Kevin Mahogany (July 30, 1958 – December 17, 2017) was an American jazz voc… Read Full Bio ↴Kevin Mahogany (July 30, 1958 – December 17, 2017) was an American jazz vocalist who became prominent in the 1990s. He was known for his scat singing, and his singing style has been compared with jazz singers Billy Eckstine, Joe Williams and Johnny Hartman.

Mahogany began his study of music as a child with piano and later learned to play the clarinet and baritone saxophone, performing with jazz bands and teaching music while still in high school. "When I was a kid, music was just as important as English and math in our household" says Mahogany. "In fact piano lessons were a grade school staple for the whole family." Mahogany attended Baker University, where he performed with both instrumental and vocal ensembles and formed a vocal jazz group. In 1981, Mahogany received his BFA in Music and English Drama.

After graduation, Mahogany returned to Kansas City where he attracted a local following in the 1980s performing with his groups, "The Apollos" and "Mahogany." In 1991, he was featured on a CD by Frank Mantooth.

His first CD release as a solo artist was Double Rainbow in 1993. This was followed by the self-titled album Kevin Mahogany, which won him his first critical acclaim in the media, prompting Newsweek to call Mahogany "the standout jazz vocalist of his generation."

Mahogany appeared in Robert Altman's 1996 film Kansas City, playing a character said to be based on Kansas City singer Big Joe Turner.

Kevin Mahogany listed his vocal influences as Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, Al Jarreau and Eddie Jefferson. As a jazz educator, Mahogany taught at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and the University of Miami.

Mahogany died of a heart attack on December 17, 2017, at the age of 59.

It Don't Mean a Thing
Kevin Mahogany Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It don't mean a thing
If it ain't got that swing
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
It don't mean a thing
All you got to do is sing
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)

It makes no diff'rence
If it's sweet or hot
Just give that rhythm
Ev'rything you got
Oh, it don't mean a thing
If it ain't got that swing

(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)

Overall Meaning

Kevin Mahogany's rendition of "It Don't Mean a Thing" is a classic jazz number with a simple but powerful message. The song stresses the importance of swing in jazz music, and how no matter how sweet or hot a tune is, it means nothing if it lacks the crucial element of swing. The lyrics encourage the listener to focus on the rhythm and put their all into it. The tune is upbeat, lively, and full of energy, which is in line with the underlying message of the song.

The repetition of "doo wah" creates a fun, playful feel to the song and is reminiscent of the scat singing that is a hallmark of jazz. The lyrics speak to the universality of music; no matter what language you speak or what culture you come from, the importance of swing is something that is universally understood.

Overall, "It Don't Mean a Thing" by Kevin Mahogany is a fun, upbeat, and straightforward jazz classic that showcases the joy of swing and the importance of rhythm in jazz music.

Line by Line Meaning

It don't mean a thing
The existence of something is irrelevant

If it ain't got that swing
Unless it has the right rhythm, it's pointless

(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Vocalization of meaningless sounds

Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
Continued vocalization of meaningless sounds

It don't mean a thing
The existence of something is irrelevant

All you got to do is sing
The only requirement is to produce vocal sounds

(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Vocalization of meaningless sounds

Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
Continued vocalization of meaningless sounds

It makes no diff'rence
It doesn't matter

If it's sweet or hot
Whether it's mellow or lively

Just give that rhythm
Devote your attention and power to the rhythm