Bill Doggett with his combo (getty images)

William Ballard Doggett, better known as Bill Doggett was born in Philadelphia in 1916 and was introduced to music by his church pianist mother.  He played in a combo while still in high school and went on to work with a plethora of stars in rock, jazz, rhythm and blues amassing a string of hits but, sadly, seems to have barely been noticed on this the 100th anniversary of his birth.  Where is NPR at a time like this?

Well, all is not lost.  Fortunately his nephew and namesake Bill Doggett is doing justice to the memory of this important American musician.  This younger Doggett is an archivist, lecturer, curator, strategic marketer, photographer, filmmaker, and arts advocate (his website is well worth your time).  I am hardly as well prepared to provide more than an overview of this musician’s work but I feel obliged to do my small part in recognizing this man’s work.

Promotional poster for the September 28, 2016 centennial celebration curated by nephew and namesake, Bill Doggett.

Doggett’s list of chart singles:

• “Be-Baba-Leba” (vocal by Helen Humes) (Philo/Aladdin 106) 1945 (#3 R&B)
• “Moon Dust” 1953 (#18 R&B)
• “Early Bird” 1953 (#21 R&B)
• “No More In Life” 1953 (#20 R&B)
• “High Heels” 1954 (#15 R&B)
• “Honky Tonk, Part 1″/”Honky Tonk, Part 2” (King 4950) 1956 (#1(14) R&B/#2(3) Pop)
• “Slow Walk” (King 5000) 1956 (#4 R&B/#19 Pop)
• “Ram-Bunk-Shush” (King 5020) 1957 (#4 R&B)
• “Soft” 1957 (#11 R&B)
• “Leaps And Bounds, Part 1″/”Leaps And Bounds, Part 2” (King 5101) 1958 (#13 R&B)
• “Blip Blop” 1958 (#11 R&B)
• “Hold It!” (King 5149) 1958 (#3 R&B)
• “Rainbow Riot, Part 1″/”Rainbow Riot, Part 2” (King 5159) 1959 (#15 R&B)
• “Monster Party” (King 5176) 1959 (#27 R&B)
• “Yocky Dock, Part 1″/”Yocky Dock, Part 2” (King 5256) 1959 (#30 R&B)
• “Honky Tonk, Part 2” 1961 (#21 R&B)

• 

  Doggett’s best known work.

While his last chart hit was 1961 his collaborations with  Lucky Millinder,  Frank Fairfax,  Jimmy Mundy,  the Ink Spots,  Louis Jordan, Johnny Otis, Wynonie Harris, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie,  Lionel Hampton,  Red Holloway, Clifford Scott, Percy France, David “Bubba” Brooks, Clifford Davis, and Floyd “Candy” Johnson; guitarists Floyd Smith, Billy Butler, Sam Lackey and Pete Mayes; and singers Edwin Starr, Toni Williams and Betty Saint-Clair attest to the scope of his work.  Doggett continued to play and arrange until his death from a heart attack in New York in 1996 at the age of 80.

Bill Doggett photographed in France in 1980 by Lionel Decoster (from Wikipedia article)

The Hammond Organ is known for being the workhorse of modern classical as well as rock, rhythm and blues and jazz.  It was Bill Doggett who became one of the early masters of this (then new) electronic instrument.  While he was also a highly competent pianist, it was with the Hammond Organ that he had his greatest success. There is little doubt that his playing has influenced subsequent musicians who took on this instrument.

Here’s hoping that astute musicians and producers will take on the task of recognizing the work of the late great Bill Doggett.  Toward that end here, from Wikipedia, is a discography of his work:

10 inch LPs

• Bill Doggett: His Organ And Combo, Volume 1 King 295-82 (1954)
• Bill Doggett: His Organ And Combo, Volume 2 King 295-83 (1954)
• All Time Christmas Favorites King 295-89 (1954)
• Sentimentally Yours King 295-102 (1955)

12 inch LPs (on King Records)

• Moon Dust King 395-502 (1956)
• Hot Doggett King 395-514 (1956)
• As You Desire Me King 395-523 (1956)
• Everybody Dance The Honky Tonk King 395-531 (1956)
• Dame Dreaming With Bill Doggett King 395-532 (1957)
• A Salute To Ellington King 533 (1957)
• The Doggett Beat For Dancing Feet King 557 (1957)
• Candle Glow King 563 (1958)
• Swingin’ Easy King 582 (1958)
• Dance Awhile With Doggett King 585 (1958)
• 12 Songs Of Christmas [reissue of King 295-89 plus 6 additional tracks] King 600 (1958)
• Hold It! King 609 (1959)
• High And Wide King 633 (1959)
• Big City Dance Party King 641 (1959)
• Bill Doggett On Tour [this is NOT a live album] King 667 (1959)
• For Reminiscent Lovers, Romantic Songs By Bill Doggett King 706 (1960)
• Back With More Bill Doggett King 723 (1960)
• The Many Moods Of Bill Doggett King 778 (1962)
• Bill Doggett Plays American Songs, Bossa Nova Style King 830 (1963)
• Impressions King 868 (1963)
• The Best Of Bill Doggett [compilation] King 908 (1964)
• Bonanza Of 24 Songs [compilation] King 959 (1966)
• Take Your Shot King 1041 (1969)
• Honky Tonk Popcorn King 1078 (1970)
• The Nearness Of You King 1097 (1970)
• Ram-Bunk-Shush [compilation] King 1101 (1970)
• Sentimental Mood [compilation] King 1104 (1970)
• Soft [compilation] King 1108 (1970)
• 14 Original Greatest Hits [compilation; reissued as ‘All His Hits’] King-Starday 5009 (1977)
• Charles Brown: PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS [this vocal album includes 4 instrumental tracks by Bill Doggett] King-Starday 5019 (1978)

12 inch LPs (on other labels)

• 3,046 People Danced ‘Til 4 A.M. To Bill Doggett [this is a live album] Warner Bros. WS-1404 (1961)
• The Band With The Beat! Warner Bros. WS-1421 (1961)
• Bill Doggett Swings Warner Bros. WS-1452 (1962)
• Rhythm Is My Business (Ella Fitzgerald with Bill Doggett) Verve V6-4056 (1962)
• Oops! The Swinging Sounds Of Bill Doggett Columbia CL-1814/CS-8614 (1962)
• Prelude To The Blues Columbia CL-1942/CS-8742 (1962)
• Finger-Tips Columbia CL-2082/CS-8882 (1963)
• Wow! ABC-Paramount S-507 (1964)
• Honky Tonk A-La-Mod! Roulette SR-25330 (1966)
• The Right Choice After Hours/Ichiban 4112 (1991) Note: this is Bill’s last recorded album of original material; also released on CD.

OK all you producers, have at it.