Bill Doggett(1916-1996)
- Actor
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Bill Doggett was a rock-and-roll pioneer; his 1956 hit "Honky Tonk" has
been hailed as the first rock instrumental. Raised on the streets of
North Philadelphia and a graduate of Central High School, Bill Doggett
had been making music from an early age, turning from the trumpet to
the piano at age 13, and by 15 he was playing in the pit orchestra of a
local theater. He played in
Lucky Millinder's band for a time, and
was pianist and arranger for
The Ink Spots. He also played for and
recorded with such artists as
Ella Fitzgerald,
Johnny Otis, Wynonnie Harris and, in 1949,
Louis Jordan. After leaving Jordan,
Doggett was encouraged to start using the organ in his musical
renditions, and he was playing it when "Honky Tonk" was recorded for
King Records. In his later years he returned to his jazz roots and was
heard in a number of venues both in the United States and overseas.
