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.
The Good Life
Billy Eckstine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seems to be the ideal
Yes, the good life let's you hide
All the sadness you feel.
You won't really fall in love,
For you can't take the chance
So be honest with yourself,
It's the good life
To be free and explore the unknown,
Like the heartaches
When you learn you must face them alone.
Please remember, I still love you,
And in case you don't know,
Well, just wake up,
Kiss the good life "hel-lo".
Billy Eckstine's song, The Good Life, speaks about how the good life appears to be full of fun, but in reality, it's a way of hiding the sorrow one feels. The song suggests that in one's effort to lead the good life, they avoid the possibility of falling in love and replacing the excitement with temporary pleasures. With such avoidance, the song stresses the importance of being honest with oneself and not finding shelter in fake romance. The good life may be seen as a way to explore the unknown, but one must face heartaches alone. The song ends on a note of bittersweetness with the reminder that the singer still loves the listener and encourages them to wake up and say hello to the good life.
Overall, the song gives a sense of urgency to pursue true love rather than compromising for short-lived pleasures. The lyrics suggest that the good life is an alternate form of running away from one's emotions, and it's better to take the risk of loving genuinely than to mask heartache in a façade of fun.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, the good life, full of fun,
The ideal life is the one marked by pleasure and amusement.
Seems to be the ideal
This is generally perceived as the perfect life.
Yes, the good life let's you hide
The perfect life can help you camouflage the pain you carry inside.
All the sadness you feel.
But it does not take away the agony you suffer.
You won't really fall in love,
True love eludes you because you're too scared to take the risk.
For you can't take the chance
Because it involves a gamble.
So be honest with yourself,
Be truthful to yourself in your decisions.
Don't try to fake romance.
Stop pretending and don't lead someone else on.
It's the good life
Nevertheless, one should try to live their best life.
To be free and explore the unknown,
Embrace your curiosity and pursue new experiences.
Like the heartaches
However, you will inevitably face hardships and emotional pain.
When you learn you must face them alone.
You'll have to tackle most of these difficulties on your own.
Please remember, I still love you,
Despite it all, this person still loves you dearly.
And in case you don't know,
Just in case you're unaware of this fact,
Well, just wake up,
It's time to realize what's important and stop pretending.
Kiss the good life "hel-lo".
Embrace the happiness that life can bring and greet it wholeheartedly.
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC, TuneCore Inc.
Written by: JOSHUA JACKSON, TONI NIELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sam dorsalis
Yep