Born in Viroqua, Wisconsin, he learned to play drums as a boy. Later he took up xylophone and at 13 changed to piano. He studied with a local teacher throughout high school. At 17 his parents moved to Chicago where he continued his musical training. He met Rosy McHargue, a well known clarinetist, who took him to hear many leading musicians including Bix Beiderbecke and Earl Hines. His first job was with Johnny Tobin at the Beach View Gardens. He later moved to Los Angeles where he worked with Henry Halstead, Earl Burtnett and Lennie Hayton, before joining Ben Pollack in 1934.
He played with the Jimmy Dorsey Band in the 1930s and was a charter member of the Will Bradley Orchestra when it formed in 1939. Known to bandmates as "Daddy Slack," he played the piano solo on Bradley's recording of "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar", one of the early white boogie-woogie hits and a classic of the Big Band era.
After forming his own band in 1942 and signing with the newly-founded Capitol Records, he recorded three songs at the third Capitol recording session on May 21, 1942. His recording of "Cow Cow Boogie," sung by the 17-year-old Ella Mae Morse, was the second record Capitol issued on July 1, and by July 25 it had reached number 1 on the hit parade. It was Capitol's first gold single.
T-Bone Walker was a member of Slack's band from 1942 to 1944 and Slack later accompanied Walker on his first solo recording for Capitol, Mean Old World. This band also had a hit with "Strange Cargo."
Slack continued to record with Capitol until at least 1950, recording some 80 tracks for the label.
Slack also recorded as an accompanist for Big Joe Turner, Johnny Mercer, Margaret Whiting, and Lisa Morrow.
In the original version of the song "Down the Road a Piece", recorded in 1940 by the Will Bradley Orchestra, Slack is mentioned in the lyrics:
If you wanna' hear some boogie then I know the place
It's just an old piano and a knocked-out bass.
The drummer-man's a guy they call 8-beat Mack
You remember Doc and old "Beat Me Daddy" Slack.
Man it's better than chicken fried in bacon grease
Come along with me boys, it's just down the road a piece.
"Eight Beat Mack" refers to drummer Ray McKinley, and "Doc" refers to the band's bass player, Doc Goldberg.
His 1955 album Boogie Woogie on the 88 featured a horn section including jazz musicians Shorty Sherock and Herbie Harper among others, and with arrangements by Benny Carter.
He also co-wrote the 1945 classic "The House of Blue Lights" first recorded with singer Ella Mae Morse, and later by Chuck Miller, The Andrews Sisters, Chuck Berry, and Jerry Lee Lewis.
He's My Guy
Freddie Slack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cause he's my guy, I guess he always was,
He's careless about me, I don't think he tries
But once in a while he'll hug me and smile
Then I can see me in his eyes
Oh he's my guy, I know he'll always be
And I will try to keep him loving me
For nobody knows, better than I
That he's my guy
The lyrics of Freddie Slack's song "He's My Guy" revolve around unrequited love. The singer declares that the man she loves is hers, no matter what he does or how he treats her. She acknowledges that he doesn't really care about her and doesn't make much of an effort to please her, but she clings to the moments when he shows affection and seems to see her as she sees him. The singer promises to remain faithful to him no matter what and asserts that she knows him better than anyone else. Essentially, the song is about holding onto a love that is not fully reciprocated and cherishing even the smallest glimpses of affection from the beloved.
The song's lyrics tap into universal emotions that many people can relate to - the pain of unrequited love and the hope that it will someday be returned. The song has a melancholy tone that emphasizes the sadness of the situation, but also a sense of determination and resilience in the face of heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
He's my guy, I don't care what he does
I love him unconditionally, regardless of his actions.
Cause he's my guy, I guess he always was
He's been an important part of my life for a long time.
He's careless about me, I don't think he tries
He doesn't pay as much attention to me as I'd like, but I don't think it's intentional.
But once in a while he'll hug me and smile
Occasionally, he'll show me affection and happiness in his eyes.
Then I can see me in his eyes
I can see myself reflected in his gaze, and feel a connection to him.
Oh he's my guy, I know he'll always be
I trust that he will continue to be mine forever.
And I will try to keep him loving me
I will do my best to maintain his love and affection for me.
However he wants me, I'm his until I die
I will adapt to his desires and wishes because I am devoted to him for life.
For nobody knows, better than I
I understand the depth of our connection and love better than anyone else.
That he's my guy
He is my partner, my love, my everything.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: VAN MC COY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Elan Mac
Perfectly & beautifully sung!! 😍😊
Basil Peewit
Great arrangement and vocal.