Bill Doggett
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Doggett in 1980
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Ballard Doggett |
| Born | (1916-02-16)February 16, 1916 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | November 13, 1996(1996-11-13) (aged 80) New York City, U.S. |
| Genres |
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| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) |
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| Years active | 1930s–1996 |
| Labels | King |
William Ballard Doggett (February 16, 1916 – November 13, 1996)[1] was an American pianist and organist.[2] He began his career playing swing music before transitioning into rhythm and blues.[3] Best known for his instrumental compositions "Honky Tonk" and "Hippy Dippy", Doggett was a pioneer of rock and roll.[4] He worked with the Ink Spots, Johnny Otis, Wynonie Harris, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Jordan.[1]
Doggett was born in Philadelphia.[1] During the 1930s and early 1940s he worked for Lucky Millinder, Frank Fairfax and arranger Jimmy Mundy.[2] In 1942 he was hired as the Ink Spots' pianist and arranger.[2]
In 1951, Doggett organized his own trio and began recording for King Records.[2] His best known recording is "Honky Tonk", a rhythm and blues hit of 1956,[2] which sold four million copies (reaching No. 1 R&B and No. 2 Pop), and which he co-wrote with Billy Butler.[5] The track topped the US Billboard R&B chart for over two months.[6] He also arranged for many bandleaders and performers, including Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Lionel Hampton.[2]
He continued to play and arrange until he died, aged 80, from cancer in New York City.[1]
| Year | Titles (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated |
Chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | |||
| 1945 | "Be-Baba-Leba" b/w "Every Now and Then" Both sides feature vocalist Helen Humes |
3 | Non-album tracks | |
| "He May Be Your Man" b/w "Blue Prelude" Both sides feature vocalist Helen Humes |
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| 1953 | "Moondust" / | 18 | Moon Dust | |
| "Early Bird" | 21 | Hot Doggett | ||
| "No More In Life" (Vocals by Mildred Anderson) b/w "Real Gone Mambo" (from The Many Moods Of Bill Doggett) |
20 | Non-album track | ||
| "Eventide" b/w "And The Angels Sing" (from The Doggett Beat For Happy Feet) |
Moon Dust | |||
| "The Christmas Song" b/w "Winter Wonderland" |
All Time Christmas Favorites (later on 12 Songs Of Christmas) | |||
| 1954 | "It's A Dream" b/w "The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On)" (from Dance Awhile With Doggett) |
Moon Dust | ||
| "There's No You" b/w "Easy" (from The Doggett Beat For Happy Feet) |
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| "Sweet Lorraine" b/w "Tailor Made" (from Dance Awhile With Doggett) |
Dame Dreaming | |||
| "High Heels" b/w "Sweet Slumber" (from Moon Dust) |
15 | Hot Doggett | ||
| "Honey" b/w "The Nearness Of You" (from Moon Dust) |
The Doggett Beat For Happy Feet | |||
| "Gumbo" b/w "Tara's Theme" (from Moon Dust) |
Hot Doggett | |||
| 1955 | "My Reverie" b/w "King Bee" (from The Doggett Beat For Happy Feet) |
Moon Dust | ||
| "I'll Be Around" b/w "Wild Oats" (from Hot Doggett) |
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| "Oof!" b/w "Street Scene" (from Moon Dust) |
Hot Doggett | |||
| "Quaker City" b/w "True Blue" |
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| "Shove Off" b/w "You Don't Know What Love Is" (from Moon Dust) |
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| "Honey Boy" b/w "Misty Moon" (from Dance Awhile With Doggett) |
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| 1956 | "In A Sentimental Mood" b/w "Who's Who" (from Hot Doggett) |
Candle Glow | ||
| "Squashy" b/w "We Found Love" (from Candle Glow) |
Hot Doggett | |||
| "The Bo-Do Rock" b/w "Mean To Me" Both sides with Earl Bostic |
Non-album tracks | |||
| "What A Diff'rence A Day Made" b/w "Stella By Starlight" (from Candle Glow) |
The Doggett Beat For Happy Feet | |||
| "Honky Tonk"—Parts 1 &2 | 2 | 1 | Everybody Dance The Honky Tonk | |
| "Bubbins Rock" b/w "Indiana" Both sides with Earl Bostic |
Non-album tracks | |||
| "Slow Walk" b/w "Hand In Hand" (from Candle Glow) |
26 | 4 | Everybody Dance The Honky Tonk | |
| "Honky Tonk" (Vocals by Tommy Brown) b/w "Peacock Alley" (from Everybody Dance The Honky Tonk) |
The Many Moods Of Bill Doggett | |||
| 1957 | "Ram-Bunk-Shush" b/w "Blue Largo" (from The Many Moods Of Bill Doggett) |
67 | 10 | The Doggett Beat For Happy Feet |
| "Chloe" b/w "Number Three" (from Everybody Dance The Honky Tonk) |
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| "Ding Dong" b/w "Cling To Me" (from Candle Glow) |
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| "Shindig" b/w "Hammer Head" |
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| "Soft" b/w "Hot Ginger" |
35 | 11 | ||
| "Leaps and Bounds"—Part 1 b/w Part 2 |
13 | Everybody Dance The Honky Tonk | ||
| 1958 | "Hippy Dippy" b/w "Flying Home" (from Dance Awhile With Doggett) |
Hold It! | ||
| "Boo-Da-Ba" b/w "Pimento" |
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| "Blues For Handy" b/w "How Could You" (from Dance Awhile With Doggett) |
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| "Blip Blop" b/w "Tanya" |
82 | 11 | ||
| "Hold It" b/w "Birdie" |
92 | 3 | ||
| "Rainbow Riot"—Part 1 b/w Part 2 |
15 | |||
| 1959 | "Monster Party" b/w "Scott's Bluff" |
27 | High and Wide | |
| "Ocean Liner" b/w "The Madison" |
On Tour | |||
| "After Hours" b/w "Big City Drag" |
Big City Dance Party | |||
| "Yocky Dock"—Part 1 b/w Part 2 |
30 | On Tour | ||
| "Goofy Organ" b/w "Zee" (from On Tour) |
Back Again With More Bill Doggett | |||
| "Smokie"—Part 2 b/w "Evening Dreams" (from On Tour) |
95 | |||
| 1960 | "Raw Turkey" b/w "Back Woods" (Non-album track) |
On Tour | ||
| "Smoochie" "Big Boy" (from Everybody Dance The Honky Tonk) |
Dance Awhile With Doggett | |||
| "The Slush" b/w "Buttered Popcorn" |
Back Again With More Bill Doggett | |||
| "Trav'lin Light" b/w "A Lover's Dream" (from The Many Moods Of Bill Doggett) |
For Reminiscent Lovers, Romantic Songs | |||
| "Slidin'" b/w "Afternoon Jump" (from Everybody Dance The Honky Tonk) |
Back Again With More Bill Doggett | |||
| "Earl's Dog" (With Earl Bostic) B-side by Earl Bostic: "Special Delivery Stomp" |
Non-album tracks | |||
| "(Let's Do) The Hully Gully Twist" b/w "Jackrabbit" |
66 | 3,046 People Danced 'Til 4 AM | ||
| 1961 | "Honky Tonk"—Part 2 b/w "Floyd's Guitar Blues" (from Big City Dance Party) |
57 | 21 | Everybody Dance The Honky Tonk |
| "Let's Do The Continental" b/w "Pony Walk" |
The Band With The Beat | |||
| "You Can't Sit Down"—Part 1 b/w Part 2 |
3,046 People Danced 'Til 4 AM | |||
| "The Doodle" b/w "Bugle Nose" |
Back Again With More Bill Doggett | |||
| "High and Wide" b/w "In The Wee Hours" |
High and Wide | |||
| 1962 | "The Doodle Twist" b/w "Gene's Dream" |
Non-album tracks | ||
| "Lady's Choice" b/w "Buster" |
Oops! The Swinging Sounds Of Bill Doggett and His Combo | |||
| "George Washington Twist" b/w "Eleven O'clock Twist" |
The Many Moods Of Bill Doggett | |||
| "Moondust" b/w "Teardrops" (from Candle Glow) |
Moon Dust | |||
| "Oops" b/w "Choo Choo" |
Oops! The Swinging Sounds Of Bill Doggett and His Combo | |||
| "For All We Know" b/w "Hometown Shout" (from On Tour) |
For Reminiscent Lovers, Romantic Songs | |||
| 1963 | "Soda Pop" b/w "Ham Fat" |
Prelude To The Blues | ||
| "Honky Tonk Bossa Nova"—Part 2 b/w "Ocean Liner Bossa Nova" |
American Songs In Bossa Nova Style | |||
| "Down Home Bossa Nova" b/w "Si-Si-Nova" |
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| "Groovy Movie" b/w "The Fog" (from The Many Moods Of Bill Doggett) |
Impressions | |||
| "The Worm" b/w "Hot Fudge" |
Fingertips | |||
| 1964 | "Fat Back" b/w "Si Si Cisco" |
Non-album tracks | ||
| "Night Train"—Part 1 b/w Part 2 |
Back Again With More Bill Doggett | |||
| "Hey, Big Boy, Hey Hey" b/w "The Rail" (from Big City Dance Party) |
The Best Of Bill Doggett | |||
| "Crackers" b/w "That's Enough, Lock 'Em Up" |
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| "The Kicker" b/w "Mudcat" |
Wow! | |||
| "Snuff Box" b/w "Blood Pressure" (Non-album track) |
The Best Of Bill Doggett | |||
| 1965 | "Slidin'" b/w "Teardrops" |
Bonanza Of 24 Songs | ||
| 1967 | "Sapphire" b/w "Ko-Ko" |
Honky Tonk A-La Mod! | ||
| "Lovin' Mood" b/w "The Funky Whistler" |
Non-album tracks | |||
| 1969 | "Twenty-Five Miles" b/w "For Once In My Life" (Non-album track) |
Honky Tonk Popcorn | ||
| "Honky Tonk Popcorn" b/w "Honky Tonk" |
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| 1970 | "The Nearness Of You" "Moondust" |
The Nearness Of You | ||
| 1971 | "Eventide" b/w "In A Sentimental Mood" |
Sentimental Mood | ||
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