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Eddie Jefferson, Singer born

Eddie Jefferson

*Eddie Jefferson was born on this date in 1918. He was a Black jazz and blues singer.

Edgar Jefferson (his name at birth) was from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Considered by many as the founder of “vocalese” (putting recorded solos to words), Eddie Jefferson did not have a great voice but was one of the top jazz singers, getting the maximum out of what he had.  He started working as a tap dancer but, by the late '40s, was singing and writing lyrics. A live session from 1949 (released on Spotlite) finds him pioneering vocalese by singing his lyrics to "Parker's Mood" and Lester Young's solo on "I Cover the Waterfront."

However, his classic lyrics to "Moody's Mood for Love" were recorded first by King Pleasure (1952), who also had a big hit with his version of "Parker's Mood." Jefferson had his first studio recording that year (which included Coleman Hawkins' solo on "Body and Soul") before working with James Moody (1953-57).  Although he occasionally recorded in the 1950s and '60s, his contributions to the idiom seemed to be mostly overlooked until the 1970s. Jefferson worked with Moody again (1968-73) and often performed with Richie Cole during his last few years.  He was killed outside a Detroit club on May 9th, 1979.

Eddie Jefferson, who also wrote memorable lyrics to "Jeannine," "Lady Be Good," "So What," "Freedom Jazz Dance," and even "Bitches' Brew," recorded for Savoy, Prestige, a single for Checker, Inner City, and Muse; his final sides appeared in 1999 under the title Vocal Ease.

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