Bill Jennings (September 12, 1919 – November 29, 1978) was an American jazz guitarist and composer.[1]
Bill Jennings | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 12, 1919 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | November 29, 1978 (aged 59) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, R&B, soul jazz |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Years active | 1954–1968 |
| Formerly of | Jack McDuff, Willis "Gator" Jackson, King Curtis, Louis Armstrong, Bill Doggett, Louis Jordan, Ella Fitzgerald |
Career
editRecording as both a leader and a sideman, Jennings has been called "the architect of soul jazz" and has influenced on jazz, soul, R&B, and blues guitar. B.B. King often mentioned Jennings as one of his biggest influences.[2] Jennings recorded with such artists as Willis "Gator" Jackson, Brother Jack McDuff, Leo Parker, Bill Doggett, Louis Jordan, King Curtis, Louis Armstrong, and Ella Fitzgerald[3] and unique in his ability to play in many styles, including swing, bop, jump blues, R&B, and pop.[4] Jennings played on "Fever" by Little Willie John, which made the Billboard R&B chart in the US and peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100.[5]
A left-handed player, Jennings played guitar upside down, with the high strings at the top, which gave him a different approach to phrasing and bending the strings.[6] Later in his career, he lost a finger on his fretting hand and began playing bass guitar.[7]
Death
editJennings died at Veterans Hospital in Indianapolis on November 29, 1978. He was a United States Navy veteran and a member of the Church of God.[8]
In 2023, the Killer Blues Headstone Project placed a headstone for Bill Jennings at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.[9]
Discography
editAs leader
edit- Mood Indigo (King, 1956)
- Billy in the Lion's Den (King, 1957)
- Enough Said! (Prestige, 1959)
- Glide On (Prestige, 1960)
As sideman
editWith Willis Jackson
- Please Mr. Jackson (Prestige, 1959)
- Cookin' Sherry (Prestige, 1960)
- Blue Gator (Prestige, 1960)
- Thunderbird (Prestige, 1962)
- Together Again! (Prestige, 1965)
- Together Again, Again (Prestige, 1967)
- Star Bag (Prestige, 1968)
- Swivelhips (Prestige, 1969)
- Gator's Groove (Prestige, 1969)
With Brother Jack McDuff
- Brother Jack (Prestige, 1960)
With others
- Roy Brown, Laughing but Crying (Route 66, 1977)
- Kenny Burrell, Guitar Soul (Status 1965)
- The Charms, Glory Spots (Motherwit, 1991)
- Wild Bill Davis, Flying High (Everest, 1959)
- Bill Doggett, Moondust (Odeon 1959)
- Shakey Jake Harris, Good Times (Bluesville, 1960)
- Little Willie John, Fever (Regency, 1956)
- Etta Jones, The Jones Girl...Etta...Sings, Sings, Sings (King, 1958)
- Betty Roche, Singin' & Swingin' (Prestige, 1961)
References
edit- ^ Rubin, Dave (2007). Inside the Blues: 1942 to 1982 (Updated ed.). Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard. ISBN 9781423416661. OCLC 85846467.
- ^ "GP Flashback BB King March 1975". Guitarplayer.com. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
- ^ "Bill Jennings | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
- ^ "Bill Jennings and Leo Parker". Jazzwax.com. Retrieved 2018-02-27.
- ^ "Fever (song by Little Willie John)". Musicvf.com. Retrieved 2018-02-27.
- ^ Friedland, Ed. "Curious Cat". Tucson Weekly. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
- ^ "Jazz news: Bill Jennings: 'Enough Said'". All About Jazz News. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
- ^ "William Jennings". Indianapolis Recorder. December 16, 1978. p. 2.
- ^ "Headstones Placed". Killerblues.net.