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.
September Song
Earl Bostic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But the days grow short when you reach September
When the autumn weather turns the leaves to flame
One hasn't got time for the waiting game
Oh, the days dwindle down to a precious few
September, November
And these few precious days I'll spend with you
Earl Bostic's song September Song tells us about the passage of time and the significance of love. The first line of the song "Oh, it's a long, long while from May to December" suggests that a lot of things can happen within this span of time. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that despite the long duration, time moves quickly as one reaches September. It then highlights how autumn weather turns the leaves to flame, indicating the changes that occur in life as time passes. The message here is that one shouldn't wait around for the right moment to express their love, but instead, they need to cherish the moments they have and spend them together.
As the days diminish to a few in September and November, the song suggests the importance of valuing every moment spent with loved ones. The phrase "these few precious days I'll spend with you" implies that the singer is aware that time is short and that life is uncertain. As a result, the message of the song is to appreciate and be grateful for the time one has with their loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, it's a long, long while from May to December
The time between May to December seems a long time.
But the days grow short when you reach September
But as we reach September, the days feel shorter.
When the autumn weather turns the leaves to flame
As the autumn weather arrives, the leaves turn into a blazing fire.
One hasn't got time for the waiting game
There's no time to wait around for things to happen.
Oh, the days dwindle down to a precious few
The days are becoming fewer and more valuable.
September, November
He expresses two specific months that are a part of the 'dwindling down to a precious few'.
And these few precious days I'll spend with you
He will spend these valuable days with his loved one.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kurt Weill, Maxwell Anderson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
JOHN MENUIS
I have followed Earl Bostic since the 50s. He had a way with a line like no one else. He had a way of blending two or three lines together as if in one breath and did it with unbeatable skill and taste. thanks for the upload.
francis elliott
you've got me thinking John. What do you mean by three lines, because that would be to me as if you are referring to Guitar style playing [1.A bass line 2.A vamp/rhythm and 3.A melody line]. I know Earl was a highly thought of Alto sax expert who could get notes from the sax that lesser players would consider impossible, just listen to ''Up there in Orbit'' no honking or squeaking [A la rockin' roll] but notes as if blown from ''saxophone heaven'' His band was never anything but easy listening jazz but Earl, if he had wanted to, could have procured a chair in many of the top bands of the day, Count Basie's great swinging band springs to mind...I admit John like you and millions of others I was spell bound by ''Flamingo'' in the early 50s and still enjoy hearing it to this day.....Thanks John for stirring my old grey matter...Francosmic
Randy Drayton
Splendidly said John
SELMER B.Action
@francis elliott Nobody knews more about saxophone than Earl Bostic and that included Bird " Art Blakey
bluenote824 jones
Fantastic