Eddie Jefferson was born on August 3, 1918, and died on May 9, 1979. He was an American jazz singer and songwriter. He helped create vocalese, a musical style where lyrics are added to instrumental music or solos. Jefferson said his main influence was Leo Watson. One of his most famous songs is "Moody's Mood for Love," which was recorded in 1952 by King Pleasure. This version of the song became very popular, and King Pleasure mentioned that Jefferson influenced him. Jefferson also recorded successful versions of Charlie Parker's "Parker's Mood" and Horace Silver's "Filthy McNasty."

Biography

Eddie Jefferson was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. One of his most famous recordings, "So What," used lyrics from artist Christopher Acemandese Hall and music from Miles Davis to show his talent. This helped him develop a style he called jazz vocalese.

Jefferson's final recorded performance took place at Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase in Chicago. The performance was later released as a video by Rhapsody Films. During this event, he performed with Richie Cole (alto sax), John Campbell (piano), Kelly Sill (bass), and Joel Spencer (drums). This performance was part of a tour that Jefferson and Cole led together. Their first show on the tour was in Detroit, Michigan, at Baker's Keyboard Lounge, a jazz club built in the 1930s. This club has hosted many famous musicians, including Dexter Gordon and Sonny Stitt.

A previously unreleased live recording from July 1976 was released in August 2009 as Eddie Jefferson At Ali's Alley. This recording featured a group of musicians including drummer Rashied Ali.

Eddie Jefferson was shot and killed outside Baker's Keyboard Lounge on May 8, 1979, at the age of 60. He had left the club with fellow bandleader Cole around 1:35 a.m. and was shot while walking out of the building. A new Lincoln Continental was seen speeding away from the scene. The driver was later arrested by Detroit police and identified as a dancer who had previously worked with Jefferson. The dancer had been fired from a job and was charged with murder. However, the suspect was found not guilty in a Detroit criminal trial.

In 1979, the group The Manhattan Transfer honored both Jefferson and Coleman Hawkins in their vocal version of "Body and Soul" on their album Extensions.

Discography

• Letter from Home (Riverside Records, 1962)
• Body and Soul (Prestige Records, 1968)
• Come Along with Me (Prestige Records, 1969)
• The Bebop Singers with Annie Ross and Joe Carroll (Prestige Records, 1970)
• Things Are Getting Better (Muse Records, 1974)
• Still on the Planet (Muse Records, 1976)
• The Jazz Singer (Inner City Records, 1976)
• The Main Man (Inner City Records, 1977)
• The Live-Liest (Muse Records, 1979)

• New York Afternoon (Muse Records, 1977)
• Alto Madness (Muse Records, 1977)
• Keeper of the Flame (Muse Records, 1979)
• Live at the Douglas Beach House 1978 (Just Jazz Records, 1995)
• Hollywood Madness (Muse Records, 1979)

• Great Encounters (Columbia Records, 1979)

• Moody's Workshop (Prestige Records, 1954)
• Hi-Fi Party (Prestige Records, 1955)
• Flute 'n the Blues (Argo Records, 1956)
• Moody's Mood for Love (Argo Records, 1957)
• Hey! It's James Moody (Argo Records, 1959)
• Cookin' the Blues (Argo Records, 1964)
• Don't Look Away Now! (Prestige Records, 1969)
• James Moody's Heritage Hum (Perception Records, 1971)

• Kevin, My Dear Son (Recorded: October 1978) (Chiaroscuro Records, 1979)