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
You Go To My Head
Zoot Sims Lyrics
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And you linger like a haunting refrain
And I find you spinning round in my brain
Like the bubbles in a glass of champagne
You go to my head
Like a sip of sparkling burgundy brew
And I find the very mention of you
The thrill of the thought
That you might give a thought to my plea, cast a spell over me
Still I say to myself get a hold of yourself
Can't you see that it never can be?
You go to my head
With a smile that makes my temperature rise
Like a summer with a thousand July's
You intoxicate my soul with your eyes
Though I'm certain that this heart of mine
Hasn't a ghost of a chance in this crazy romance
You go to my head
You go to my head
Zoot Sims's song "You Go To My Head" is a romantic and sentimental tune about the way someone can become all-consuming in your thoughts and emotions. The song describes the haunting way this person lingers in the singer's mind, spinning around like bubbles in a glass of champagne. The presence of this person is likened to a sip of sparkling burgundy or the kick of a strong drink. The thrill of the possibility that this person may respond to the singer's feelings is overwhelming, and they feel intoxicated by the mere thought of it.
The song ultimately concedes that this "crazy romance" is unlikely to go anywhere, but the person still goes to the singer's head with their smile and intoxicating eyes. The lyrics paint an image of infatuation and longing for someone who may be out of reach.
Overall, "You Go To My Head" is a classic romantic ballad that captures the feeling of being consumed by love.
Line by Line Meaning
You go to my head
You are constantly on my mind and have captured my heart.
And you linger like a haunting refrain
Your presence is unforgettable and always present in my thoughts.
And I find you spinning round in my brain
You are constantly on my mind and I cannot stop thinking about you.
Like the bubbles in a glass of champagne
Your essence and presence are intoxicating, like the bubbles in a glass of champagne.
Like a sip of sparkling burgundy brew
Your presence is addictive, like a sip of a sparkling burgundy brew that you can't stop drinking.
And I find the very mention of you
Even hearing your name or the thought of you is enough to captivate me.
Like the kicker in a julep or two
You are like the extra kick in a refreshing julep that makes it complete.
The thrill of the thought
The excitement of the possibility.
That you might give a thought to my plea, cast a spell over me
The hope that you will consider my request has entranced me.
Still I say to myself get a hold of yourself
Despite my overwhelming emotions, I try to regain control of my thoughts and actions.
Can't you see that it never can be?
I realize that our relationship is unlikely to happen.
With a smile that makes my temperature rise
Your smile has an effect on me that makes me feel warm and emotional.
Like a summer with a thousand July's
Your presence makes me feel as though every day is as warm and happy as a summer in July.
You intoxicate my soul with your eyes
Your gaze is captivating and deeply affects me emotionally.
Though I'm certain that this heart of mine
Despite my feelings and emotions, I know that it may not be practical or feasible.
Hasn't a ghost of a chance in this crazy romance
The chances of our relationship working out are slim to none and may be unrealistic.
You go to my head
Once again emphasizing the hold that the other person has over the singer's thoughts and emotions.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: J.F. Coots, Haven Gillespie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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