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.
Smoke Rings
Earl Bostic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What do they do
Those circles of blue and white?
Oh! why do they seem to pictures a dream above
Then why do they fade my phantom parade of love?
Where do they end, the smoke rings I send on high?
Where are they hurled
Oh! I'd give my life to laugh at this strife below
I'd be a king I'd follow each ring I blow
Puff puff puff puff your cares away
Puff puff puff night and day
Blow blow them into air silky little rings
Blow, blow them ev'ry where give your troubles wings
What do they tell and what is the spell they cast
Some of them fall and seem to recall the past
But most of them rise away to the skies of blue
Oh little smoke rings I love
In this song, Earl Bostic is contemplating the meaning and significance of the smoke rings that he blows each night. He is wondering where they go and what they do, and why they seem to depict a dream above. He questions why they eventually fade, taking his "phantom parade of love" with them. The second verse takes a philosophical turn as Bostic ponders where the smoke rings he sends on high might end up after they kiss the world goodbye. He claims he would give his life to laugh at the strife below, and imagines himself following each ring he blows like a king. The final verse is a call to action for the listener, encouraging them to "puff puff puff" their cares away and blow the silky little rings into the air, giving their troubles wings. Bostic marvels at the spell that the smoke rings cast, noting that some fall and recall the past, while most rise away to the skies of blue. The song ends on a tender note, with Bostic expressing his love for the little smoke rings.
Line by Line Meaning
Where do they go, the smoke rings I blow each night
I wonder where my smoke rings travel to after I blow them
What do they do
Those circles of blue and white?
What is the purpose of those blue and white circles?
Oh! why do they seem to pictures a dream above
Why do they give an illusion of a dream up above?
Then why do they fade my phantom parade of love?
Why do they vanish my imagination of a love parade?
Where do they end, the smoke rings I send on high?
I wonder where my smoke rings end up when I send them high
Where are they hurled
When they've kissed the world goodbye!
Where do they go after they have left this world?
Oh! I'd give my life to laugh at this strife below
I would give anything to rise above the troubles of this world
I'd be a king I'd follow each ring I blow
I wish to be a king and follow every smoke ring I make
Puff puff puff puff your cares away
Puff puff puff night and day
Blow away your troubles day and night
Blow blow them into air silky little rings
Blow, blow them ev'ry where give your troubles wings
Create these silky floating rings and send your troubles away
What do they tell and what is the spell they cast
What do these rings signify and what magic do they possess?
Some of them fall and seem to recall the past
Some fall down and remind me of events from the past
But most of them rise away to the skies of blue
But the majority of the rings go up to the blue skies above
Oh little smoke rings I love
I love these little smoke rings
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: GENE GIFFORD, NED WASHINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind