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
Skylark
Zoot Sims Lyrics
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Have you anything to say to me?
Won't you tell me where my love can be?
Is there a meadow in the mist
Where someone's waiting to be kissed?
Skylark
Have you seen a valley green with spring?
Over the shadows and the rain
To a blossom covered lane
And in your lonely flight
Haven't you heard the music in the night?
Wonderful music, faint as a will o' the wisp
Crazy as a loon, sad as a gypsy serenading the moon
Oh skylark
I don't know if you can find these things
But my heart is riding on your wings
So if you see them anywhere
Won't you lead me there?
Oh skylark
I don't know if you can find these things
But my heart is riding on your wings
So if you see them anywhere
Won't you lead me there?
The song Skylark by Zoot Sims is a romantic ballad that captures the essence of longing and searching for love. The singer, addressing a skylark, asks if it knows where their love can be found, pondering if there is a meadow or a blossom-covered lane where their heart can journey to. The skylark is seen as a messenger that can locate the singer's love and lead them to it. Throughout the song, the skylark is portrayed as a symbol of hope and guidance, with the singer expressing their trust and reliance on it to find their true love.
The lyrics evoke a sense of melancholy and yearning, with the skylark's possible inability to find the singer's love adding to the song's bittersweet atmosphere. The lines "And in your lonely flight, Haven't you heard the music in the night? Wonderful music, faint as a will o' the wisp Crazy as a loon, sad as a gypsy serenading the moon" suggest that the skylark has witnessed the beauty of love but also the pain and heartache that comes with it. Ultimately, the singer puts their faith in the skylark to lead them to their true love, even if it means searching in distant and unknown places.
Overall, Skylark is a beautiful and emotional song about love, longing, and the search for happiness. The skylark serves as a guiding light, a symbol of hope in the singer's quest for love, and bears witness to the highs and lows of the human heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Skylark
The singer addresses the bird known as Skylark.
Have you anything to say to me?
The singer inquires if there is anything that Skylark can tell them.
Won't you tell me where my love can be?
The singer asks Skylark to guide them towards their lost love.
Is there a meadow in the mist
The artist wonders if there is a place where they can find their love.
Where someone's waiting to be kissed?
The artist hopes that their love is waiting for them in that meadow.
Skylark
The singer addresses the bird again.
Have you seen a valley green with spring?
The singer wonders if Skylark has seen a valley that is green with the arrival of spring.
Where my heart can go a journeying
The artist hopes that Skylark can lead them to a place where their heart can wander and explore.
Over the shadows and the rain
The artist desires to move beyond any hardships and challenges that they may face.
To a blossom covered lane
The artist imagines a path filled with beautiful blooms.
And in your lonely flight
The singer acknowledges that Skylark leads a solitary life.
Haven't you heard the music in the night?
The artist asks Skylark if they have ever heard the beautiful sounds of the night.
Wonderful music, faint as a will o' the wisp
The singer describes the music of the night as enchanting, but elusive.
Crazy as a loon, sad as a gypsy serenading the moon
The singer further characterizes the music of the night as being both wild and mournful.
Oh skylark
The singer addresses the bird once again.
I don't know if you can find these things
The artist admits that they are uncertain about whether or not Skylark can help them find what they seek.
But my heart is riding on your wings
The artist explains that they are placing their hopes and desires in Skylark's abilities.
So if you see them anywhere
The singer implores Skylark to keep an eye out for what they are searching for.
Won't you lead me there?
The singer requests that Skylark guide them to their destination.
Oh skylark
The artist addresses the bird one final time.
I don't know if you can find these things
The artist reiterates their uncertainty about whether or not Skylark can help them.
But my heart is riding on your wings
The artist reaffirms their dependence on Skylark.
So if you see them anywhere
The singer again asks Skylark to aid them in their search.
Won't you lead me there?
The artist once more requests Skylark's guidance.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HOAGY CARMICHAEL, JOHNNY MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind