Edward "Sonny" Stitt (born Edward Boatner, Jr., February 2, 1924 – July 22,… Read Full Bio ↴Edward "Sonny" Stitt (born Edward Boatner, Jr., February 2, 1924 – July 22, 1982), was an American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/hard bop idiom. He was one of the most well-documented saxophonists of his generation, recording over 100 albums. He was nicknamed the "Lone Wolf" by jazz critic Dan Morgenstern, in reference to his relentless touring and devotion to jazz.

Early life

Edward Boatner was born in Boston, Massachusetts[1] and grew up in Saginaw, Michigan. He had a musical background; his father, Edward Boatner, was a baritone singer, composer and college music professor, his brother was a classically trained pianist, and his mother was a piano teacher.[1] Boatner was soon adopted by another family, the Stitts, who gave him his new surname. He later began calling himself "Sonny".
In 1943, Stitt first met Charlie Parker, and as he often later recalled, the two men found that their styles had an extraordinary similarity that was partly coincidental and not merely due to Stitt's emulation. Stitt's improvisations were more melodic/less dissonant than those of Parker. Stitt's earliest recordings were made in 1945 with Stan Getz and Dizzy Gillespie. He had also played in some swing bands, though he mainly played in bop bands. Stitt was featured in Tiny Bradshaw's big band in the early forties. Stitt replaced Charlie Parker in Dizzy Gillespie's band in 1945.[2]
Stitt played alto saxophone in Billy Eckstine's big band alongside future bop pioneers Dexter Gordon and Gene Ammons from 1945 until 1956, when he started to play tenor saxophone more frequently, in order to avoid being referred to as a Charlie Parker imitator. Later on, he played with Gene Ammons and Bud Powell. Stitt spent time in a Lexington prison between 1948–49 for selling narcotics.
Stitt, when playing tenor saxophone, seemed to break free from some of the criticism that he was imitating Charlie Parker's style, although it appears in the instance with Ammons above that the availability of the larger instrument was a factor. Indeed, Stitt began to develop a far more distinctive sound on tenor.[1] He played with other bop musicians Bud Powell and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, a fellow tenor with a distinctly tough tone in comparison to Stitt, in the 1950s and recorded a number of sides for Prestige Records label as well as albums for Argo, Verve and Roost. Stitt experimented with Afro-Cuban jazz in the late 1950s, and the results can be heard on his recordings for Roost and Verve, on which he teamed up with Thad Jones and Chick Corea for Latin versions of such standards as "Autumn Leaves."
Stitt joined Miles Davis briefly in 1960, and recordings with Davis' quintet can be found only in live settings on the tour of 1960. Concerts in Manchester and Paris are available commercially and also a number of concerts (which include sets by the earlier quintet with John Coltrane) on the record Live at Stockholm (Dragon), all of which featured Wynton Kelly, Jimmy Cobb and Paul Chambers. However, Miles fired Stitt due to the excessive drinking habit he had developed, and replaced him with fellow tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley. Stitt, later in the 1960s, paid homage to one of his main influences, Charlie Parker, on the album Stitt Plays Bird, which features Jim Hall on guitar and at Newport in 1964 with other bebop players including J.J. Johnson.
He recorded a number of memorable records with his friend and fellow saxophonist Gene Ammons, interrupted by Ammons' own imprisonment for narcotics possession. The records recorded by these two saxophonists are regarded by many as some of both Ammons and Stitt's best work, thus the Ammons/Stitt partnership went down in posterity as one of the best duelling partnerships in jazz, alongside Zoot Sims and Al Cohn, and Johnny Griffin with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. Stitt would venture into soul jazz, and he recorded with fellow tenor saxophonist Booker Ervin in 1964 on the Soul People album. Stitt also recorded with Duke Ellington alumnus Paul Gonsalves in 1963 for Impulse! on the Salt And Pepper album in 1963. Around that time he also appeared regularly at Ronnie Scott's in London, a live 1964 encounter with Ronnie Scott, The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, eventually surfaced, and another in 1966 with resident guitarist Ernest Ranglin and British tenor saxophonist Dick Morrissey. Stitt was one of the first jazz musicians to experiment with an electric saxophone (the instrument was called a Varitone), as heard on the albums What's New in 1966 and Parallel-A-Stitt in 1967.
Later life

In the 1970s, Stitt slowed his recording output slightly, and in 1972, he produced another classic, Tune Up, which was and still is regarded by many jazz critics, such as Scott Yanow, as his definitive record. Indeed, his fiery and ebullient soloing was quite reminiscent of his earlier playing. He also recorded another album with Varitone, Just The Way It Was - Live At The Left Bank in 1971 which was released in 2000.
Stitt joined the all-star group Giants of Jazz, which also featured Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Kai Winding and bassist Al McKibbon) and made albums for Atlantic Records, Concord Records and Emarcy Records. His last recordings were made in Japan. In 1982, Stitt suffered a heart attack, and he died on July 22 in Washington, D.C..[2]

I Know That You Know
Sonny Stitt Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'I Know That You Know' by these artists:

Arne Domnérus and His Orchestra Don't you know I care Or don't you care to…
Art Tatum Life's a game, but who can play it all alone Ev'ry…
Benny Goodman and His Orchestra Don't you know I care Or don't you care to…
Bob Crosby I'd know you anywhere, I'd know that grin, I'd know you…
Buck Owens I jump when you yell like a good little boy…
Bud Powell Life's a game, but who can play it all alone Ev'ry…
Daniel O'Donnell Life's a game, but who can play it all alone Every…
Dizzy Gillespie Life's a game, but who can play it all alone Ev'ry…
Don Voorhees and His Orchestra Don't you know I care Or don't you care to…

Doris Day Life's a game, but who can play it all alone Ev'ry…
Earl Hines Life's a game, but who can play it all alone Ev'ry…
Frankie Masters & His Orchestra Don't you know I care Or don't you care to…
Gene Krupa I'd know you anywhere, I'd know that grin, I'd know you…
Gene Krupa and His Orchestra Don't you know I care Or don't you care to…
Glenn Miller I'd know you anywhere, I'd know that grin, I'd know you…
Henri René and His Orchestra Don't you know I care Or don't you care to…
Jack White Now you know that I know That you ain’t no good And…
Jane Powell Life's a game, but who can play it all alone Ev'ry…
Jimmie Noone & His Orchestra Don't you know I care Or don't you care to…
John Pizzarelli Life's a game, but who can play it all alone Ev'ry…
Jones And Collins Astoria Hot Eight Mmm, I really gotta know If you trust me, do you trust…
Joseph Reinhardt Life's a game, but who can play it all alone Ev'ry…
King Cole Trio I know that you know That I'll go where you go I…
Krupa gene I'd know you anywhere, I'd know that grin, I'd know you…
Lester Young & Kansas City Five Life's a game, but who can play it all alone Ev'ry…
Levi's You are my everything, oh, oh, and you know that,…
Lionel Hampton Why do robins sing in December Long before the Springtime is…
Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra Don't you know I care Or don't you care to…
Louis Armstrong Life's a game, but who can play it all alone Ev'ry…
Lucky Millinder And His Orchestra Don't you know I care Or don't you care to…
Nat I know that you know That I'll go where you go I…
Nat King Cole Trio I know that you know That I'll go where you go I…
Nat ‘King' Cole & His Trio featuring Stuff Smith Life's a game, but who can play it all alone Ev'ry…
Nat ‘King’ Cole and His Trio I know that you know That I'll go where you go I…
Nitepunk & X&G I can't make up my mind Should I go Sometimes the answer's…
Oscar Peterson and Tonny Stitt Life's a game, but who can play it all alone Ev'ry…
Ozzie Nelson & His Orchestra Don't you know I care Or don't you care to…
Red Norvo and His Orchestra Life's a game, but who can play it all alone Ev'ry…
Ted Weems & His Orchestra Don't you know I care Or don't you care to…
Teddy Wilson Life's a game, but who can play it all alone Ev'ry…
Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra Don't you know I care Or don't you care to…
The Bud Powell Trio Life's a game, but who can play it all alone Ev'ry…
The Elements Ahh yeah, you know that sound…
The Kansas City Five Life's a game, but who can play it all alone Ev'ry…
The Killer Whoa, baby, whoa, baby, whoa, baby La la la, la la…
Tommy Dorsey You and I know love has found us Why does…
Tutti Camarata and his Orchestra Life's a game, but who can play it all alone Ev'ry…
Vic Damone Life's a game, but who can play it all alone Ev'ry…
Vincent Youmans Life's a game, but who can play it all alone Ev'ry…

We have lyrics for these tracks by Sonny Stitt:

'Round Midnight It begins to tell 'Round midnight, midnight I do pretty well…
After You're Gone Now won't you listen honey, while I say, How could…
Ain't Misbehavin' No one to talk with All by myself No one to walk…
Alexander's Ragtime Band Come on and hear, come on and hear Alexander's Ragtime Band …
All God's Children Got Rhythm Chillun', listen here to me This is my philosophy To see me…
All God's Chillun Got Rhythm Chillun', listen here to me This is my philosophy To see m…
Am I Blue Everyday, everyday I have the blues Ooh everyday, everyday I…
Angel Eyes Try to think that love's not around But it´s uncomfort…
At Last At last, my love has come along my lonely days are…
Autumn in New York It's time to end my holiday and bid the country…
Autumn Leaves The falling leaves drift by the window The autumn leaves of…
Back In Your Own Back Yard We leave home expecting to find a blue bird, Hoping ev'ry…
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea I don't want you, but I'd hate to lose you You've…
Blue Mode Blue moon you saw me standing alone Without a dream in…
Body and Soul My heart is sad and lonely For you I sigh, for…
But Not for Me Old man sunshine listen you Never tell me dreams come true J…
Bye Bye Blackbird No one here can love or understand me Oh, what hard…
Bye Bye Blues No one here can love or understand me Oh, what hard…
Can't We Be Friends Took each word she said as gospel truth the way…
Candy Some say that love is sweet as a rose, Some say…
Confessin I'm confessin' that I love you, Tell me, do you love…
Constellation Xiang yao chuansong yi feng jianxun gei ni wo hao xiang hao…
Coquette Hear me, why you keep fooling Little coquette, making fun of…
Count Every Star Count every star in the midnight sky Count every rose,…
Day By Day Everyday, everyday I have the blues Ooh everyday, everyday I…
Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me Someone told someone and someone told you But they wouldn't…
Don't Worry Don't worry 'bout me I'll get along Forget about me Just be …
Don't Worry ‘Bout Me Don't worry 'bout me I'll get along Forget about me Just …
Down With It Homesick tired All alone in a big city Why should…
East Of The Sun East of the sun and west of the moon We'll build…
Everything Happens To Me Black cats creep across my path Until I'm almost mad I must…
Fine and Dandy Please forgive this platitude But I like your attitude You a…
Fools Rush In "Romance is a game for fools" I used to say A game…
How Do You Do Someone told someone and someone told you But they wouldn't …
How High the Moon Somewhere there's music How faint the tune Somewhere there's…
I Can't Give You Anything But Love Gee, but it's tough to be broke, kid. It's not a…
I Cover the Waterfront I cover the waterfront, I'm watching the sea, Will the one I…
I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance WIth You I need your love so badly, I love you, oh,…
I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart I let a song go out of my heart It was…
I Never Knew You, get me feelin' crazy There always on my mind And I…
I Remember You How did I know that the warmth of the glow…
I Want To Be Happy I'm a very ordinary man Trying to work out life's happy…
I'll Be Seeing You I'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places That…
I'll Remember April This lovely day will lengthen into evening We'll sigh goodby…
I'm Confessin' I'm confessin' that I love you, Tell me, do you love…
I'm Getting Sentimental Over You Never thought I'd fall, But now I hear love call, I'm gettin…
I'm In The Mood For Love I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
If I Had You I could show the world how to smile I could be…
If You Are But a Dream If you are but a dream I hope I never waken, It's…
If You Could See Me Now If you could see me now, you'd know how blue…
Imagination Magic mirror come and search my heart Can you tell me…
In A Sentimental Mood In A Sentimental Mood I can see the stars come…
It Might as Well Be Spring I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm I'm as…
It's Wonderful They say that falling love is wonderful It's wonderful, so t…
It's You or No One How did I know that the warmth of the glow…
Jeeper's Creepers I don't care what the weatherman says When the weatherman sa…
Just Friends Just friends, lovers no more Just friends, but not like befo…
Just You Just Me Just you, just me Let's find a cozy spot To cuddle and…
Laura You know the feeling of something half remembered Of somethi…
Let It Be I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm I'm as…
Love Walked In I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
Lover I don't know why but I'm feeling so sad I long…
Mean To Me You're mean to me Why must you be mean to me? Gee,…
My Foolish Heart The night is like a lovely tune Beware my foolish heart How…
Nevertheless I knew the time had to come When I'd be held…
Nice Work If You Can Get It The man who only lives for making money Lives a life…
Oh Lady Be Good Listen to my tale of woe, It's terribly sad but…
On Green Dolphin Street It seems like a dream, yet I know it happened A…
On The Sunny Side Of The Street Walked with no one and talked with no one And I…
Out In The Cold Again The song that you sang so sweetly You called it our…
Over The Rainbow Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high There's a land that…
P.S. I Love You As I write this letter, send my love to you Remember…
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…
Perdido Perdido, I look for my heart it's perdido I lost it…
Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone Please don't talk about me when I'm gone Honey, though our…
Ps. I Love You As I write this letter, send my love to you Remember…
Sea Sea Rider I don't want you, but I'd hate to lose you You've…
Shadows The shadow of your smile When you have gone Will color all…
Singin' In the Rain I'm singin' in the rain, just singin' in the rain What…
Stairway to the Stars Let's build a stairway to the stars And climb that stairway…
Star Dust And now the purple dusk of twilight time Steals across the…
Star Eyes Star eyes, That to me is what your eyes are, Soft as…
Stardust And now the purple dusk of twilight time Steals across the…
Stars Fell on Alabama Moonlight and magnolia, starlight in your hair All the world…
Sunny Side Up Walked with no one and talked with no one And I…
Sweet and Lovely Sweet and lovely sweeter than the roses in May Sweet and…
Taking A Chance On Love Here I go again, I hear those trumpets blow again. All…
The More I See You Each time I look at you is like the first…
The Night Has A Thousand Eyes They say that you're a run-around lover Though you say…
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…
They Say It's Wonderful They say that falling love is wonderful It's wonderful, so t…
This Can't Be Love This can't be love Because I feel so well No sobs, no…
This Is Always This isn't sometimes, this is always. This isn't maybe, thi…
Time After Time Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick, And think…
Time On My Hands When the day fades away into twilight The moon is my…
Until The Real Thing Comes Along I'd wait for you I'd slave for you I'd be a beggar…
Walk On By If you see me walking down the street And I start…
We This time we almost made the pieces fit Didn't we? This time…
When It's Sleepy Time Down South Homesick tired All alone in a big city Why should…
Where Is Love There is no greater love Than what I feel for you No…
You Are the Sunshine of My Life You are the sunshine of my life That's why I'll always…
You Don´t Know What Love Is You don't know what love is 'Til you've learned the meaning…
You'd Be so Nice to Come Home To You'd be so nice to come home to You'd be so…

You'll Never Know You'll never know just how much I miss you You'll never…

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