Earl Bostic
Alto saxophonist Earl Bostic was a technical master of his instrument, yet remained somewhat underappreciated by jazz fans due to the string of simple, popular R&B/jump blues hits he recorded during his heyday in the '50s. Born Eugene Earl Bostic in Tulsa, OK, on April 25, 1913, Bostic played around the Midwest during the early '30s, studied at Xavier University, and toured with several bands before moving to New York in 1938. There he played for Don Redman, Edgar Hayes, and Lionel Hampton, making his record debut with the latter in 1939. In the early '40s, he worked as an arranger and session musician, and began leading his own regular large group in 1945. Cutting back to a septet the next year, Bostic began recording regularly, scoring his first big hit with 1948's "Temptation." He soon signed with the King label, the home of most of his biggest jukebox hits, which usually featured a driving, heavy, R&B-ish beat and an alto sound that could be smooth and romantic or aggressive and bluesy.
In 1951, Bostic landed a number one R&B hit with "Flamingo," plus another Top Ten in "Sleep." Subsequent hits included "You Go to My Head" and "Cherokee." Bostic's bands became important training grounds for up-and-coming jazzmen like John Coltrane, Blue Mitchell, Stanley Turrentine, Benny Golson, Jaki Byard, and others. Unfortunately, Bostic suffered a heart attack in the late '50s, which kept him away from music for two years. He returned to performing in 1959, but didn't record quite as extensively; when he did record in the '60s, his sessions were more soul-jazz than the proto-R&B of old. On October 28, 1965, Bostic suffered a fatal heart attack while playing a hotel in Rochester, NY.
© Steve Huey /TiVo
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His Finest Albums
Jazz - Released by ENLIGHTENMENT on 21 Aug 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Earl Bostic Collection 1939-59
Jazz - Released by ACROBAT on 13 May 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Flamingo (2003 Remastered Version)
Jazz - Released by Dreyfus Jazz on 1 Jan 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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La Cucaracha (Mono Version)
Jazz - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1960
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
1949- 1951
Blues - Released by Classics Blues & Rhythm Series on 4 Aug 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Anthology: The Deluxe Collection (Remastered)
R&B - Released by Master Tape Records on 25 Jun 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Classics: 1952-1953
Blues - Released by Body and Soul on 4 Aug 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Backup the Best of Earl Bostic
Jazz - Released by BackUp Best Sounds on 18 Dec 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Remastered Hits Vol. 2 (All Tracks Remastered)
Jazz - Released by jjjedizionimusicali on 1 Jun 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Earl Bostic Selected Favorites, Vol. 1
R&B - Released by Charly Records on 21 Mar 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Four Classic Albums (Dance Time / Let's Dance / Alto Magic in Hi-Fi / Dance Music from the Bostic Workshop) [Remastered]
Jazz - Released by Avid Entertainment on 5 Aug 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz as I Feel It (Album of 1958)
Pop - Released by Soul Story on 30 Nov 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Remasterd Hits (All Tracks Remastered)
R&B - Released by jjjedizionimusicali on 1 Feb 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
1954-1955
Blues - Released by Classics Blues & Rhythm Series on 4 Aug 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pain, danse et rosbeef (Mono Version)
Rock - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1962
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
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1945-1948
Blues - Released by Classics Blues & Rhythm Series on 4 Aug 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Let's Dance (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Avid Entertainment on 12 Aug 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo