Born in Frederick, Maryland, Bowie grew up in St Louis, Missouri. At the age of five he started studying the trumpet with his father, a professional musician. He played with blues musicians such as Little Milton and Albert King, and rhythm and blues stars such as Solomon Burke, Joe Tex, and Rufus Thomas. In 1965 he became Fontella Bass's musical director. He was a cofounder of BAG (Black Artists' Group) in St. Louis.
In 1966 he moved to Chicago, where he worked as a studio musician, and met Muhal Richard Abrams and Roscoe Mitchell and became a member of the AACM. In 1968 he founded the Art Ensemble of Chicago with Mitchell, Joseph Jarman, and Malachi Favors. He remained a member of this group for the rest of his life, and was also a member of Jack DeJohnette's New Directions quartet. He lived and worked in Jamaica and Africa, and played and recorded with Fela Kuti. Bowie's onstage appearance, in a white lab coat, with his goatee waxed into two points, was an important part of the Art Ensemble's stage show.
In 1984 he formed Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy, a brass nonet in which Bowie demonstrated jazz's links to other forms of popular music, a decidedly more populist approach than that of the Art Ensemble. With this group he recorded songs popularized by Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Marilyn Manson, and the Spice Girls. His New York Organ Ensemble featured James Carter and Amina Claudine Myers.
Although seen as part of the avant-garde, Bowie embraced techniques from the whole history of jazz trumpet, filling his music with humorous smears, blats, growls, half-valve effects, and so on.
Bowie took an adventurous and humorous approach to music, and criticized Wynton Marsalis for his conservative approach to jazz tradition. Nevertheless, Marsalis is on record as calling Bowie his favorite trumpeter. In fact, in the early 1980s, Marsalis and Bowie played together in the short-lived New York Hot Trumpet Quintet.
Let The Good Times Roll
Lester Bowie Lyrics
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I don't care if you're young or old
Get together, let the good times roll
Don't sit there mumblin', talkin' trash
If you wanna have a ball
You gotta go out and spend some cash, and
Let the good times roll, let the good times roll
Get together, let the good times roll
Hey Mr. Landlord, lock up all the doors
When the police comes around
Just tell 'em that the joint is closed
Let the good times roll, let the good times roll
I don't care if you're young or old
Get together, let the good times roll
Hey tell everybody
Mr. King's in town
I got a dollar and a quarter
Just rarin' to clown
But don't let nobody play me cheap
I got fifty cents more that I'm gonna keep, so
Let the good times roll, let the good times roll
I don't care if you're young or old
Get together, let the good times roll
No matter whether rainy weather
Birds of a feather gotta stick together
So get yourself under control
Go out and get together and let the good times roll
The lyrics to Lester Bowie's song "Let The Good Times Roll" emphasize the importance of enjoying the moment and not worrying about age or financial status. The repeated phrase "let the good times roll" serves as a reminder to live in the present and have fun. The first verse encourages people to come together and enjoy themselves regardless of their age. The second verse playfully suggests that having a good time may require spending some money, and encourages people to get out and live a little. The third verse adds a bit of rebellion, with the singer advising the crowd to lock the doors and ignore the authorities to continue the party. The final verse honors the presence of a beloved musician in town, and suggests that despite any limitations or obstacles, it is important to embrace the moment and enjoy oneself alongside like-minded individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
Let the good times roll, let the good times roll
Let's enjoy ourselves and have a good time
I don't care if you're young or old
Age is not a factor when it comes to having fun
Get together, let the good times roll
Let's come together and enjoy each other's company
Don't sit there mumblin', talkin' trash
Don't be negative or complain, take action
If you wanna have a ball
If you want to have a great time
You gotta go out and spend some cash, and
You need to be willing to spend some money to have fun
Hey Mr. Landlord, lock up all the doors
Let's have a private party
When the police comes around
If the authorities show up
Just tell 'em that the joint is closed
We will let them know that the party is over
Hey tell everybody
Let's spread the word
Mr. King's in town
Someone important is here
I got a dollar and a quarter
I have some money to spend
Just rarin' to clown
I'm ready to have a good time
But don't let nobody play me cheap
Don't take advantage of me
I got fifty cents more that I'm gonna keep, so
I still have some money left to enjoy myself
No matter whether rainy weather
No matter the circumstances
Birds of a feather gotta stick together
People with similar interests should stick together
So get yourself under control
Get yourself together and ready to have fun
Go out and get together and let the good times roll
Let's go out and have fun together
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Leonard Lee, Shirley Goodman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind