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.
Mr. B's Blues
Billy Eckstine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Found a note pinned on my door
I woke up this morning
Found a note pinned on my door
It said goodbye baby
Mama don't use you no more
She called me a fool
Said I was a solid square
Said I was a solid square
Said she had to leave me
Cause my lovin' was nowhere
So let's have a party
Cause I ain't gonna cry at all
Let's have a party
Cause I ain't gonna cry at all
Tell all the girls Mr. B is gonna have a ball
So let's have a party
Cause I ain't gonna cry at all
Let's have a party
Cause I ain't gonna cry at all
Tell all the girls Mr. B is gonna have a ball
The song “Mr. B’s Blues” by Billy Eckstine is a melancholic ode to a breakup. The opening lines reveal that the singer has woken up to find a note pinned on his door. The note contains a goodbye message from his lover, who has decided to leave him for good. She calls him a fool and says he is a “solid square,” implying that he is boring and unadventurous. She also blames his lack of passion for their failed relationship. The singer accepts his fate, however, and decides to throw a party instead of wallowing in self-pity. He tells all the girls that “Mr. B is gonna have a ball,” signaling that he is ready to move on and enjoy life without his former lover.
Line by Line Meaning
I woke up this morning
The singer talks about starting a new day.
Found a note pinned on my door
He finds a message left by his ex-partner on his front door.
It said goodbye baby, Mama don't use you no more
The message reads that his partner is leaving him because she no longer needs him.
She called me a fool, said I was a solid square
The writer's partner thinks he's a boring uninteresting guy.
Said she had to leave me cause my lovin' was nowhere
The reason for the partner leaving is that she does not find his romantic gestures appealing.
So let's have a party, 'cause I ain't gonna cry at all
The singer decides to have a positive attitude about his break-up and not be sad about it.
Tell all the girls Mr. B is gonna have a ball
Mr. B is going to celebrate his new freedom from the relationship with a party.
Let's have a party, 'cause I ain't gonna cry at all
The writer reiterates his plan to not let the end of the relationship get him down.
Tell all the girls Mr. B is gonna have a ball
The writer emphasizes his celebration intent to all of the ladies he knows.
Contributed by Ethan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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.
Da'chocolate conductor nelfoster u'dig from the chocolate cle city ohio
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...