy

Percy Speaks

Oof!

Shove Off

Quaker City

Who's Who

Early Bird