Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his mother, a church pianist, introduced him to music when he was 9 years old. By the time he was 15, he had joined a Philadelphia area combo, playing local theaters and clubs while attending high school.
He later sold his band to Lucky Millinder, and worked during the 1930s and early 1940s for both Millinder and arranger Jimmy Mundy. In 1942 he was hired as The Ink Spots' pianist and arranger.
In 1949, he replaced Wild Bill Davis in Louis Jordan's Tympany Five. It was there that he first achieved success playing the Hammond organ and he is also reputed to have written one of Jordan's biggest hits, "Saturday Night Fish Fry", for which Jordan claimed the writing credit.
In 1951, he organized his own trio and began recording for King Records. His best known recording is "Honky Tonk," a rhythm and blues hit of 1956 which sold four million copies, and which he co-wrote with Billy Butler. He won the Cash Box award for best rhythm and blues performer in 1957, 1958, and 1959. He also arranged for many bandleaders and performers, including Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Lionel Hampton. He continued to play and arrange until he died of a heart attack in New York City.
As a jazz player Doggett started in swing music and later played soul jazz, a field in which rhythm and blues organists were highly sought after. His band included saxophonists Red Holloway, Clifford Scott, Percy France, David "Bubba" Brooks, Floyd "Candy" Johnson, guitarists Floyd Smith, Pete Mays, and singers Toni Williams and Betty Saint-Clair.
With his instrumental hit "Honky Tonk" in February 1956, Bill Doggett (born William Ballard Doggett) created one of rock's greatest instrumental tracks. Although it generated scores of offers to perform in rock & roll clubs throughout the United States, Doggett remained tied to the jazz and organ-based R&B that he had performed since the 1930s. Continuing to record for the Cincinnati-based King label until 1960, he went on to record for Warner Brothers, Columbia, ABC-Paramount and Sue. His last session came as a member and producer of an all-star jazz/R&B group, Bluesiana Hurricane in 1995.
With his instrumental hit “Honky Tonk” in February 1956, Bill Doggett (born William Ballard Doggett) created one of rock’s greatest instrumental tracks. Although it generated scores of offers to perform in rock & roll clubs throughout the United States, Doggett remained tied to the jazz and organ-based R&B that he had performed since the 1930s. Continuing to record for the Cincinnati-based King label until 1960, he went on to record for Warner Brothers, Columbia, ABC-Paramount and Sue. His last session came as a member and producer of an all-star jazz/R&B group, Bluesiana Hurricane in 1995.
Born on the north side of Philadelphia, Doggett struggled with poverty as a youngster. Although he initially dreamed of playing the trumpet, his family was unable to afford lessons. Persuaded by his mother (a church pianist), to try keyboards instead, he quickly mastered the instrument. Hailed as a child prodigy by his 13th birthday, he formed his first band, the Five Majors, at the age of 15.
Performing with the Jimmy Gorman Band, the pit orchestra at the Nixon Grand Theater, while still in high school, Doggett assumed leadership of the group in 1938. The experience was brief, however, as Doggett sold the orchestra to Lucky Millinder, with whom he continued to work off and on for the next four years. He made his recording debut on Millinder's tracks, "Little Old Lady From Baltimore" and "All Aboard" in 1939.
Although he formed a short-lived orchestra with Benny Goodman's arranger, Jimmy Mundy, in late 1939, Doggett continued to work primarily as a sideman. Playing piano and arranging for the Ink Spots from 1942 until 1944, he went on to arrange tunes for Count Basie's band and tour and/or record with Coleman Hawkins, Johnny Otis, Wynonie Harris, Ella Fitzgerald and Lionel Hampton. Replacing Wild Bill Davis in Louis Jordan's band, in 1947, he appeared on the influential tunes, "Saturday Night Fish Fry" and "Blue Light Boogie." He made his debut as an organist during June 1951 recording sessions with Ella Fitzgerald.
Debuting his own organ-led combo at New York nightclub, the Baby Grand, in June 1952, Doggett recorded more than a dozen singles before striking gold with "Honky Tonk" four years later.
A longtime resident of Long Island, New York, Doggett died on November 13, 1996, three days after suffering a heart attack.
Honey
Bill Doggett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fragrant roses in bloom
Garden bench with just room for two
You are the she-ro, I am the he-ro
Love is prompting the play
Here's the cue where I say to you
I'm in love with you, honey
Say you love me too, honey
No one else will do, honey,
Seems funny but it's true
Loved you from the start, honey
Bless your little heart, honey
Ev-ry day would be so sunny,
Honey with you.
One thing is certain, second at curtain
Shows a wedding in June,
And a sweet honeymoon for two
With your permission, no intermission
There's so much in my heart
And so much to impart to you.
I'm in love with you, honey
Say you love me too, honey
No one else will do, honey,
Seems funny but it's true
Loved you from the start, honey
Bless your little heart, honey
Ev-ry day would be so sunny,
Honey with you.
The song Honey by Bill Doggett describes a romantic scene on a June night with a garden bench for two, fragrant roses, and a full moonlight. The singer insists that he is the hero of this romantic scenario and his partner is the heroine. Love is in the air and prompts him to express his feelings. He tells his lover that he is in love with them and hopes to hear the same words in return. He assures them that he has loved them from the start and that every day with them would be sunny. The song ends with a description of their wedding and honeymoon in June.
The lyrics of the song Honey can be interpreted as a declaration of love, a proposal, or even a wedding vow. The singer expresses the depth of his love and his desire to start and grow a life with his partner. The romantic setting with fragrant roses, moonlit night, and a garden bench create a picturesque and intimate atmosphere for the moment. The lyrics are simple and straightforward but manage to capture the intensity of the singer's emotions and his commitment to his lover.
Line by Line Meaning
Scene is a June night, flooded with moonlight
It's a pleasant June night with bright moonlight.
Fragrant roses in bloom
The air is filled with the freshly scented aroma of blooming roses.
Garden bench with just room for two
There's only enough space for two people to sit comfortably on the garden bench.
You are the she-ro, I am the he-ro
You are the female hero and I am the male hero, who loves each other deeply.
Love is prompting the play
Our mutual love is what inspires us to act romantically.
Here's the cue where I say to you
This is the right time for me to say something important to you.
I'm in love with you, honey
I'm deeply in love with you, my dear.
Say you love me too, honey
Please tell me that you love me too, my dear.
No one else will do, honey,
You're the only person for me, my dear.
Seems funny but it's true
It may sound funny, but it's true.
Loved you from the start, honey
I've loved you since we met, my dear.
Bless your little heart, honey
You're such a kind-hearted person, my dear.
Ev-ry day would be so sunny,
Every day would be bright and pleasant,
Honey with you.
As long as you're with me, my dear.
One thing is certain, second at curtain
What happens after the second act is certain
Shows a wedding in June,
It's a wedding in the month of June.
And a sweet honeymoon for two
A honeymoon filled with sweet moments for the both of us.
With your permission, no intermission
If you allow me, there will be no breaks in our love story.
There's so much in my heart
My heart is full of love for you.
And so much to impart to you.
I have a lot of things to share with you.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James harris
Lord have mercy...This is wicked awesome!!!