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.
On The Sunny Side Of The Street
Bill Doggett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I had nothing but shadows
Then one morning you passed
And I brightened at last
Now I greet the day and complete the day
With the sun in my heart
All my worry blew away
When you taught me how to say
Grab your coat and get your hat
Leave your worry on the doorstep
Just direct your feet
To the sunny side of the street
Can't you hear a pitter-pat?
And that happy tune is your step
Life can be so sweet
On the sunny side of the street
I used to walk in the shade
With those blues on parade
But I'm not afraid
This Rover crossed over
If I never have a cent
I'd be rich as Rockefeller
Gold dust at my feet
On the sunny side of the street
Grab your street
On The Sunny Side Of The Street is a joyful and uplifting song that celebrates the transformative power of love. The opening lyrics describe the singer's state of existence before falling in love: they were alone, without companionship or purpose, and burdened by worry and shadows. But then, the person he or she fell in love with came along, and everything changed. The joy and light that the new love brings is described in detail, as the singer wakes up every morning with the sun in his or her heart, and greets the day complete.
The chorus of the song inspires listeners to let go of their worries and sorrows, and embrace the sunnier side of life. This carefree attitude is reinforced with charming images of a happy tune and the comforting sound of a pitter-pat. The singer insists that even if he or she were penniless, they would still feel as rich as Rockefeller, as life can be so sweet on the sunny side of the street. The final line of the song encourages listeners to put on their best clothes and join in on the fun.
Line by Line Meaning
Walked with no one and talked with no one
I used to walk alone and stay away from people
And I had nothing but shadows
My life was dark and filled with emptiness
Then one morning you passed
But one day, you came into my life
And I brightened at last
And you brought light and happiness into my life
Now I greet the day and complete the day
Now, I wake up excited and end my day feeling fulfilled
With the sun in my heart
Because I have you in my life, my heart is filled with joy and warmth
All my worry blew away
All my worries disappeared because of your love and presence
When you taught me how to say
When you showed me how to live life with a positive attitude
Grab your coat and get your hat
Put on your coat and hat, and let's go out
Leave your worry on the doorstep
Forget about your troubles from the past and focus on the present
Just direct your feet
Point your feet towards
To the sunny side of the street
The happier side of life
Can't you hear a pitter-pat?
Can't you feel the excitement in the air?
And that happy tune is your step
That happiness is in your step as you walk with me
Life can be so sweet
Life is beautiful and amazing
On the sunny side of the street
When you have a positive attitude and are grateful for what you have
I used to walk in the shade
I used to live in the darkness of my negative attitude
With those blues on parade
And my troubles were always shining through
But I'm not afraid
But now I am brave and confident
This Rover crossed over
I have moved from the unhappy side of life to the happier side
If I never have a cent
Even if I do not have any money
I'd be rich as Rockefeller
I would still feel like a wealthy person
Gold dust at my feet
Because of your love and companionship, I feel like I have everything I need
On the sunny side of the street
On the happier side of life
Lyrics © SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: DOROTHY FIELDS, JIMMY MC HUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Speedo Jones
I played this song with Kim Simmonds using Billy Butlers guitar with the great Charles Brown on piano and myself on harmonica,incidently Billy Butler wrote this song
Cool Jazz
Who the great saxophone player here?