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.
Sheik of Araby
Earl Bostic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your love belongs to me.
At night when you're asleep
Into your tent I'll creep.
The stars that shine above,
Will light our way to love.
You'll rule this land with me;
In Earl Bostic's song Sheik of Araby, the singer sees himself as the powerful leader of Araby, a fictional Middle Eastern land, declaring that his love belongs to him. He promises to creep into the tent of the woman he desires when she is asleep at night, implying that he will take what he wants without her consent. The singer compares their love to the shining stars above, suggesting that their intimacy will be as bright and enduring. He then invites the woman to rule Araby with him, perhaps as an insidious way of persuading her to join him in his conquest.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm the Sheik of Araby
I am a powerful and wealthy leader from the Arabian Peninsula
Your love belongs to me
You are completely devoted and in love with me
At night when you're asleep
Under the cover of darkness, when you are unaware
Into your tent I'll creep
I will enter your private space without your knowledge or consent
The stars that shine above
The natural beauty of the world around us
Will light our way to love
Our shared love will guide us through life
You'll rule this land with me
Together, we will have the power to govern and control this region
Lyrics © HARRY B. SMITH COPYRIGHTS, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ted Snyder, Harry B. Smith, Francis Wheeler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
thomas kriller
mr. bostic the unreached force in saxophone, if you think he is usually showing the half of his skills on his records...... he said, don´t show to much because others will copy it.
instead of this setting he created an unique style of virtuosity.
the fascination is based on this seem to be easily made perfection.
god bless you mr. earl bostic
Music: "Some" is Fantastic
Just too 'Freakin' cool! Luv it. (Who was on the vibes)?
thomas kriller
usually at the vibes is a combo member called elmer johnson
Leonora Ellis
my my what a nice music to dance too great mr.bostic thank you
Autumn Leaves
Wow, he was so good. I read somewhere that he put a tenor mouthpiece on an alto sax to get that big sound. Also, that he died far too young, only about 52 or 53. There is not that much about him on the internet.
Maryann Goebelein
Ow o goodha
Seth Pittham
well done
pietro anania
mickey baker on guitar
Sanford McCarty
deep purple
Sanford McCarty
.