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
Once In A While
Zoot Sims Lyrics
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One little thought to me
Though someone else may be
Nearer your heart?
Once in a while will you dream
Of the moments I shared with you
Moments before we two
In love's smoldering ember
One spark may remain
If love still can remember
That spark may burn again
I know that I'll be contented
With yesterday's memory
Knowing you think of me
Once in a while
In love's smoldering ember
One spark may remain
If love still can remember
The spark may burn again
I know that I'll be contented
With yesterday's memory
Knowing you think of me
Once in a while
The lyrics to Zoot Sims's song Once in a While convey the bittersweet yearning of a former lover who wonders whether their previous flame still thinks about them on occasion. The singer pleas to be thought of "once in a while," even though they recognize that the other person may be closer to someone else's heart. The lyrics go on to supplicate for a remnant of a spark that may have been missed, suggesting that if love still remembers, it could burn again. Still, even if the flame never does reignite, the singer says they will be satisfied with yesterday's memory and the knowledge that their ex-lover can conjure up thoughts of them every once in a while.
The song is poignant in its simplicity to capture the melancholic tone of lost love and the memories that remain. It gracefully recognizes that sometimes love fades, and even the most intense flames can smolder into something that only simmers in one's heart. The lyrics capture the universal experience of past lovers who hope to be remembered fondly, even as life goes on and takes them down separate paths.
Line by Line Meaning
Once in a while will you try to give
Would you consider extending a little kindness to me every so often
One little thought to me
A fleeting moment of attention my way
Though someone else may be
Even if there's another who holds priority over me
Nearer your heart?
And resides much closer to your soul?
Once in a while will you dream
Do you ever catch yourself in a moment of reminiscence
Of the moments I shared with you
About the precious time the two of us had together
Moments before we two
In that time when we existed together
Drifted apart?
Before the distance and the separation came between us
In love's smoldering ember
There could be a faint light burning inside the remains of our love
One spark may remain
Only one flame could possibly have survived
If love still can remember
If there's any affection between us that still survives
That spark may burn again
Then there's a chance for us to reignite the passion that we've lost
I know that I'll be contented
I'm comfortable with the memories of our past
With yesterday's memory
I can look back on them with no regrets or grudges
Knowing you think of me
Being aware that there are still thoughts of me in your head
Once in a while
Even if it happens once in a blue moon
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., CARLIN AMERICA INC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: RAY NOBLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind