Schooled in jazz, he was known for his blues, soul and funk recordings, compositions, productions and arrangements. He debuted on Ace Records in 1955 and released more single records than anyone else in New Orleans other than Fats Domino.
Eddie Bo came from a long line of ship builders with the male members of his family being bricklayers, carpenters and masons by day and musicians by night. Eddie's mother was a self-taught pianist in the style of friend, Professor Longhair. The Bocage family was involved in the traditional jazz community with cousins Charles, Henry and Peter, who played with Sidney Bechet, contributing to jazz orchestras before World War II.
Eddie graduated from Booker T. Washington High School before going into the army. After his army stint, he returned to New Orleans to study at the Grundwald School of music. There he learned piano, music theory and to sight read, and arrange music. It was at this time that he was influenced by Russian classical pianist Vladimir Horowitz and was introduced to bebop pianists Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson.
Like a lot of other local musicians Eddie frequented the premier blues venue in town, the Dew Drop Inn on LaSalle Street. Eddie began playing in the New Orleans jazz scene and went under the name of Spider Bocage, later forming the Spider Bocage Orchestra. He made a switch to R&B after deciding it was more popular and brought in more money. In the 1950s he and a group of New Orleans musicians toured the country supporting singers Big Joe Turner, Earl King, Guitar Slim, Johnny Adams, Lloyd Price, Ruth Brown, Smiley Lewis, and The Platters.
His first released record was in 1955 for Johnny Vincent's Ace Records. His next release, in 1956 on Apollo Records, was "I'm Wise" which Little Richard later recorded as "Slippin' and Slidin". In 1961, Eddie had a hit with the novelty dance song "Check Mr Popeye" (Swan Records, originally released on Ric Records). Eddie also wrote "My Dearest Darling" for Etta James which put her at the top of the R&B charts and "In The Same Old Way" for Tommy Ridgley.
In the late 1960s he recorded the renowned "Pass The Hatchet" under the nom de disque, Roger and the Gypsies for Joe Banashak's Seven B label as well as "Fence of Love" and "SGB" (Stone Graveyard Business) under his own name. He either wrote or produced most of the titles on Seven B records.
In 1969, at the height of funk, he penned and sang "Hook and Sling" (Scram Records) which reached No. 13 on the R&B charts in that year. It was his biggest hit since "Check Mr Popeye" and was recorded in just one take. The next year saw another hit with "Check Your Bucket" on his own Bo-Sound imprint.
He produced and arranged records by such artists as Al "Carnival Time" Johnson, Art Neville, Chris Kenner, Chuck Carbo, Irma Thomas, Johnny Adams, Mary Jane Hooper, Robert Parker, and The Explosions. (The Vibrettes 'Humpty Dump' on Lujon is commonly incorrectly attributed to Eddie Bo, due to the similarity of the drumming style with James Black).
Eddie Bo worked and recorded for more than 40 different record labels, including Ace, Apollo, Arrow, At Last, Blue-Jay, Bo-Sound, Checker, Chess, Cinderella, Nola, Ric (for which his carpentry skills were used to build them a studio), Scram, Seven B, and Swan.
In the 1970s Eddie, absorbed in the renovation business, disappeared from the music scene only to rise up again at the end of the decade with two albums, "The Other Side of Eddie Bo" and "Watch for the Coming," which he produced himself. In the 1980s and 1990s he recorded with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and resurrected his Bo-Sound label. He joined Willy DeVille to play on two DeVille records, Victory Mixture and Big Easy Fantasy, and he toured with DeVille as well. He later joined up with Raful Neal and Rockin' Tabby Thomas playing and recording under the names The Louisiana Legends, The District Court and The Hoodoo Kings.
He bought a doctor's office and salon on Banks Street which he and his manager converted into an eatery for Bo's fans called "Check Your Bucket" after his 1970 hit. Like Bo's home and recording studio it was hit by Hurricane Katrina while Bo was on tour in Paris. Due to Bo's carpentry and bricklaying skills he took on the task of completing the hurricane damage repairs himself.
Eddie Bo died on March 18, 2009 of a heart attack.
Eddie Bo is survived by two sisters, Gloria Bocage-Sterling who lives in Oakland, California. Lisa Bocage-Howard and two brothers,Oliver and Cornelius eight children: Valeri Ann Bocage, CEO & Founder of Powerful Women International in San Francisco, California, Edwin Joseph Bocage, Jr., Owen David Bocage, Nancy Marie Bocage-Siegel, Cheryl Bocage-Joseph, Tanya Bocage-Sales, Sonjia Bocage-Anderson, Tomekia Bocage-Jones. He is also survived by a cousin Frank Owen Bocage Jr. and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
May 22, 1997 was declared "Eddie Bo Day" in New Orleans by mayor Marc Morial while Bo was playing in Karachi, Pakistan. Bo was also named New Orleans' music ambassador to Pakistan.
His song "Hook & Sling" was featured on the breakbeat compilation Ultimate Breaks and Beats.
He won many music awards including two Lifetime Achievement awards from the South Louisiana Music Association and Music/Offbeat Best of the Beat.
My Dearest Darling
Eddie Bo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is someone like you
My Dearest Darling
Please~love me to
Within my heart
I pray your answer′s yes
I'll make your life
Full of happiness
I′ll be there by your side
Oh, I pledge my love to you
With God as our guide.
Unh~My Dearest Darling
I offer you my heart
Oh, yeah whenever you need me
I'll.I'll be there by your side
Oh~I pledge my love to you
With God as our guide
Oh nothing, nothing, nothing in this world
Can keep us apart
Unh~ My Dearest Darling
I′m offering you my heart
Unh~My Dearest Darling...
The song "My Dearest Darling" by Eddie Bo is a beautiful and heartfelt love ballad. The lyrics express the singer's deep longing for someone special in his life, someone who can complete him and bring happiness to his world. From the opening lines, "All I need is someone like you, my dearest darling, please love me too," Eddie Bo makes it clear that he is looking for love and companionship. He wishes for this person to say yes to his offer of love, pledging to make her life full of happiness and to always be by her side with God as their guide.
The repeated phrase "My Dearest Darling" adds a sentimental and romantic tone to the song. Eddie Bo's passion and sincerity shine through as he offers his heart and declares that nothing can keep them apart. The melody and arrangement of the song support the emotional content of the lyrics, with the use of gospel-inspired harmonies and a soulful vocal delivery. Overall, "My Dearest Darling" is a beautiful expression of love and devotion that resonates with anyone who has ever longed for deep connection and companionship.
Line by Line Meaning
All I need
The only thing missing from my life is a person like you.
Is someone like you
I am looking for someone with your qualities and virtues.
My Dearest Darling
A term of endearment for the person I love. You are very special to me.
Please~love me to
I am hoping that you will love me back in the same way that I love you.
Within my heart
My feelings for you are very strong and sincere.
I pray your answer′s yes
I am hoping that your response to my love will be positive and affirming.
I'll make your life
I promise to dedicate my life to making you happy and fulfilled.
Full of happiness
I want your life to be filled with joy and delight.
I'll be there by your side
I promise to always be there for you, through thick and thin.
Oh, I pledge my love to you
I promise to love you deeply and wholeheartedly for all my life.
With God as our guide.
I believe that our love can be strengthened by a common faith and trust in a higher power.
Unh~My Dearest Darling
Continuation of the term of endearment for the person I love. You mean everything to me.
I offer you my heart
I am giving you my complete love and devotion.
Oh, yeah whenever you need me
I am ready to be there for you whenever you need me, in any capacity.
Oh~I pledge my love to you
I want to reiterate my commitment to loving you, even when times get tough.
Oh nothing, nothing, nothing in this world
No external force or circumstance can break our love or separate us.
Can keep us apart
Our love is strong enough to overcome any obstacle or challenge.
Unh~ My Dearest Darling
Final reminder of my love and affection for you. You hold a special place in my heart.
I′m offering you my heart
I am giving you everything that I have, all of my love and commitment.
Writer(s): P. Gayten, Edwin J. Bocage
Contributed by Lucy L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
belisario guerra
Original: Eddie Bo ( U.S.A. ) - My dearest darling ( Eddie Bo - Paul Gayten ) ( 1957 ). Covers: Etta James ( U.S.A. ) - My dearest darling ( 15/11/1960 ). Los Seven Days ( Mexico ) - Nada he logrado ( 196? ). Los Moonlights ( Mexico ) - Mi dulce anhelo ( 196? ).
teebeeferris
Love eddie bo , i didnt do a bad one
Zev Feldman
wonderful
bluenote824 jones
Nice
Peter Paszczak
INTERESTING TO NOTE THE WRITING CREDITS HERE, (P GAYTEN/ C HENRY ---WHO PROBABLY STILL DIDN'T HAVE A HOME AT THIS POINT) . WHEN ETTA JAMES ISSUED HER 45 THE CREDITS HAD CHANGE TO E BOCAGE/ P GAYTEN, WONDER HOW MUCH CLARENCE GOT FOR IT?
Steve
interesting