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.
Where or When
Earl Bostic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We looked at each other in the same way then
But I can't remember where or when
The clothes you're wearing are the clothes you wore
The smile you are smiling you were smiling then
But I can't remember where or when
Seem to be happening again
And so it seems that we have met before
And laughed before, and loved before
But who knows where or when
Earl Bostic's song "Where or When" is a reflection on the possibility of meeting someone who feels familiar, yet not being able to recall the exact moment or place of the encounter. The song uses the lyrics "It seems we stood and talked like this before, we looked at each other in the same way then, but I can't remember where or when" to convey this sentiment. The lyrics describe a sense of déjà vu, as if the singer and the other person have had a similar interaction in the past, but cannot place the memory.
The next verse continues with the theme, discussing how the person is wearing the same clothes and smiling the same way they did when they last met, further suggesting that the encounter is not entirely new. The final verse goes on to say that this experience of familiarity is not uncommon or unique, as "some things that happened for the first time seem to be happening again." The song ends with the sentiment that the two may have met before, laughed before, and loved before, but can't recall where or when this could have been.
Line by Line Meaning
It seems we stood and talked like this before
It feels like we have had a similar conversation in the past
We looked at each other in the same way then
Our eye contact has a familiar feeling to it
But I can't remember where or when
I can't recall the exact time and place of our previous interaction
The clothes you're wearing are the clothes you wore
Your outfit looks the same as the one you wore before
The smile you are smiling you were smiling then
You have the same smile as the one I remember from our prior meeting
But I can't remember where or when
Still, I can't quite recall when and where we last saw each other
Some things that happened for the first time
Occasionally, we experience events that seem new, although we've seen them before
Seem to be happening again
This current moment feels like a repeat of that past event
And so it seems that we have met before
As a result, it seems that we've been acquainted before
And laughed before, and loved before
Perhaps we've shared previous moments of joy and love
But who knows where or when
The exact time and place of those past events elude us, leaving us with a sense of deja vu
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mitch Bass
Absolutely poetic gift from a gifted musician/artist.Love Earl's music .
John High/Jazz Channel
Earl Bostic had his own style, unmatched & fantastic!
Richard Wasiura
I'm glad I grew up in an era where I heard the last of big band music, then early blues and rock and roll and the great instrumentals that played on the radio.Youth of today don't have a clue about great music.
John Still
@guri tevzadze You think Richard's bullshitting because you know no better...FACT!! You have a long way to go...believe me.
John Still
@guri tevzadze Why say that...Richard KNOWS what he's talking about...obviously YOU don't! "Go forth and and MULTIPLY!!!"
John Still
SO TRUE...Mediocrity Rules... No real talent...FAST TRACT!!
SubDuLou Poster
spent many hours in the cafeteria at HS, way back when, dancing to this song....great jitter-bug shuffle beat.......thanks for downloading it. Earl was the best!
JOHN MENUIS
My all time favorite sax player. The raspy tone was perfect. The way Earl had of blending lines one to the next was unique. His range was fantastic and his improvization was unsurpassed. RIP Earl and thanks for all you did.
Brian Zachel
One of my favorite Bostic arrangements.
James Campoccio
@Brian Zachel Good comment. Yes. A performance lesson maybe. But Parker was a composer, and also a genre-founder.