Bostic was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He turned professional at age 18 when he joined Terrence Holder's band. He made his first recording with Lionel Hampton in 1942 where he played along with Red Allen, J.C. Higginbotham, Sid Catlett, Teddy Wilson and Hampton. Before that he performed with Fate Marable on New Orleans riverboats. Bostic graduated from Xavier University in New Orleans. He worked with territory bands as well as Arnett Cobb, Hot Lips Page, Rex Stewart, Don Byas, Charlie Christian, Thelonious Monk and other jazz luminaries. He formed his own band in 1945, and turned to rhythm and blues in the late 1940s. His biggest hits were "Temptation," "Sleep," "Flamingo," "You Go to My Head" and "Cherokee." At various times his band included Jaki Byard, John Coltrane, Benny Golson, Blue Mitchell, Stanley Turrentine, Tommy Turrentine, Keter Betts, Sir Charles Thompson, Teddy Edwards, Tony Scott, Benny Carter and other musicians who rose to prominence in jazz. Bostic held his musicians to a high standard and demanded that they read music faultlessly. He was influenced by the great Sidney Bechet. John Coltrane in turn was influenced by Earl Bostic. James Moody said that Bostic was the chief influence on John Coltrane. Moody mentioned that "Bostic knew his instrument inside out, back to front and upside down."
His virtuosity is documented in records such as Up There In Orbit, Earl's Imagination, Apollo Theater Jump, All On, Artistry by Bostic, Telestar Drive, Liza, Lady Be Good and Tiger Rag. Bostic was a master of the blues and he used this skill in a variety of musical settings. Although Bostic recorded many commercial albums, some notable jazz based exceptions on the King label include Bostic Rocks Hits of the Swing Age, Jazz As I Feel It and A New Sound.
Bostic's King album titled Jazz As I Feel It featured Shelly Manne on drums, Joe Pass on guitar and Groove Holmes on organ. Bostic recorded the King Album "A New Sound" about one month later again, featuring Holmes and Pass. These recordings allowed Bostic to stretch out beyond the 3 minute limit imposed by the 45 RPM format. Bostic was pleased with the sessions which highlight his total mastery of the blues but they also foreshadowed musical advances that were later evident in the work of John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy.
He wrote arrangements for Paul Whiteman, Louis Prima, Lionel Hampton, Gene Krupa, Artie Shaw, Jack Teagarden and Alvino Rey.
Bostic's signature hit, "Flamingo" was recorded in 1951 and remains a favorite among followers of Carolina Beach Music in South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. Their style of Beach Music is heavily influenced by Rhythm-and-Blues music from the 40's, 50's and 60's. Bostic recorded for Cincinnati-based King Records, a small label that was well known for releasing "R and B" and Bluegrass records. In fact, the biggest star on the King label was "the Godfather of Soul", James Brown. Bostic was also popular among R&B and jazz followers in the United Kingdom, thanks to his records that were released on the Parlophone label.
Bostic died from a heart attack in Rochester, New York, while performing with his band in 1965. His widow, Hildegarde, was still living in San Francisco as of the mid-1990s.
Be My Love
Earl Bostic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This need that you and you alone create
Just fill my arms the way you've filled my dreams
The dreams that you inspire with ev'ry sweet desire
Be my love, and with your kisses set me burning
One kiss is all I need to seal my fate
And hand in hand, we'll find love's promised land
There'll be no one but you, for me eternally
Be my love, for no one else can end this yearning
This need that you and you alone create
Just fill my arms the way you've filled my dreams
The dreams that you inspire with ev'ry sweet desire
Be my love, and with your kisses set me burning
One kiss is all I need to seal my fate
And hand in hand, we'll find love's promised land
There'll be no one but you, for me eternally
In Earl Bostic's song "Be My Love," the singer pleads with his love interest to be with him and fulfill his deepest desires. He believes that only she can end his yearning and that her presence creates a need within him that nobody else can. He wants her to fill his arms just as she has filled his dreams, which are inspired by her every sweet desire. The singer believes that a single kiss from her will seal his fate, and they will find love's promised land hand in hand. He will love only her for eternity if she agrees to be his love.
The lyrics to "Be My Love" convey a sense of longing and desperation for a love interest. The singer is completely enamored with this person, and their presence in his life is all-consuming. He believes that only she can satisfy his needs and that no one else can take her place. The song is a beautiful expression of infatuation and the overwhelming desire to be with someone.
Line by Line Meaning
Be my love, for no one else can end this yearning
I am asking you to be my love because I've been yearning for someone like you and no one else can fill this void.
This need that you and you alone create
My need for love and affection can only be satisfied by you, and you have created this desire within me.
Just fill my arms the way you've filled my dreams
I want you to hold me in your arms just like how you've filled my dreams and thoughts with your presence.
The dreams that you inspire with ev'ry sweet desire
Every desire I have is inspired by you, and it's because of you that I have such sweet dreams.
Be my love, and with your kisses set me burning
If you become my love and shower me with your kisses, you'll ignite a passionate fire within me.
One kiss is all I need to seal my fate
Your one kiss can determine my fate and bring us closer together in love.
And hand in hand, we'll find love's promised land
If we hold hands and stick together, we'll eventually find ourselves in a place of pure love and fulfillment.
There'll be no one but you, for me eternally
If you agree to be my love, there will never be anyone else for me because it will be you and only you that I'll ever need.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Nikolaus Brodszky, Sammy Cahn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@howarddimburgers6027
I remember when my father bought the album that had this song on it. We went to Troup's music store in Harrisburg, Pa. Back then, they'd let you listen to a record in a sound proof room with a phonograph before buying it. My dad asked me if I liked it before he bought it. Funny thing though is that I think the tempo was a bit faster than this. But fast or slow this is probably my favorite Earl Boston tune.