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.
Does Your Heart Beat For Me
Earl Bostic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It fills me with longing for you;
Am I taking too much for granted,
Wond'ring if you miss me too?
Tho' we said "goodbye," when the moon is high,
Does your heart beat for me?
I wonder if I still linger
When you hear my name, is the thrill the same
as it once used to be?
When you're lonesome, my sweetheart,
Does your heart beat for me.
Tho' we said "goodbye," when the moon is high,
Does your heart beat for me?
I wonder if I still linger
In your memory.
When you hear my name, is the thrill the same
as it once used to be?
When you're lonesome, my sweetheart,
Does your heart beat for me.
The first line of "Is the moonlight tonight enchanted," sets the tone for Earl Bostic's rendition of Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart". Bostic's version is an instrumental number that the saxophonist infused with an almost sorrowful longing that lingers in the notes played. The lyrics that accompany the instrumental version tell of a lover wondering if they are still remembered by someone they said goodbye to. The lover wonders if the moon, which has been known to connect lovers, still holds any magic for them that would make them remember their past love. The lover is in need of re-assurance that they still occupy some space in their former lover's heart.
As the song progresses, and the instrumentals take over, one gets a sense of the urgency and longing of the lover who is portrayed in the lyrics. One can almost feel the ebb and flow of emotions that the singer is feeling when the saxophones screech and belt out a solo interchangeably. The saxophones create an atmosphere of melancholic and bittersweet empathy as the saxophonist finds the perfect notes to make each swing of the saxophone a snicker of his balance on the edge of love and heartbreak. The lyrics and Earl Bostic's take on the song make it a soulful ode to love lost and a call for redemption that is both relatable and enjoyable.
Line by Line Meaning
Is the moonlight tonight enchanted,
I am captivated by the beauty of the moonlight tonight, and I can't help but think of you.
It fills me with longing for you;
This moonlight makes me miss you more than ever before.
Am I taking too much for granted,
I am asking myself if I am expecting too much from you, by hoping that you also miss me.
Wond'ring if you miss me too?
I am wondering if you feel the same way about me, if you miss me too.
Tho' we said "goodbye," when the moon is high,
Despite the fact that we parted ways and said goodbye, I can't help but think of you when I see the moon high up in the sky.
Does your heart beat for me?
I am curious if you still have feelings for me, if your heart still beats for me.
I wonder if I still linger In your memory.
I am curious if you still remember me, if thoughts of me still linger in your memory.
When you hear my name, is the thrill the same as it once used to be?
I am wondering if hearing my name still has the same effect on you, if the thrill you once had for me is still there.
When you're lonesome, my sweetheart, Does your heart beat for me.
When you feel lonely, I am wondering if you think of me and if your heart still beats for me.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ARNOLD JOHNSON, MITCHELL PARISH, RUSS MORGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
NipkowDisk
My parents had this 45 although the label was blue instead, and had a metal spindle adaptor for the old Webcor hi-fi.
Fantupo Marsupialis
Hank Williams!!!
BH21206
Nice !
Ron Whinnem
Nice