Bill Doggett

William Ballard Doggett was an American pianist and organist. He began his career playing swing music before transitioning into rhythm and blues. Best known for his instrumental compositions "Honky Tonk" and "Hippy Dippy", Doggett was a pioneer of rock and roll. He worked with the Ink Spots, Johnny Otis, Wynonie Harris, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Jordan.

Biography

Doggett was born in Philadelphia. During the 1930s and early 1940s he worked for Lucky Millinder, Frank Fairfax and arranger Jimmy Mundy. In 1942 he was hired as the Ink Spots' pianist and arranger.
In 1951, Doggett organized his own trio and began recording for King Records. His best known recording is "Honky Tonk", a rhythm and blues hit of 1956, which sold four million copies, and which he co-wrote with Billy Butler. The track topped the US Billboard R&B chart for over two months. He also arranged for many bandleaders and performers, including Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Lionel Hampton.
He continued to play and arrange until he died, aged 80, from cancer in New York City.

Discography

Singles

7" EPs (all on King">King Records (United States)">King)

KEP-259 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo, Vol. 1
KEP-325 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo, Vol. 2
KEP-326 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo, Vol. 3
KEP-334 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo, Vol. 4
KEP-346 All Time Christmas Favorites
KEP-352 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo, Vol. 5
KEP-382 Doggett Dreams, Vol. 6
KEP-388 Doggett Jumps, Vol. 7
KEP-390 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo: Honky Tonk!
KEP-391 Bill Doggett, Volume 1
KEP-392 Bill Doggett, Volume 2
KEP-393 Bill Doggett, Volume 3
KEP-394 As You Desire Me
KEP-395 As You Desire Me
KEP-396 As You Desire Me
KEP-397 Earl Bostic – Bill Doggett
KEP-399 A Salute To Ellington
KEP-400 A Salute To Ellington
KEP-401 A Salute To Ellington
KEP-402 Dame Dreaming
KEP-403 Dame Dreaming
KEP-404 Dame Dreaming
KEP-407 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo: Hot Doggett
KEP-408 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo: Soft
KEP-424 Hold It!
KEP-425 Hold It!
KEP-426 Hold It!
KEP-442 High And Wide
KEP-443 High And Wide
KEP-444 High And Wide
KEP-448 Big City Dance Party
KEP-449 Big City Dance Party
KEP-450 ''Big City Dance Party ''
10" LPs
Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo, Volume 1 King 295-82
Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo, Volume 2 King 295-83
All Time Christmas Favorites King 295-89
Sentimentally Yours King 295-102
12" LPs
Moon Dust King 395-502
Hot Doggett King 395-514
As You Desire Me King 395-523
Everybody Dance the Honky Tonk King 395-531
Dame Dreaming King 395-532
A Salute to Ellington King 533
Doggett Beat for Dancing Feet King 557
Candle Glow King 563
Swingin' Easy King 582
Dance Awhile with Doggett King 585
12 Songs Of Christmas King 600
Hold It! King 609
High And Wide King 633
Big City Dance Party King 641
Bill Doggett on Tour King 667
For Reminiscent Lovers, Romantic Songs By Bill Doggett King 706
Back With More Bill Doggett King 723
The Many Moods Of Bill Doggett King 778
Bill Doggett Plays American Songs, Bossa Nova Style King 830
Impressions King 868
The Best Of Bill Doggett King 908
Bonanza Of 24 Songs King 959
Take Your Shot King 1041
Honky Tonk Popcorn King 1078
The Nearness Of You King 1097
Ram-Bunk-Shush King 1101
Sentimental Mood King 1104
Soft King 1108
14 Original Greatest Hits King-Starday 5009
Charles Brown: PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS King-Starday 5019
12" LPs issued by other labels
3,046 People Danced 'Til 4 A.M. To Bill Doggett Warner Bros. WS-1404
The Band With The Beat! Warner Bros. WS-1421
Bill Doggett Swings Warner Bros. WS-1452
Rhythm Is My Business Verve V6-4056
Oops! The Swinging Sounds Of Bill Doggett Columbia CL-1814/CS-8614
Prelude To The Blues Columbia CL-1942/CS-8742
Fingertips Columbia CL-2082/CS-8882
Wow! ABC-Paramount S-507
Honky Tonk A-La-Mod! Roulette SR-25330
Bill Doggett Disques Black And Blue 33.029 - released on CD as I Don't Know Much About Love in 1991
Bill Doggett feat. Eddie Davis & Eddie Vinson Disques Black And Blue 33.138 - with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
Midnight Slows, Vol. 9 Disques Black And Blue 33.145
Midnight Slows, Vol. 10 Disques Black And Blue 33.160 - with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis
Mister Honky Tonk Disques Black And Blue 33.562
The Right Choice After Hours/Ichiban AFT-4112 - Doggett's last recorded album of original material; also released on CD
CD releases/compilations of note
Gon' Doggett Charly R&B CRB-1094
Trading Licks Charly R&B CD-51
Leaps And Bounds Charly R&B CD-281
The EP Collection See For Miles SEECD-689
Everyday, I Have The Blues Black & Blue BB-911
Honky Tonk: The Very Best Of Bill Doggett Collectables 2876
The Chronological Bill Doggett 1952-1953 Classics 5097
Am I Blue Black & Blue BB-468
The Chronological Bill Doggett 1954 Classics 5175
Honky Tonk Popcorn Beat Goes Public/BGP CDBGPD-249 - reissue of King 1078 plus 5 bonus tracks
Everybody Dance The Honky Tonk/Doggett Beat For Dancing Feet Soul Jam 806174 2LP-on-1CD
Dancing With Doggett: Bill Doggett, His Organ & Combo 1955-1960 Jasmine JASMCD-3142 - compilation that also includes the entire 3,046 People Danced 'Til 4 A.M. album.
As sideman

;With Ella Fitzgerald

Lullabies of Birdland - includes "Rough Ridin, "Smooth Sailing", and "Air Mail Special" with Doggett on organ

;With Coleman Hawkins

The Hawk Talks

;With Helen Humes

Complete 1927–1950 Studio Recordings 3-CD set - includes the 5 tracks that Humes recorded with Doggett's octet for Philo/Aladdin in 1945: "Unlucky Woman", "Every Now And Then", "He May Be Your Man", "Blue Prelude", and "Be-Baba-Leba"

;With Willis Jackson