Lou Donaldson (November 1, 1926) is a jazz alto saxophonist, born in Badin,… Read Full Bio ↴Lou Donaldson (November 1, 1926) is a jazz alto saxophonist, born in Badin, North Carolina. He is best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was, as many were of the bebop era, heavily influenced by Charlie Parker.

Donaldson attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro in the early 1940s. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was trained at the Great Lakes bases in Chicago, where he was introduced to bop music in the lively club scene there. At the war's conclusion, he returned to Greensboro, where he worked club dates with the Rhythm Vets, a combo composed of A and T students who had served in the U.S. Navy. The band recorded the soundtrack to a musical comedy featurette, "Pitch a Boogie Woogie," in Greenville, North Carolina, in the summer of 1947. The movie had a limited run at black audience theatres in 1948 but its production company, Lord-Warner Pictures, folded and never made another film. "Pitch a Boogie Woogie" was subsequently restored by the American Film Institute in 1985 and re-premiered on the campus of East Carolina University in Greenville the following year. Donaldson and the surviving members of the Vets performed a reunion concert after the film's showing. In the documentary made on "Pitch" by UNC-TV, "Boogie in Black and White", Donaldson and his musical cohorts recall the film's making—he originally believed that he had played clarinet on the soundtrack. A short piece of concert footage from a gig in Fayetteville, North Carolina, is included in the documentary.

Donaldson's first jazz recordings were with the Charlie Singleton Orchestra in 1950 and then with bop emissaries Milt Jackson and Thelonious Monk in 1952, and he participated in several small groups with other jazz luminaries such as trumpeter Blue Mitchell, pianist Horace Silver and drummer Art Blakey.

In 1953, he also recorded sessions with the trumpet virtuoso Clifford Brown, and Philly Joe Jones.
He was a member of Art Blakey's Quintet and appeared on some of their best regarded albums, including the two albums recorded at Birdland in February 1954 Night at Birdland.
Donaldson has recorded in the bop, hard bop, and soul jazz genres. For many years his pianist was Herman Foster.
He was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame on October 11, 2012.

Mack the Knife
Lou Donaldson Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'Mack the Knife' by these artists:

101 Strings Orchestra Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Ambros Seelos and his Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
André Previn & J.J. Johnson Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Archie Bleyer & His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Armstrong Louis & His All Stars Dig, man, there goes Mack The Knife Oh, the shark has…
Arne Domnerus And His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
ÂÞ±È¡¤ÍþÁ®Ä·Ë¹(Robbie Williams) Oh the shark has pretty teeth, dear And he shows them…
Barney Kessel Shelly Manne And Ray Brown Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Benny Carter & His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…

Bessie Smith & James P. Johnson Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Beyond The Sea Oh, the shark, babe has such teeth, dear And it shows…
big bands Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Billie Holiday Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Billy Vaughn Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Billy Vaughn & His Orchestra Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Bing Crosby Uh-huh, Uh-huh Lay way back you cats, Dig in Live a while,…
Blake Lewis Hey, the shark has pretty teeth, dear And it shows them…
Bob Scobey Uh-huh, Uh-huh Lay way back you cats, Dig in Live a while,…
Bobby Darin Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Brian Setzer Oh, the shark babe Has such teeth,dear And he shows them, pe…
Buddy Merrill Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Cantovano and His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Caterina Valente Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Clark Terry Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear And it shows them…
Clay Aiken Oh the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows them…
Coleman Hawkins Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Connie Francis Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Dámaso Pérez Prado & Rosemary Clooney Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear And he shows them,…
Dancelife Studio Orchestra & Singers Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And…
Darin Bobby Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Dave Van Ronk Though the shark has, pretty teeth, dear And he shows 'em…
David Campbell Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Dean Martin & Frank Sinatra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Dee Dee Bridgewater Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear And he shows them,…
Della Reese / Kenny Burrell / Bob Cooper / Lou Levy Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Dick Hyman & His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Dorham Kenny Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Double Down Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Doug Ferony Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Dr. John Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Dr. John/Nicholas Payton Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Duke & Ella Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Earl Hines Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Eartha Kitt Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Eartha Kitt Maurice Levine and His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Eddie Fisher Though the shark has, pretty teeth, dear And he shows 'em…
Elisabeth Gray Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Ella & Louis Dig, man, there goes Mack The Knife Oh, the shark has…
Ella Fitzgerald Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong Dig, man, there goes Mack The Knife Oh, the shark has…
Ella Fitzgerald & The Jimmy Jones Trio Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Ella Fitzgerald And The Lou Levy Quartet Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Ella Fitzgerald and the Paul Smith Quartet Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Ella Fitzgerald Duke Ellington & His Orchestra Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Ella Fitzgerald Paul Smith Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Ella Fitzgerald/Ella Fitzgerald Duke Ellingto Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Ella Fitzgerald; Duke Ellington Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Ella Mae Morse with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Erroll Garner Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Frank & Dean Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Frank Sinatra FRANK: Hey, the shark has pretty teeth, dear And it shows th…
Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear And he shows 'em,…
Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin & Sammy Davis Jr Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Frank Sinatra feat. Jimmy Buffett Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Frank Sinatra w/ Quincy Jones and Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Frank Sinatra with Quincy Jones and Orchestra Oh, the shark babe Has such teeth,dear And he shows them, pe…
Frank Sinatra/Sammy Davis Jr Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Frankie Armstrong & Dave Van Ronk Though the shark has, pretty teeth, dear And he shows 'em…
Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Gareth Gates Oh the shark babe has such teeth dear And he shows…
Garou Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Gary Le Mel Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Gebhard Ullmann "Oh the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows them…
George Shearing Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Gloria Lynne Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Guy Lombardo and his Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Gwen Hughes Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Henri René & His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Hildegard Knef Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
His All-Stars Dig, man, there goes Mack The Knife! Oh, the shark has…
Horn Shirley Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Ian Menzies / Lonnie Donegan / The Clyde Valley Stompers Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Itzhak Perlman/Oscar Peterson Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear And it shows them…
Jack Harris and His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Jack Jones Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Jimmie Dale Gilmore Oh the shark has pretty teeth, Dear And he shows…
Jimmy Giuffre Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Jimmy Smith and the Trio Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Joe Reisman & His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Joey De Francesco Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Joey DeFrancesco "Oh the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows them…
John-Eric Booth Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Johnny Dorelli Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear And he shows 'em,…
Johnny Gibbs & His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Julie Wilson Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Ken Woodhedge & Band Uh-huh, Uh-huh Lay way back you cats, Dig in Live a while,…
Ken Woodhedge & Orchestra Oh, the shark babe Has such teeth,dear And he shows them, pe…
Kenny Dorham Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Kevin Spacey Oh, the shark, babe has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Kurt Weill Dig, man, there goes Mack The Knife! Oh, the shark has…
Lester Lanin & His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Liberace Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Lisa Stansfield Oh the shark has pretty teeth, dear And he shows them…
Liz Story feat. Joel Di Bartolo Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Lotte Lenya Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Lotte Lenya & Louis Armstrong Dig, man, there goes Mack The Knife Oh, the shark has…
Lou Busch & His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Lou Christie Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Louis Armstrong Dig, man, there goes Mack The Knife Oh, the shark has…
Louis Armstrong His All Stars Dig, man, there goes Mack The Knife Oh, the shark has…
Louis Armstrong & his All Stars Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Louis Armstrong & His All-Stars Dig, man, there goes Mack The Knife Oh, the shark has…
Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Louis Armstrong & Kurt Weill Dig, man, there goes Mack The Knife Oh, the shark has…
Louis Armstrong All Stars Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Louis Armstrong and Allstars Dig, man, there goes Mack The Knife Oh, the shark has…
Louis Armstrong Louis Armstrong & His All-Stars Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Louis Armstrong Dig, man, there goes Mack The Knife Oh, the shark has…
Luther Henderson and His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Major Holley Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Marianne Faithfull Oh, the poor shark, Yes, the sweet shark, It has big teeth B…
Mario Frangoulis MACK THE KNIFE There goes Mack the knife Oh, the shark has…
Mark Lanegan Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear And it shows them…
Marvin & Johnny Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Marvin Dorfler Big-Band Uh-huh, Uh-huh Lay way back you cats, Dig in Live a while,…
Michael Bublé Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear And it shows them…
Michael Kaeshammer & Brian Evans Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Neal Hefti and His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Nicholas Payton Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Nick Cave See the shark with teeth like razors And he wears them…
norman percival and his orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Orchester Ambros Seelos Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Oscar Peterson Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear And it shows them…
Oscar Peterson & Clark Terry Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear And it shows them…
Oscar Peterson Clark Terry Oscar Peterson Trio Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Ottavio De Stefano Oh the shark has pretty teeth, dear And he shows them…
Payton Nicholas Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Peggy Lee Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear And he shows 'em,…
Percy Faith & His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Pérez Prado Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Pérez Prado Orchestra & Rosemary Clooney Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear And he shows them,…
Peter Oprisko Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Quincy Jones Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Quincy Jones and His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Ray Anthony & His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Ray Brown John Clayton & Christian McBride Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Ray Conniff Mack The Knife Oh the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear, A…
Ray Conniff & His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Ray Conniff & The Singers Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And…
Ray Conniff and His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Ray Quinn Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Reg Owen and His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Rhoda Scott Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Rickie Lee Jones Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Robbie Williams Oh the shark baby has pretty teeth, dear And he shows…
Robbie Williams/Kurt Weil Oh the shark has pretty teeth, dear And he shows them…
Robbie+Williams Oh the shark has pretty teeth, dear And he shows them…
Ron Carter and Houston Person Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Rosemary Clooney Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear And he shows them,…
Rosemary Clooney & Pérez Prado and His Orchestra Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Rudi Bohn and His Band Uh-huh, Uh-huh Lay way back you cats, Dig in Live a while,…
Ruthie Foster Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear And it shows them…
Sammy Davis Jr. & Frank Sinatra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Santo & Johnny Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Second Generation Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Shirley Horn Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Sinatra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Sonny Rollins Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Soundtrack Чего хотят женщины / Bobby Darin Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Stanley Black & His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Starlite Orchestra & Singers Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And…
Sting Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Stray Cats & Brian Setzer Oh, the shark babe Has such teeth,dear And he shows them, pe…
Sy Oliver & His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
The Big Band Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
The Brian Setzer Orchestra Oh, the shark babe Has such teeth,dear And he shows them, pe…
The Doors Well the shark has pretty teeth, dear And he shows them…
The Four Seasons Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
The Oscar Peterson Trio & Clark Terry Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear And it shows them…
The Oscar Peterson Trio Clark Terry Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
The Platters Oh the shark has, pretty teeth, baby And it shows them…
The Psychedelic Furs Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows them…
The Psychos Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
The Starlite Orchestra & Singers Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And…
The Waverly Seven Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Theodore Bikel Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Tito Puente Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Tito Puente and His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Travis Shook Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Turk Murphy Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Various Artists Oh the shark has such pretty teeth, dear And he shows…
Victor Gerard & His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Walter Weeman's Brass & Singers Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And…
Waverly Seven Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Wayne Newton Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Werner Muller & His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
Westlife Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it…
Westlife漀 Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it…
Will Bradley & His Orchestra Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear And he shows 'em,…
香取慎吾 Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Louis Armstrong Dig, man, there goes Mack The Knife Oh, the shark has…

We have lyrics for these tracks by Lou Donaldson:

A Foggy Day I was a stranger in the city Out of town were…
After You've Gone Now won't you listen honey, while I say, How could…
Be My Love Be my love, for no one else can end this…
Blue Moon Blue moon you saw me standing alone Without a dream in…
Bye Bye Blackbird No one here can love or understand me Oh, what hard…
Candy Some say that love is sweet as a rose, Some say…
Caravan Night and stars above that shine so bright The myst'ry…
Danny Boy Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling From glen…
Don't Blame Me Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
Don't Worry 'bout Me Don't worry 'bout me I'll get along Forget about me Just be …
Ebb Tide First the tide rushes in, plants a kiss on the…
Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky everything I do gonh be funky…
Exactly Like You I used to have a perfect sweetheart Not a real one,…
For The Love Of You Hmm Huh Hoo hoo hey baby I'm looking for you Drifting…
Good Morning Heartache Good morning heartache, you old gloomy sight Good morning he…
If I Love Again I often wonder why he came to me Brought such a…
It Might as Well Be Spring I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm I'm as…
It's You Or No One How did I know that the warmth of the glow…
Just Friends Just friends, lovers no more Just friends, but not like befo…
Laura Laura is the face in the misty lights. Footsteps that you…
Love L is for the way you look at me. O is…
Love For Sale Hmm Huh Hoo hoo hey baby I'm looking for you Drifting…
Love Walked in Love walked right in and drove the shadows away Love walked…
Over The Rainbow Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high There's a land that…
Pennies From Heaven Every time it rains, it rains pennies from heaven Don't you…
People Will Say We're in Love Why do they think up stories that link my name…
Polka Dots & Moonbeams A country dance was being held in a garden I felt…
Stardust And now the purple dusk of twilight time Steals across the…
Sweet and Lovely Sweet and lovely Sweeter than the roses in May Sweet and lov…
Temptation You came, I was alone I should have known you were…
That's All I can only give you love that lasts forever, And the…
The Good Life Every time it rains It rains pennies from heaven Don't you…
The Man I Love I often wonder why he came to me Brought such a…
The Nearness of You Its not the pale moon that excites me That thrills and…
The Shadow of Your Smile The shadow of your smile When you have gone Will color all…
There Is No Greater Love There is no greater love Than what I feel for you No…
What I want to see your face in every kind of…
When You're Smiling the Whole World Smiles With You I saw a blind man, He was a kind man, Helping a…
who's makin love who's making love to your old lady while you're out on…
Who's Making Love? who's making love to your old lady while you're out on…
Whos Making Love who's making love to your old lady while you're out on…
You Are My Sunshine You are the sunshine of my life That's why I'll always…

You Go To My Head You go to my head And you linger like a haunting…

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

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