Bill Jennings (guitarist)

Bill Jennings (September 12, 1919 – November 29, 1978) was an American jazz guitarist and composer.[1]

Bill Jennings
Born(1919-09-12)September 12, 1919
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
DiedNovember 29, 1978(1978-11-29) (aged 59)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
GenresJazz, R&B, soul jazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1954–1968
Formerly ofJack McDuff, Willis "Gator" Jackson, King Curtis, Louis Armstrong, Bill Doggett, Louis Jordan, Ella Fitzgerald

Career

edit

Recording as both a leader and a sideman, Jennings has been called "the architect of soul jazz" and has influenced on jazz, soul, R&B, and blues guitar. B.B. King often mentioned Jennings as one of his biggest influences.[2] Jennings recorded with such artists as Willis "Gator" Jackson, Brother Jack McDuff, Leo Parker, Bill Doggett, Louis Jordan, King Curtis, Louis Armstrong, and Ella Fitzgerald[3] and unique in his ability to play in many styles, including swing, bop, jump blues, R&B, and pop.[4] Jennings played on "Fever" by Little Willie John, which made the Billboard R&B chart in the US and peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100.[5]

A left-handed player, Jennings played guitar upside down, with the high strings at the top, which gave him a different approach to phrasing and bending the strings.[6] Later in his career, he lost a finger on his fretting hand and began playing bass guitar.[7]

Death

edit

Jennings died at Veterans Hospital in Indianapolis on November 29, 1978. He was a United States Navy veteran and a member of the Church of God.[8]

In 2023, the Killer Blues Headstone Project placed a headstone for Bill Jennings at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.[9]

Discography

edit

As leader

edit

As sideman

edit

With Willis Jackson

With Brother Jack McDuff

With others

References

edit
  1. ^ Rubin, Dave (2007). Inside the Blues: 1942 to 1982 (Updated ed.). Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard. ISBN 9781423416661. OCLC 85846467.
  2. ^ "GP Flashback BB King March 1975". Guitarplayer.com. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  3. ^ "Bill Jennings | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  4. ^ "Bill Jennings and Leo Parker". Jazzwax.com. Retrieved 2018-02-27.
  5. ^ "Fever (song by Little Willie John)". Musicvf.com. Retrieved 2018-02-27.
  6. ^ Friedland, Ed. "Curious Cat". Tucson Weekly. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
  7. ^ "Jazz news: Bill Jennings: 'Enough Said'". All About Jazz News. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  8. ^ "William Jennings". Indianapolis Recorder. December 16, 1978. p. 2.
  9. ^ "Headstones Placed". Killerblues.net.