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.
When the Sun Comes Out
Billy Eckstine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And that rain stops beatin' on my windowpane
When the sun comes out
There'll be bluebirds 'round my door
Singin' like they did before
That old storm broke out
And my man walked off and left me in the rain
If he'll stay away for good
I'd stop living if he should
Love is funny
It's not always peaches, cream and honey
Just when everything looked bright and sunny
Suddenly the cyclone came
I'll never be the same
Till that sun comes out
And that rain stops beatin' on my windowpane
If my heart holds out
Let it rain and let it pour
It may not be long before
There's a knockin' at my door
Then you'll know the one I love walked in
When the sun comes out
The lyrics of the song "When the Sun Comes Out" by Billy Eckstine express the feeling of hope and the anticipation of things getting better after a difficult break-up. The first few lines talk about the rain stopping and the sun coming out, which signifies the end of a dark and depressing period in the singer's life. The reference to "bluebirds 'round my door" indicates a cheerful and happy atmosphere, as birds are often associated with freedom and the ability to soar high in the sky.
The second stanza depicts the pain of the break-up, where despite the storm and the loss, the singer hopes and believes that her man would come back to her. Love is depicted as something unpredictable and complicated, with its twists and turns, moments of joy and moments of sorrow. The last stanza talks about the singer waiting for her man to knock on her door when the sun finally comes out, indicating that she is still hoping and waiting for a reconciliation.
Overall, the lyrics showcase the struggle of moving on after a difficult break-up, the feeling of hope, and the belief that things will get better with time.
Line by Line Meaning
When the sun comes out
The singer is waiting for a moment of hope and happiness to return.
And that rain stops beatin' on my windowpane
The singer is hoping that their hardships and suffering will end soon.
There'll be bluebirds 'round my door
The singer believes that when their luck changes for the better, life will be more joyful.
Singin' like they did before
The artist expects life to be as good as it used to be when they were happy in the past.
That old storm broke out
The artist refers to a difficult period in their life that they are currently experiencing.
And my man walked off and left me in the rain
The singer's lover abandoned them in a difficult time.
Though he's gone, I doubt
The singer is unsure if their lover has left them permanently.
If he'll stay away for good
The artist is afraid that their lover might not come back.
I'd stop living if he should
The artist's happiness is deeply connected to their lover, and their absence would cause unbearable pain.
Love is funny
The artist reflects on how unpredictable and complex love can be.
It's not always peaches, cream and honey
Love doesn't always result in happy endings and can be full of hardships and struggles.
Just when everything looked bright and sunny
Right when things were going well in their relationship, it suddenly fell apart.
Suddenly the cyclone came
The singer reflects on how quickly things changed in their relationship.
I'll never be the same
The singer has been deeply affected by the difficulties in their relationship and may never fully recover from them.
If my heart holds out
The singer is unsure if they can survive the pain of their love's absence.
Let it rain and let it pour
The artist is ready to face any difficulty as long as they can be reunited with their lover.
It may not be long before
The artist is hopeful that their lover will return soon.
There's a knockin' at my door
The singer believes that their lover will return in person soon.
Then you'll know the one I love walked in
The singer is excited to be reunited with their lover and invites others to share in their joy.
When the sun comes out
The artist is waiting for a moment of hope and happiness to return.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC , S.A. MUSIC
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, TED KOEHLER
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...