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King Pleasure
Birth nameClarence Beeks
Born(1922-03-24)March 24, 1922
Oakdale, Tennessee
Origin New York City
DiedMarch 21, 1982(1982-03-21) (aged 59)
Genres Jazz
Occupation(s)Vocalist
LabelsPrestige, Aladdin, Jubilee, United Artists

King Pleasure (born Clarence Beeks; March 24, 1922 – March 21, 1982) [1] was an American jazz vocalist and an early master of vocalese, where a singer sings words to a well-known instrumental solo.

Biography

Born as Clarence Beeks in Oakdale, Tennessee, [1] he moved to New York City in the mid-1940s working as a bartender and became a fan of bebop music. King Pleasure first gained attention by singing the Eddie Jefferson vocalese classic " Moody's Mood For Love", based on a 1949 James Moody saxophone solo to " I'm In The Mood For Love". [1] Pleasure's 1952 recording, his first after signing a contract with the Prestige label, is considered a jazz classic; the female vocalist featured is Blossom Dearie. [2] He and Betty Carter also recorded a famous vocalese version of "Red Top", a jazz classic penned by Kansas Citian Ben Kynard and recorded by Gene Ammons and others. Other notable recordings include a presciently elegiac version of " Parker's Mood", the year before Charlie Parker died in 1955, and Pleasure's take on Ammons's "Hittin' The Jug", retitled as "Swan Blues" in 1962.

Pleasure has been cited as a significant influence by Van Morrison, especially on his album Astral Weeks. [3] Genya Ravan, drawing big inspiration for her singing from King Pleasure, recorded " Moody's Mood For Love" with James Moody on her 1972 CBS album Genya Ravan.

Pleasure died on March 21, 1982, three days before his 60th birthday. [4]

Discography

10-inch shellac (78rpm) and 7-inch vinyl (45rpm) releases

  • 1952: "Moody Mood For Love" // "Exclamation Blues" (Prestige 924) – Merrill Stepter (trumpet); Lem Davis (alto sax); Ray Abrams (tenor sax); Cecil Payne (baritone sax); Teacho Wiltshire (piano); Leonard Gaskin (bass); Teddy Lee (drums); King Pleasure (vocals); Blossom Dearie (vocals) – NYC, February 19
  • 1952: "Red Top" // "Jumpin' With Symphony Sid" (Prestige 821) – Ed Lewis (trumpet); Charlie Ferguson (tenor sax); Ed Swanston (piano); Peck Morrison (bass); Herbie Lovelle (drums); King Pleasure (vocals); Betty Carter (vocals) – NYC, December 12
  • 1953: " Sometimes I'm Happy" // " This Is Always" (Prestige 860) – John Lewis (piano); Percy Heath (bass); Kenny Clarke (drums); King Pleasure (vocals); Dave Lambert Singers (vocal trio) – NYC, September 29
  • 1953: "Parker's Mood" // "What Can I Say Dear (After I Say I'm Sorry)" (Prestige 880) – John Lewis (piano); Percy Heath (bass); Kenny Clarke (drums); King Pleasure (vocals) – NYC, December 24
  • 1954: "I'm Gone" // "You're Crying" (Prestige 908) – J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding (trombone); Lucky Thompson (tenor sax); Danny Bank (baritone sax); Jimmy Jones (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); Joe Harris (drums); King Pleasure (vocals); Jon Hendricks, Eddie Jefferson, The Three Riffs (chorus); Quincy Jones (arranger, director) – Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, December 7
  • 1954: "Don't Get Scared" // "Funk Junction" (Prestige 913) – J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding (trombone); Lucky Thompson (tenor sax); Danny Bank (baritone sax); Jimmy Jones (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); Joe Harris (drums); King Pleasure (vocals); Jon Hendricks, Eddie Jefferson, The Three Riffs (chorus); Quincy Jones (arranger, director) – Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, December 7
  • 1955: "Diaper Pin" // "Evening Blues" (Jubilee 5226) – (unknown personnel)
  • 1956: "D.B. Blues" // "Blues I Like To Hear" ( Aladdin 3343) – (unknown personnel)
  • 1956: "At Your Beck And Call" // "I'm In The Mood For Love" (Aladdin 3352) – (unknown personnel)
  • 1958: "Red Top" // "Don't Get Scared" (Prestige 45-124) — reissues of Prestige 821A and 913A.
  • 1960: "Jumpin' With Symphony Sid" // "Parker's Mood" (Prestige 45-182) — reissues of Prestige 821B and 880A.
  • 1960: "Golden Days" // "All Of Me" (HiFi Jazz 5004; from Golden Days album)
  • 1962: "Mean To Me" // "This Is Always" (United Artists 527; from Mr. Jazz album)
  • 1963: "Don't Get Scared" // "I'm In The Mood For Love" (United Artists 636; from Mr. Jazz album)
  • 1968: "I'm In The Mood For Love" // "Red Top" (Prestige 45-744) — reissues of Prestige 924A and 821A.
  • 1972: "That Old Black Magic" // "I'm In The Mood For Love" (United Artists 50940; from Moody's Mood For Love album)

7-inch EP

  • 1957: King Pleasure Sings, Prestige #PREP-1338, (four tracks recorded 1952-53 include the singles: Prestige 821A&B, 860A&B).

10-inch LP

  • 1955: King Pleasure Sings, Prestige #LP-208, (eight tracks recorded 1952-54 include the singles: Prestige 821A&B, 860A&B, 880A&B, 908A, and 913A).

12-inch LPs

  • 1957: King Pleasure Sings/Annie Ross Sings, Prestige #PRLP-7128 — reissue: 1986, Original Jazz Classics #OJC-217 (with four Annie Ross tracks added; these are from Annie Ross Sings, Prestige #PREP-1301). NOTE: the CD reissue has all twelve King Pleasure recordings plus the four Annie Ross tracks.
  • 1960: Golden Days, HiFi Jazz #J-425 — reissue: 1991, Original Jazz Classics #OJC-1772) – King Pleasure (vocals); Matthew Gee (trombone); Teddy Edwards, Harold Land (tenor sax); Gerald Wiggins (piano); Wilfred Middlebrooks (bass); Earl Palmer (drums).
  • 1962: Mr. Jazz, United Artists #UAJ-14012/UAS-15012; 1968, Solid State #SS-18021 – (unknown personnel).
  • 1968: Original Moody's Mood, Prestige #PR-7586. (this is a collection/compilation with all twelve recordings made for the Prestige label).
  • 1972: The Source, Prestige #PR-24017. (2-LP set/reissue of Golden Days and Original Moody's Mood albums).
  • 1972: Moody's Mood For Love, United Artists #UAS-5634; — CD reissue: 1992, Blue Note #84463. (reissue of Mr. Jazz album). NOTE: the CD also includes the two Jubilee and the four Aladdin tracks, plus three previously unreleased recordings as a bonus.

References

  1. ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 1378. ISBN  0-85112-939-0.
  2. ^ "About "Moody's Mood for Love"". Moodyfilm.wordpress.com. 16 December 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  3. ^ Rogan, Johnny (2006). Van Morrison, No surrender. London: Vintage Book. pp. 222–224.
  4. ^ "King Pleasure Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 September 2021.

External links

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