Born in Louisiana, but raised in Chicago, Hartman began singing and playing the piano by the age of eight. He attended DuSable High School studying music under Walter Dyett before receiving a scholarship to Chicago Musical College. He sang as an Army private during World War II, but his first professional work came in September 1946 when he won a singing contest awarding him a one-week engagement with Earl Hines. Seeing potential in the singer, Hines hired him for the next year. Although Hartman’s first recordings were with Marl Young in February 1947, it was the collaboration with Hines that provided notable exposure. After the Hines orchestra broke up, Dizzy Gillespie invited Hartman to join his big band in 1948 during an eight-week tour in California. Dropped from the band about one year later, Hartman worked for a short time with pianist Erroll Garner before going solo by early 1950.
After recording several singles with different orchestras, Hartman finally released his first solo album, Songs from the Heart, with a quintet for Bethlehem Records in 1955. Releasing two more albums with small labels, neither very successful, Hartman got a career-altering offer in 1963 to record with John Coltrane. The saxophonist likely remembered Hartman from a bill they shared at the Apollo Theater in 1950 and later said, “I just felt something about him, I don’t know what it was. I like his sound, I thought there was something there I had to hear so I looked him up and did that album.” Featuring all ballads, John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman is widely considered a classic. This led to recording four more albums with Impulse! and parent label ABC, all produced by Bob Thiele.
With the 1970s being difficult for singers clinging to the pre-rock American songbook, Hartman turned to playing cocktail lounges in New York City and Chicago. Recording again with small labels such as Perception and Musicor, Hartman produced music of mixed quality as he attempted to be viewed as a more versatile vocalist. Referring to his approach to interpreting a song, Hartman said, “Well, to me a lyric is a story, almost like talking, telling somebody a story, try to make it believable.” Returning to the jazz combo format of his earlier albums, Hartman recorded Once in Every Life for Bee Hive, earning him a 1981 Grammy nomination for Best Male Jazz Vocalist. This was quickly followed up by his last album of newly recorded material titled This One’s for Tedi as a tribute to his wife Theodora. His first kid is Jani, Jani Hartman the famous jazz singer, who became famous with the song 'Bad'.
Hartman recorded new tracks for Grenadilla Records on their jazz label – Grapevine. These were dance tracks of Beyond the Sea and Caravan with Caravan also having an extended 6-minute version.
In the early 1980s Hartman gave several performances for jazz festivals, television, and radio before succumbing to lung cancer at the age of sixty. His reputation grew considerably in 1995 when the soundtrack to Clint Eastwood’s Bridges of Madison County (1995) featured seven songs from the then out-of-print Bee Hive album.
Hartman's first biography, The Last Balladeer: The Johnny Hartman Story, by Dr. Gregg Akkerman, was released in June 2012 by Scarecrow Press as part of their "Studies in Jazz" series.
(2) Though he was never the most distinctive vocalist, Johnny Hartman rose above others to become the most commanding, smooth balladeer of the 1950s and '60s, a black crooner closely following Billy Eckstine and building on the form with his notable jazz collaborations, including the 1963 masterpiece John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman. Born in Chicago, he began singing early on and performed while in Special Services in the Army. Hartman studied music while at college and made his professional debut in the mid-'40s, performing with Earl Hines and recording his first sides for Regent/Savoy. After Hines' band broke up later in 1947, Hartman moved to the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band and stayed for two years, recording a few additional sides for Mercury as well.
Johnny Hartman's first proper LP came in 1956 with Songs from the Heart, recorded for Bethlehem and featuring a quartet led by trumpeter Howard McGhee. He recorded a second (All of Me) later that year, but then was virtually off-record until 1963, when his duet album John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman appeared on Impulse. A beautiful set of ballad standards, including top-flight renditions of "Lush Life" and "My One and Only Love," the album sparked a flurry of activity for Hartman, including two more albums for Impulse: 1963's I Just Dropped by to Say Hello and the following year's The Voice That Is. During the late '60s and early '70s, he recorded a range of jazz and pop standards albums for ABC, Perception, and Blue Note. Hartman recorded sparingly during the 1970s, but returned with two albums recorded in 1980, one of which (Once in Every Life) earned a Grammy nomination just two years before his death in 1983. ~ John Bush, Rovi
If I
Johnny Hartman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I could be glad all of the while
I could change the grey skies to blues
If I had you
I could leave the old days behind
Leave all my pals, I'd never mind
I could start my life all a new
If I had you
Sail the mighty ocean wide
I could cross the burning desert
If I had you by my side
I could be a king, dear, uncrowned
Humble or poor, rich or renowned
There is nothing I couldn't do
If I had you
I could show the world how to smile
I could be glad all of the while
I could change the grey skies to blues
If I had you
I could leave the old days behind
Leave all my pals, I'd never mind
I could start my life all a new
If I had you
I could climb the snow capped mountains
Sail the mighty ocean wide
I could cross the burning desert
If I had you by my side
I could be a king, dear, uncrowned
Humble or poor, rich or renowned
There is nothing I couldn't do
The lyrics of the song "If I" by Johnny Hartman express the idea that having someone by our side can make life so much better. The song says that with the right person, we can conquer any challenge, face any difficulty, and accomplish anything we set our minds to. The song speaks of the transformative power of love and companionship. The singer says he could show the world how to smile, change the grey skies to blue, climb mountains, sail seas, cross deserts, and achieve anything if he had the person he loves by his side.
The song explores the theme of the importance of companionship in life. The singer suggests that the potential of an individual is greatly increased when they have someone to support them. They become more confident and can overcome any obstacle that comes their way. The song is a romantic declaration of love but also a statement of the transformative power of love.
Overall, the song conveys a hopeful and optimistic message that life is better when we have someone to share it with. It’s a reminder that even in the midst of hard times, there is hope that things can get better if we have someone we love by our side.
Line by Line Meaning
I could show the world how to smile
I have the potential to spread positivity and joy to the world.
I could be glad all of the while
I could remain content and happy, regardless of circumstances.
I could change the grey skies to blues
I have the power to transform dreary situations into ones of beauty and happiness.
If I had you
All of these feats are made possible only with the presence of a specific person by my side.
I could leave the old days behind
I could break free from the negativity and hardships of the past.
Leave all my pals, I'd never mind
I would not regret leaving behind old friends if it meant starting a new life with the aforementioned person.
I could start my life all a new
I would have the opportunity to build a brand new life for myself.
I could climb the snow capped mountains
I would be able to accomplish great physical feats with the strength and support of my companion.
Sail the mighty ocean wide
I would have the courage to conquer vast obstacles and adventures.
I could cross the burning desert
I would be able to endure and overcome harsh, unforgiving environments.
If I had you by my side
Once again, all of these feats are solely possible with the support and presence of this one specific person.
I could be a king, dear, uncrowned
I could live a life of greatness and accomplishment, regardless of social status or recognition.
Humble or poor, rich or renowned
My potential for success and happiness is not limited by material wealth or public recognition.
There is nothing I couldn't do
With this person by my side, I am capable of achieving anything and everything.
If I had you
Once again, all of these feats are made possible only with the presence and support of this one specific person.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GORDON MILLS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Clark
We are all lucky that Johnny Hartman lived. He left us too soon. He was the best. Sadly, fame and fortune did not come his way when he was alive, but we have his music and that's all that matters now. There was no better ballad singer. Johnny Hartman Forever!
Gregory Yancey
BACK IN The DAY — Mid 70’s
Thank you Stella Marrs. Pleasure meeting her while The SOUL FASHION FAIR thanks to a women’s Luncheon in WHITE PLAINS at a Hotel guest performer. It was musical pleasure hearing her sing, and meeting immediately hit it off… became friends. Thereafter, She invited me to be her guest we went to THE COOKERY in the Village to see Alberta Hunter perform WOW — And in that same evening from there invited me join her VIP LOUNGE HARLEM, NEW YORK— Johnny Hartman was performing…WOW AGAIN—brought him over to our table introduced me to him and he joined us until his next set. The next day purchased an album—name 🤔 cover wearing various shades of a plaid blue tailored blazer. Goes without saying…used his songs for THE SOUL FASHION SHOW at THE FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY —
If I am lucky…That evening I truly had been lucky thanks to Stella Marrs❤
Yancey
AUGUST 2, 2023
Wednesday
[📄🖋@ 2:30 am]
YK Y
good!
P2
classick
Guitfiddlejase
Thank you Rising Phoenix