Eckstine was an American jazz singer and bandleader who also played trumpet, valve trombone, and guitar. He also performed briefly as Billy X. Stine. His nickname was Mr. B. Although best known as a singer, his openness to new music made him a strong influence on modern jazz, particularly bebop, as he gave employment to many of the musicians who founded the style.
After singing with the Earl Hines band from 1939 to 1943 he led his own band from 1944 to 1947. The band featured at various times a large number of rising jazz stars, including:
Saxophones: Gene Ammons, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt, Lucky Thompson, Charlie Parker, Wardell Gray, Budd Johnson, Leo Parker
Trumpets: Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Kenny Dorham, Fats Navarro
Drums: Art Blakey
Singers: Lena Horne, Sarah Vaughan
Eckstine later formed an octet, then went solo, becoming a popular ballad singer while remaining an important figure in jazz. His huge, distinctive baritone made him one of the first African American singers to have mainstream success. He was the composer of the blues classic "Jelly, Jelly" and also recorded the R&B top hit "Stormy Monday Blues" in 1942 (not to be confused with T-Bone Walker's 1947 "Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad)"). Most of his success as a singer came with ballads, including "Everything I have is Yours", "Blue Moon", "Caravan," "Prisoner of Love," "You Go to My Head," and "That Old Black Magic". His last hit was "Passing Strangers", a duet with Sarah Vaughan released in 1957.
Eckstine was a style leader and noted sharp dresser. He designed and patented a high roll collar that formed a B over a Windsor-knotted tie, which became known as a Mr. B. Collar. In addition to looking cool, the collar expanded and contracted without popping open, which allowed his neck to swell while playing his horns. The collars were worn by many a hipster in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
In 1984, Eckstine recorded his final album, I Am A Singer, featuring beautiful ballads arranged and conducted by Angelo DiPippo.
Body and Soul
Billy Eckstine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Carrying the one that I love
Her beautiful body is still here on earth,
But her soul has been called up above
Body and soul, body and soul,
That's how she loved me, with body and soul
Her eyes were as blue as the sea,
Her lips were the color of summer's red rose,
And she promised she would always love me
Tomorrow as the sun sinks low
The shadows will cover her face
As her last sun goes down, she's laid beneath the ground
And my teardrops are falling like rain
The lyrics of Billy Eckstine's "Body and Soul" is a melancholic reflection on losing someone he loved. The song starts with the image of a train coming around the bend, which is carrying the one he loves. But while her body is still on earth, her soul has been called up to heaven. The use of the train symbolizes the inevitability of death and the journey to the other side.
The most poignant part of the lyrics is the description of the woman's physical attributes. Her hair was pure gold, her eyes were as blue as the sea and her lips were the color of summer's red rose. These descriptions paint a picture of a beautiful and vibrant woman, whose physical beauty is now just a memory. The singer also remembers the promise of unwavering love that she made to him.
As the song progresses, the lyrics describe the sorrow of the singer as he mourns the loss of his love. He reflects on how the shadows will cover her face when the sun sinks low and that she is now laid beneath the ground. The song ends with the image of the singer's tears falling like rain, symbolizing his immense grief and sense of loss.
Overall, the lyrics of "Body and Soul" are a powerful portrayal of the pain of losing someone that we deeply love. Eckstine's emotive delivery of the lyrics amplifies the song's message and makes it a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
See that train coming round the bend,
There is a train in sight that is carrying the person who I deeply adore.
Carrying the one that I love
The train is transporting the person whom I cherish the most.
Her beautiful body is still here on earth,
Although her physical body remains on this planet,
But her soul has been called up above
Her soul has departed from this world and ascended to the afterlife.
Body and soul, body and soul,
She loved me with all of her being,
That's how she loved me, with body and soul
She loved me entirely and completely with every part of her existence.
Her beautiful hair was the purest of gold,
Her hair was a stunning shade of gold that was incomparably pure in its hue.
Her eyes were as blue as the sea,
Her eyes possessed a brilliant blue color resembling the vast expanse of the sea.
Her lips were the color of summer's red rose,
The color of her lips was similar to the vibrant shade of red present on roses during the summertime.
And she promised she would always love me
She made a vow that she would continuously love me for all of eternity.
Tomorrow as the sun sinks low
As the following day comes to a close with the setting sun,
The shadows will cover her face
The darkness will obscure her countenance.
As her last sun goes down, she's laid beneath the ground
When the sun ultimately sets on her life, she will be laid to rest beneath the soil.
And my teardrops are falling like rain
I am weeping uncontrollably with tears falling down my face like a continuous rain shower.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: PAUL MICHAEL BARRY, PHIL SIMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nick Zoohowza
on Jelly, Jelly
The “meaning” of Jelly Jelly seems to have been written by ChatGPT. Surely “jelly”, like “jelly roll” was intended in this song to refer to sex/genitalia, and not something to spread on toast.
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on Kiss Of Fire
Absolutely Absolutely Absolutely Amazing Grace his voice was"GOD"gift to us class jazz lovers listeners u'dig now can you dig dat baby,baby from da'conductor nelfoster from chocolate cle city ohio chocolate rocks...