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.
Song of the island
Earl Bostic Lyrics
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Where skies of blue are calling me
Where balmy air and golden moonlight
Caress the waving palms of Wai KiKi
Valleys with their rainbows
Your mountains green, and deep blue sea
Your fragrant flowers and dreamy music
Islands of Hawaii
Where skies of blue are calling me
Where balmy air and golden moonlight
Caress the waving palms of Wai KiKi
Valleys with their rainbows
Your mountains green, and deep blue sea
Your fragrant flowers and dreamy music
Unite and sing a aloha-hi to me
In Earl Bostic's "Song of the Islands," the singer expresses a deep longing to be in the beautiful islands of Hawaii. The lyrics evoke the feeling of being transported to a tropical paradise where the sky is blue, the air is balmy, and the moonlight is golden. The waving palms of Wai KiKi are like a gentle caress, as the singer is united with the fragrant flowers and dreamy music. The valleys are filled with rainbows, the mountains are green, and the deep blue sea completes the picturesque landscape. The chorus repeats the sentiment of the beauty and allure of these islands as they call for the singer to come to them.
The song is a celebration of the natural beauty and unique culture of Hawaii. The mention of the rainbows in the valleys, the mountains, and the deep blue sea invite the listener to experience the striking scenery of these islands. The lyrics also describe the cultural significance of the fragrant flowers and music, which is a symbol of the native Hawaiian culture. The use of "aloha-hi" in the chorus is a playful nod to the Hawaiian greeting "aloha," and reinforces the sense of welcoming and hospitality that these islands evoke.
Line by Line Meaning
Islands of Hawaii
This song is about the beautiful islands of Hawaii
Where skies of blue are calling me
The blue skies of Hawaii are beckoning the singer to come and enjoy the beauty of the islands
Where balmy air and golden moonlight
Hawaii enjoys balmy air and golden moonlight, adding to its natural beauty
Caress the waving palms of Wai KiKi
The warm air and moonlight gently caress the palm trees in Wai KiKi, a beautiful place in Hawaii
Valleys with their rainbows
The valleys of Hawaii are filled with rainbows, making the landscape even more beautiful
Your mountains green, and deep blue sea
The green mountains and deep blue sea of Hawaii make it a stunning place to visit
Your fragrant flowers and dreamy music
Hawaii has beautiful, fragrant flowers and a unique, dreamy style of music that the singer loves
Unite and sing a aloha-hi to me
All of the beauty and wonder of Hawaii come together to give the singer a warm welcome, singing aloha-hi, a Hawaiian greeting
Islands of Hawaii
The singer can't help but sing about the beauty of the islands of Hawaii
Where skies of blue are calling me
The blue skies are still calling the singer back to Hawaii
Where balmy air and golden moonlight
The warm air and golden moonlight still await the singer in Hawaii
Caress the waving palms of Wai KiKi
The beautiful palm trees in Wai KiKi are still being gently caressed by the warm air and moonlight
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: CHARLES E KING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Svein Ramberg
Earl Bostic was fantastic with Saksophone! One of the Best Saxplayer in History !!!! Best wishes from Norway !!!