18. EDDIE JEFFERSON
Edgar "Eddie" Jefferson was born in Pittsburgh in 1918.
He started out as a dancer, but had become a singer by the late 1940s, and a live 1949 recording exists of him singing vocalese lyrics to "Parker's Mood" and to a Lester Young solo, showing him to be a pioneer in that musical style.
Jefferson's first studio recording was in 1952, and he worked with saxophonist James Moody in the 50s and late 60s; one of Jefferson's most famous efforts was his text to "Moody's Mood for Love."
Jefferson's first studio recording was in 1952, and he worked with saxophonist James Moody in the 50s and late 60s; one of Jefferson's most famous efforts was his text to "Moody's Mood for Love."
However, even though King Pleasure and other stars cited Jefferson as a founder of vocalese, his work was largely overlooked until the 1970s.
Jefferson's comeback was cut short when he was murdered in 1979 outside a Detroit nightclub. However, his recordings show the significance of his work, and his last recordings were recently released on CD.
Here is Eddie singing The last time I saw "Jeannine."
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