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
I've Got A Crush On You
Zoot Sims Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have words that do not come from children's books,
There's a trick with a knife I'm learnin' to do,
But everything I've got belongs to you!
I've a powerful anethesia in my fist
And the perfect wrist to give your neck a twist!
Hammer lock holds, I've mastered a few,
Share for share, share alike,
You get struck each time I strike!
Me for you, you for me,
I'll give youy plenty of nothin'!
I'm not yours for better, but for worse,
And I've learned to give the well-known witch's curse!
I've a terrible tongue and a temper for two,
But everything I've got belongs to you!
Then at night we'll sleep and sleep,
Sleep and sleep and sleep and sleep,
And sleep and sleep,
I'll give youy plenty of nothin'!
I'm not yours for better, but for worse,
And I've learned to give the well-known witch's curse!
I've a terrible tongue and a temper for two,
But everything I've got,
Oooh-ooh it's not a lot!
But everything I've got belongs to you!
The lyrics of Zoot Sims's song I've Got A Crush On You are a playful and flirtatious ode to a crush. The singer begins by saying that they have "dirty looks" for the object of their affection and that they speak in a way that is not "from children's books". They then go on to suggest that they are skilled with a knife and know how to perform "hammer lock holds". However, despite these potentially sinister-sounding references, the singer reassures the listener that "everything I've got belongs to you".
The second half of the song continues in this vein, with the singer boasting of their ability to curse and their "terrible tongue and a temper for two". Yet they also promise that they are devoted to their crush, even if they are "not yours for better, but for worse". The song ends with a humorous repetition of the line "I'll give you plenty of nothin'", suggesting that the singer may not be as impressive as they claim to be.
Overall, the lyrics of I've Got A Crush On You are meant to be humorous and lighthearted, playing with the idea of exaggerated machismo and the absurd lengths someone might go to impress their crush. The underlying message, however, is one of devotion and commitment, even in the face of flaws and shortcomings.
Line by Line Meaning
I have eyes for you to give you dirty looks,
I'm giving you a lustful and longing gaze, daring and intense exchange.
I have words that do not come from children's books,
I'm communicating myself with words that are grown-up and barely spoken.
There's a trick with a knife I'm learnin' to do,
I'm mastering the technique of wielding a sharp blade in a way that can intimidate and pierce.
But everything I've got belongs to you!
My all, everything of me is entirely devoted to you!
I've a powerful anesthesia in my fist
I've got a strong yet insidious kick in my punch.
And the perfect wrist to give your neck a twist!
I have a skilled way to choke you with my strength.
Hammer lock holds, I've mastered a few,
I've become proficient in the technicalities of executing painful and forceful holds.
But everything I've got belongs to you!
My all, everything of me is entirely devoted to you!
Share for share, share alike,
Give to me and give to you, fair exchange, out of common interest.
You get struck each time I strike!
Whenever I attack, you are also affected.
Me for you, you for me,
We are in this together, with common purpose and mutual benefit.
I'll give youy plenty of nothin'!
There's not much tangible or worldly value I have to offer, but I'll give it my all anyway!
I'm not yours for better, but for worse,
We are partners, through thick and thin, in good and bad times.
And I've learned to give the well-known witch's curse!
I've internalized the art of spreading negativity and misfortune through the spoken word.
I've a terrible tongue and a temper for two,
I possess both a sharp and cutting tongue, and an explosive and volatile temperament.
But everything I've got belongs to you!
My all, everything of me is entirely devoted to you!
Then at night we'll sleep and sleep,
We'll rest and slumber, peacefully and contentedly.
Sleep and sleep and sleep and sleep,
We'll rest like babies, without worry or stress.
And sleep and sleep,
Our sleep will be long and uninterrupted.
I'll give youy plenty of nothin'!
There's not much tangible or worldly value I have to offer, but I'll give it my all anyway!
Oooh-ooh it's not a lot!
Admittedly, my all is not much, but it's all I have to give.
But everything I've got belongs to you!
My all, everything of me is entirely devoted to you!
Lyrics © IMAGEM U.S. LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: OSCAR PETTIFORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind