John Haley "Zoot" Sims (October 29, 1925 - March 23, 1985) was an American … Read Full Bio ↴John Haley "Zoot" Sims (October 29, 1925 - March 23, 1985) was an American jazz saxophonist.
He was born in Inglewood, California. Sims' family was involved in vaudeville, and, for his part, John learned to play both drums and clarinet at an early age. Zoot's father was a vaudeville hoofer, and Zoot prided himself on remembering many of the steps his father taught him.
Following in the footsteps of Lester Young, Sims developed into an innovative tenor saxophonist. Throughout his career, he played with renowned bands, including Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, and Buddy Rich. He was known among his peers as one of the strongest swingers in the field. Sims frequently led his own combos and sometimes toured with his friend Gerry Mulligan with Gerry's sextet, and later with his Concert Jazz Band. Zoot had a long, successful partnership as co-leader of a quintet with Al Cohn, which recorded under "Al and Zoot". That group was a favorite at the New York club "The Half Note." Late in his career, Sims added the soprano saxophone to his performances. Sims' nickname — Zoot — was acquired early in his career while he was on the Kenny Baker band in California. The name was later appropriated for a sax-playing Muppet.
Zoot Sims died in New York on March 23, 1985.
(2) Throughout his career, Zoot Sims was famous for epitomizing the swinging musician, never playing an inappropriate phrase. He always sounded inspired, and although his style did not change much after the early 1950s, Zoot's enthusiasm and creativity never wavered.
Zoot's family was involved in vaudeville, and he played drums and clarinet as a youth. His older brother, Ray Sims, developed into a fine trombonist who sounded like Bill Harris. At age 13, Sims switched permanently to the tenor, and his initial inspiration was Lester Young, although he soon developed his own cool-toned sound. Sims was a professional by the age of 15, landing his first important job with Bobby Sherwood's Orchestra, and he joined Benny Goodman's big band for the first time in 1943; he would be one of BG's favorite tenormen for the next 30 years. He recorded with Joe Bushkin in 1944, and even at that early stage, his style was largely set.
After a period in the Army, Sims was with Goodman from 1946-1947. He gained his initial fame as one of Woody Herman's "Four Brothers" during his time with the Second Herd (1947-1949). Zoot had brief stints with Buddy Rich's short-lived big band, Artie Shaw, Goodman (1950), Chubby Jackson, and Elliot Lawrence. He toured and recorded with Stan Kenton (1953) and Gerry Mulligan (1954-1956). Sims was also a star soloist with Mulligan's Concert Jazz Band of the early '60s and visited the Soviet Union with Benny Goodman in 1962. A freelancer throughout most of his career, Sims often led his own combos or co-led bands with his friend Al Cohn; the two tenors had very similar sounds and styles. Zoot started doubling on soprano quite effectively in the '70s. Through the years, he appeared in countless situations, and always seemed to come out ahead. Fortunately, Zoot Sims recorded frequently, leading sessions for Prestige, Metronome, Vogue, Dawn, Storyville, Argo, ABC-Paramount, Riverside, United Artists, Pacific Jazz, Bethlehem, Colpix, Impulse, Groove Merchant, Famous Door, Choice, Sonet, and a wonderful series for Pablo. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
He was born in Inglewood, California. Sims' family was involved in vaudeville, and, for his part, John learned to play both drums and clarinet at an early age. Zoot's father was a vaudeville hoofer, and Zoot prided himself on remembering many of the steps his father taught him.
Following in the footsteps of Lester Young, Sims developed into an innovative tenor saxophonist. Throughout his career, he played with renowned bands, including Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, and Buddy Rich. He was known among his peers as one of the strongest swingers in the field. Sims frequently led his own combos and sometimes toured with his friend Gerry Mulligan with Gerry's sextet, and later with his Concert Jazz Band. Zoot had a long, successful partnership as co-leader of a quintet with Al Cohn, which recorded under "Al and Zoot". That group was a favorite at the New York club "The Half Note." Late in his career, Sims added the soprano saxophone to his performances. Sims' nickname — Zoot — was acquired early in his career while he was on the Kenny Baker band in California. The name was later appropriated for a sax-playing Muppet.
Zoot Sims died in New York on March 23, 1985.
(2) Throughout his career, Zoot Sims was famous for epitomizing the swinging musician, never playing an inappropriate phrase. He always sounded inspired, and although his style did not change much after the early 1950s, Zoot's enthusiasm and creativity never wavered.
Zoot's family was involved in vaudeville, and he played drums and clarinet as a youth. His older brother, Ray Sims, developed into a fine trombonist who sounded like Bill Harris. At age 13, Sims switched permanently to the tenor, and his initial inspiration was Lester Young, although he soon developed his own cool-toned sound. Sims was a professional by the age of 15, landing his first important job with Bobby Sherwood's Orchestra, and he joined Benny Goodman's big band for the first time in 1943; he would be one of BG's favorite tenormen for the next 30 years. He recorded with Joe Bushkin in 1944, and even at that early stage, his style was largely set.
After a period in the Army, Sims was with Goodman from 1946-1947. He gained his initial fame as one of Woody Herman's "Four Brothers" during his time with the Second Herd (1947-1949). Zoot had brief stints with Buddy Rich's short-lived big band, Artie Shaw, Goodman (1950), Chubby Jackson, and Elliot Lawrence. He toured and recorded with Stan Kenton (1953) and Gerry Mulligan (1954-1956). Sims was also a star soloist with Mulligan's Concert Jazz Band of the early '60s and visited the Soviet Union with Benny Goodman in 1962. A freelancer throughout most of his career, Sims often led his own combos or co-led bands with his friend Al Cohn; the two tenors had very similar sounds and styles. Zoot started doubling on soprano quite effectively in the '70s. Through the years, he appeared in countless situations, and always seemed to come out ahead. Fortunately, Zoot Sims recorded frequently, leading sessions for Prestige, Metronome, Vogue, Dawn, Storyville, Argo, ABC-Paramount, Riverside, United Artists, Pacific Jazz, Bethlehem, Colpix, Impulse, Groove Merchant, Famous Door, Choice, Sonet, and a wonderful series for Pablo. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
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Zoot Sims Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Zoot Sims:
'S Wonderful 'S wonderful, 's wonderful 'S marvelous, 's marvelous That y…
61 EAST OF THE SUN East of the sun and west of the moon We'll build…
A Time For Love A time for summer skies For hummingbirds and butterflies F…
After You 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…
Autumn Leaves The falling leaves drift by the window The autumn leaves of…
Black Butterfly You're a black butterfly With your wings frayed and torn, La…
Blues Cold empty bed, springs hard as lead Pains in my head,…
Body and Soul My heart is sad and lonely For you I sigh, for…
Dancing in the Dark Dancing in the dark Till the tune ends, We're dancing in…
Do Nothin Someone told someone and someone told you But they wouldn't…
Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me Someone told someone and someone told you But they wouldn't …
Don 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 …
East of the Sun East of the sun and west of the moon We'll build…
Emaline Don't you hear my heart whisper thru your window, Emaline? I…
Embraceable You Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you! Embrace me, you irrepl…
Emily Emily, Emily, Emily Has the murmuring sound of may All silve…
Everything I Love I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
Fools Rush In "Romance is a game for fools" I used to say A game…
Ghost of a Chance I need your love so badly, I love you, oh,…
Goodnight Good night sweetheart, till we meet tomorrow Good night swe…
Goodnight Sweetheart-2 Good night sweetheart, till we meet tomorrow Good night sw…
Honeysuckle Rose Every honey bee fills with jealousy When they see you out…
How Long Has This Been Going On 'Neath the stars, at bazaars Often I've had to caress men Fi…
I I cover the waterfront, I'm watching the sea,, Will the one …
I Can't Get Started With You Yesterday you came my way, And when you smiled at me, In…
I Cover the Waterfront I cover the waterfront, I'm watching the sea,, Will the on…
I Cried For You I remember other days how I used to weep Over…
I Don I need your love so badly, I love you, oh,…
I Got It Bad Though folks with good intentions Tell me to save my tears W…
I Got It Bad And That Ain Though folks with good intentions Tell me to save my tears …
I Got It Bad AndThat Ain't Good Though folks with good intentions Tell me to save my tears W…
I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart I let a song go out of my heart It was…
I Understand Why do you go on pretending You know you want to…
I Wish I Knew I wish I knew someone like you could love me I…
I'll Remember April This lovely day will lengthen into evening We'll sigh goodby…
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…
I've Got A Crush On You I have eyes for you to give you dirty looks, I…
In A Mellow Tone In a mellow tone Feeling fancy free And I'm not alone I've g…
In A Sentimental Mood I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
Isn Why did I wander Hereand there and yonder, Wasting preciou…
It Though folks with good intentions Tell me to save my tears …
It Don It don't mean a thing If it ain't got that swing (doo…
It Don't Mean a Thing It don't mean a thing If it ain't got that swing (doo…
It Had to Be You It had to be you, it had to be you. I…
It's Always You It had to be you, it had to be you. I…
It's Hard To Be You It had to be you, it had to be you. I…
Lady Be Good Listen to my tale of woe, It's terribly sad but…
Love Come Back to Me You went away I let you We broke the ties that bind I…
More Than You Know Whether you are here or yonder, Whether you are false…
My Man It's cost me a lot But there's one thing that I've…
My Old Flame There's a saying old says that love is blind Still were…
My Silent Love The very thought of you makes my heart sing Like an…
Oh Lady Be Good! Listen to my tale of woe, It's terribly sad but…
Old Folks Everyone knows him as Old Folks Like the seasons, he'll com…
Once in a While Once in a while will you try to give One little…
Out Of Nowhere You came to me from out of nowhere You took my…
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…
September Song Oh, it's a long, long while from May to December But…
She Once she dressed in silks and lace, Owned a Rolls…
Skylark Skylark Have you anything to say to me? Won't you tell me…
Somebody Loves Me Somebody loves me, I wonder who I wonder who he can…
Someone To Watch Over Me There's a saying old says that love is blind Still were…
Stardust And now the purple dusk of twilight time Steals across the…
Summertime Summertime and the livin' is easy Fish are jumpin' and the…
Sweet Lorraine Everything is set, skies are blue, Can't believe it yet, but…
Taking A Chance On Love Here I go again, I hear those trumpets blow again. All…
The Girl From Ipanema Tall and tan and young and lovely The girl from Ipanema…
The Man I Love I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
The Moon Is Low Hам негде встpечаться сейчас, Пpошу, если можешь, пpости, И …
The Nearness of You Its not the pale moon that excites me That thrills and…
Them There Eyes I was just minding my business Life was a beautiful song D…
These Fooling Things Oh! Will you never let me be? Oh! Will you never…
These Foolish Things Oh! Will you never let me be? Oh! Will you never…
They Can Our romance won't end on a sorrowful note, Though by tomorr…
They Can't Take That Away From Me Our romance won't end on a sorrowful note, Though by tomorro…
Where "Romance is a game for fools" I used to say A game…
You Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you! Embrace me, you irrep…
You Go To My Head You go to my head And you linger like a haunting…
You're My Thrill You're my thrill You do something to me You send chills righ…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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