Bradley was born Wilbur Schwitchenberg on July 12, 1912 in Newton, New Jers… Read Full Bio ↴Bradley was born Wilbur Schwitchenberg on July 12, 1912 in Newton, New Jersey and died on July 15, 1989.
Will Bradley will always be remembered most for his boogie-woogie orchestra of the early 1940s. Bradley himself, however, preferred to play ballads and had a long and successful career as a trombonist outside of his band. Bradley was a busy studio musician throughout the 1930s, working with such artists as Red Nichols, Eddie Cantor, Victor Young. Jacques Renard, Nat Shilkret, Andre Kostelanetz, Raymond Paige, Kate Smith, and Al Jolson. In 1935 Glenn Miller, who thought Bradley the best trombonist in the business, hired him to play in Ray Noble's American band, which Miller was organizing. He left Noble the following year, however, and returned to studio work. Bradley also played with Milt Shaw's orchestra in 1931, where he met drummer Ray McKinley.
Bradley's name was unknown to the general public when in 1939 William Morris talent agent Willard Alexander suggested he form a swing orchestra. Trombone-playing leaders, such as Miller and Tommy Dorsey, were currently popular, and Alexander felt Bradley would do well on his own. Drummers were also the rage, and Alexander teamed Bradley with old bandmate McKinley, who was then with Jimmy Dorsey. Backed by a powerful publicity campaign the duo's orchestra debuted in 1939 under Bradley's name and soon had its first big hit in ''Celery Stalks.''
The band initially featured pianist Freddie Slack and a young Peanuts Hucko on tenor sax. Trumpeters Lee Castle and Pete Candoli later played with the group. Arrangements were provided by Hugo Winterhalter, Leonard Whitney, and Al Datz. McKinley sang on the more swinging numbers. Other vocalists included Carlotta Dale, Phyllis Miles, Louise Tobin, Larry Southern, and Jimmy Valentine. The group's first recordings were on the Vocalion and Okeh labels. Subsequent releases were on Columbia.
In 1940 Bradley and McKinley began to feature the boogie woogie sound in their arrangements. Initial success with the song ''Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar'' sparked a slew of similar recordings, such as ''Bounce Me Brother, with a Solid Four'' and ''Scrub Me Mama, with a Boogie Beat.'' The new style proved popular with the public, and the band quickly developed a niche following. By early 1942, however, Bradley had tired of boogie-woogie and wanted to focus more on ballads. McKinley disagreed and left to form his own band.
Bradley set about reforming his orchestra but was forced to hang up his baton after only six months due to the war. He lost too many musicians in the draft and was unable to replace them. The new orchestra did not enter the studio. Vocalists were Terry Allen and Lynn Gardner
Bradley continued to record under his own name during the war, using studio musicians, on the Signature label. Ironically, considering the cause of his orchestra's break-up, in 1944 he released material on the Beacon/Celebrity label as Will Bradley and His Boogie Woogie Boys. In 1947 he also recorded with vocalist Anita O'Day on Signature, and in the 1950s he released three albums, which included one RCA collection of boogie woogie songs.
Bradley worked often as a studio musician after the war and spent many years in the Tonight Show orchestra in the Johnny Carson era. In 1953 he had a brief spell with the Sauter-Finegan Band and also composed several classical works in his later years.
Will Bradley will always be remembered most for his boogie-woogie orchestra of the early 1940s. Bradley himself, however, preferred to play ballads and had a long and successful career as a trombonist outside of his band. Bradley was a busy studio musician throughout the 1930s, working with such artists as Red Nichols, Eddie Cantor, Victor Young. Jacques Renard, Nat Shilkret, Andre Kostelanetz, Raymond Paige, Kate Smith, and Al Jolson. In 1935 Glenn Miller, who thought Bradley the best trombonist in the business, hired him to play in Ray Noble's American band, which Miller was organizing. He left Noble the following year, however, and returned to studio work. Bradley also played with Milt Shaw's orchestra in 1931, where he met drummer Ray McKinley.
Bradley's name was unknown to the general public when in 1939 William Morris talent agent Willard Alexander suggested he form a swing orchestra. Trombone-playing leaders, such as Miller and Tommy Dorsey, were currently popular, and Alexander felt Bradley would do well on his own. Drummers were also the rage, and Alexander teamed Bradley with old bandmate McKinley, who was then with Jimmy Dorsey. Backed by a powerful publicity campaign the duo's orchestra debuted in 1939 under Bradley's name and soon had its first big hit in ''Celery Stalks.''
The band initially featured pianist Freddie Slack and a young Peanuts Hucko on tenor sax. Trumpeters Lee Castle and Pete Candoli later played with the group. Arrangements were provided by Hugo Winterhalter, Leonard Whitney, and Al Datz. McKinley sang on the more swinging numbers. Other vocalists included Carlotta Dale, Phyllis Miles, Louise Tobin, Larry Southern, and Jimmy Valentine. The group's first recordings were on the Vocalion and Okeh labels. Subsequent releases were on Columbia.
In 1940 Bradley and McKinley began to feature the boogie woogie sound in their arrangements. Initial success with the song ''Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar'' sparked a slew of similar recordings, such as ''Bounce Me Brother, with a Solid Four'' and ''Scrub Me Mama, with a Boogie Beat.'' The new style proved popular with the public, and the band quickly developed a niche following. By early 1942, however, Bradley had tired of boogie-woogie and wanted to focus more on ballads. McKinley disagreed and left to form his own band.
Bradley set about reforming his orchestra but was forced to hang up his baton after only six months due to the war. He lost too many musicians in the draft and was unable to replace them. The new orchestra did not enter the studio. Vocalists were Terry Allen and Lynn Gardner
Bradley continued to record under his own name during the war, using studio musicians, on the Signature label. Ironically, considering the cause of his orchestra's break-up, in 1944 he released material on the Beacon/Celebrity label as Will Bradley and His Boogie Woogie Boys. In 1947 he also recorded with vocalist Anita O'Day on Signature, and in the 1950s he released three albums, which included one RCA collection of boogie woogie songs.
Bradley worked often as a studio musician after the war and spent many years in the Tonight Show orchestra in the Johnny Carson era. In 1953 he had a brief spell with the Sauter-Finegan Band and also composed several classical works in his later years.
I'm Beginning to See the Light
Will Bradley Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'I'm Beginning to See the Light' by these artists:
After Midnight I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Al Jarreau Never, no never, never I'm beginning to think I should say n…
Al Jarreau & The Metropole Orkest Never, no never, never I'm beginning to think I should say…
Alice Babs & Duke Ellington I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Art Tatum I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Bert Kaempfert And His Orchestra I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Billy May I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Bobby Darin I never cared much for moonlit skies Never wink back at…
Cal Tjader & Mary Stallings I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Claude Blouin & His Orchestra I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Coleman Hawkins I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Cootie Williams and His Orchestra I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Count Basie / Joe Williams I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Count Basie Orchestra/Ella Fitzgerald I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Count Basie Orchestra/Joe Williams I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Crown Project I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Darin Bobby I never cared much for moonlit skies Never wink back at…
Dave Barbour & His Orchestra & Billy May & His Orchestra I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Della Reese I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Doris Day; Arranged & conducted by Mort Garson I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Duke Ellington I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Duke Ellington & Ella Fitzgerald I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Duke Ellington & his Famous Orchestra;Joya Sherrill I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Duke Ellington & his orchestra (with vocal: Joya Sherrill) I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Duke Ellington & His Orchestra/Ella Fitzgerald I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Duke Ellington & His Orchestra; Ella Fitzgerald I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra & Joyce Sherrill I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Duke Ellington And His Famous Orchestra Featuring Joyce Sherrill I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Duke Ellington and His Orchestra I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Duke Ellington with Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Eddy Howard & His Orchestra I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Ella Fitzgerald & Ink Spots I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Ella Fitzgerald & The Count Basie Orchestra I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Ella Fitzgerald (Duet With The Ink Spots) I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Ella Fitzgerald / Duke Ellington I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Ella Fitzgerald / The Ink Spots I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Ella Fitzgerald and Her Famous Orchestra I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Ella Fitzgerald and Ink Spots I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Ella Fitzgerald and The Ink Spots & The City Slickers I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Ella Fitzgerald feat. the Ink Spots I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Ella Fitzgerald Ink Spots I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Ella Fitzgerald The Ink Spots I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Ella Fitzgerald With Duke Ellington And His Orchestra I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Ella Fitzgerald/Duke Ellington & His Orchestra I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Ella FitzgeraldDuke Ellington & His Orchestra I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Frank Sinatra I never cared much for moonlight skies, I never wink…
Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Gene Ammons I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Geraldo & His Orchestra I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Gerry Mulligan I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Gus Arnheim & His Orchestra I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Harry James & His Music Makers I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Harry James & His Orchestra I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Harry James And His Orchestra With Vocal Kitty Kallen I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Harry James and His Orchestra [feat. Kitty Kallen] I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Harry James/Helen Forrest I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Helen Forrest I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Hodges Johnny I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Jarreau Never, no never, never I'm beginning to think I should say n…
Jenny Beaujean I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Johnny Hodges I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Joya Sherrill & Duke Ellington Orchestra I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Kelly Rowland I never cared much for moonlit skies, Never winked back at…
Kelly Rowland(켈리 롤랜드) Look in my eyes What do you see? Only me Got nothing to…
Kitty Kallen I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Louis Armstrong Duke Ellington I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington and His Orchestra I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Louis Armstrong & His All‐Stars I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Louis Armstrong and His All-Stars I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Louis Armstrong and the Duke Ellington Orchestra I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Louis Armstrong/The Duke Ellington Orchestra I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Louis Armstrong; Duke Ellington I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Maxine Sullivan I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Michael Bublé I never cared much for moonlit skies, I never winked back…
Mildred Bailey I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Milt Jackson & Ray Brown & Joe Pass & Mickey Roker I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Nancy Norman with Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Natalie Cole I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Peggy Lee I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Peggy Lee with the Dave Barbour Band Gone with the wind Just like a leaf that has flown…
Peter Rasmussen And His Orchestra I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Phineas Newborn I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Quincy Jones & Ella Fitzgerald I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Ray Brown Jr. I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Ray Charles I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Ritz Lyle I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Rosemary Clooney & Buddy Cole I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Rosemary Clooney/Woody Herman & His Big Band I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Ruth Brown I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Sarah Vaughan And Billy Eckstine I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Sutton Foster I never cared much for moonlit skies I never winked back…
Ted Lewis & His Band I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
The Four Freshmen I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
The Harry James Orchestra I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
The Ink Spots I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
The Ink Spots & Ella Fitzgerald I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
The Ink Spots Ella Fitzgerald I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
The Ink Spots [Feat. Ella Fitzgerald] I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
The Inkspots I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Valerie Day I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Vera Lynn I never cared much for moonlit skies, I never knew love…
Woody Herman I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Woody Herman & Erroll Garner I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
Al Jarreau Never, no never, never I'm beginning to think I should say n…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Will Bradley:
Beat Me Daddy Eight To The Bar Beat Me Daddy, Eight To The Bar - written by…
Beat Me, Daddy, Eight to the Bar Beat Me Daddy, Eight To The Bar- written by Don…
Down The Road A Piece If you want to hear some Boogie, then I know…
Down The Road A-Piece If you want to hear some Boogie, then I know…
Down the Road Apiece If you want to hear some Boogie, then I know…
Down The Road To A Piece If you want to hear some Boogie, then I know…
Five O'clock Whistle The five o'clock whistle's on the blink The whistle won't b…
High On A Windy Hill High on a windy hill I feel my heart stand still All…
In A Little Spanish Town Evenings are crowded with memories Thrilling me again Like t…
Pinocchio: When You Wish Upon A Star When a star is born They possess a gift or two One…
The Johnson Rag Johnson Flood Mississippi Mud Black Bottom I got 'em Lindy …
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found