Heebie Jeebies (composition)
Encyclopedia
"Heebie Jeebies" is a composition written by Boyd Atkins
which achieved fame when it was recorded by Louis Armstrong
in 1926. The recording on Okeh Records
by Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five
includes a famous chorus in which Louis does scat singing
.
Many people name this recording of "Heebie Jeebies" as the first ever that featured singer improvisation. A popular legend (apparently originating from a 1930s claim by Richard M. Jones
) says that Louis Armstrong dropped his lyric sheet while recording the song and for lack of words to sing, began to improvise and therefore created the technique of scat. This story, though indeed popular is disputable; the experts have come to the consensus that it is untrue. Nevertheless, the inventiveness of Armstrong's use of scatting impressed many when the record first came out. Mezz Mezzrow
's book Really the Blues recounts the amazed and delighted reactions of Frank Teschmacher, Bix Beiderbecke
, and other musicians on first hearing the record. Louis Armstrong gathered quite a following of singers who later became some of the jazz greats: Ella Fitzgerald
, Cab Calloway
, Leo Watson
, etc.
Armstrong was asked frequently about the dropped music story in his later years, giving conflicting answers. Possibly tired of repeatedly denying the story, he took to using such ambiguous descriptions as "They tell me that's how scat singin' got started".
Another notable and endearing feature of the record is the hokum
coda
, in which a line is delivered too early, leaving the break over which it should have been spoken completely empty.
Various other recordings of the tune followed in the 1920s and 1930s. The Boswell Sisters
performed the tune on radio, record, and in the film "The Big Broadcast
". Chick Webb
made a notable recording with an arrangement by Benny Carter
.
"Scat Singing." Jazz Music Made Easy. Web. 05 Oct. 2010..
Boyd Atkins
Boyd Atkins was an American jazz and blues reed player. He played saxophone and violin professionally.Atkins played with the Fate Marable band touring on the Mississippi River in the late 1910s. He was on the St. Louis, Missouri musical scene with the band of Dewey Jackson early in the 1920s...
which achieved fame when it was recorded by Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
in 1926. The recording on Okeh Records
Okeh Records
Okeh Records began as an independent record label based in the United States of America in 1918. From 1926 on, it was a subsidiary of Columbia Records.-History:...
by Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five
Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five
The Hot Five was Louis Armstrong's first jazz recording band led under his own name.It was a typical New Orleans jazz band in instrumentation, consisting of trumpet, clarinet, and trombone backed by a rhythm section...
includes a famous chorus in which Louis does scat singing
Scat singing
In vocal jazz, scat singing is vocal improvisation with wordless vocables, nonsense syllables or without words at all. Scat singing gives singers the ability to sing improvised melodies and rhythms, to create the equivalent of an instrumental solo using their voice.- Structure and syllable choice...
.
Many people name this recording of "Heebie Jeebies" as the first ever that featured singer improvisation. A popular legend (apparently originating from a 1930s claim by Richard M. Jones
Richard M. Jones
Richard M. Jones, born Richard Marigny Jones, was a jazz pianist, composer, band leader, and record producer. Numerous songs bear his name as author, including "Trouble in Mind"....
) says that Louis Armstrong dropped his lyric sheet while recording the song and for lack of words to sing, began to improvise and therefore created the technique of scat. This story, though indeed popular is disputable; the experts have come to the consensus that it is untrue. Nevertheless, the inventiveness of Armstrong's use of scatting impressed many when the record first came out. Mezz Mezzrow
Mezz Mezzrow
Milton Mesirow, better known as Mezz Mezzrow was an American jazz clarinetist and saxophonist from Chicago, Illinois. Mezzrow is well known for organizing and financing historic recording sessions with Tommy Ladnier and Sidney Bechet. Mezzrow also recorded a number of times with Bechet and...
's book Really the Blues recounts the amazed and delighted reactions of Frank Teschmacher, Bix Beiderbecke
Bix Beiderbecke
Leon Bismark "Bix" Beiderbecke was an American jazz cornetist, jazz pianist, and composer.With Louis Armstrong, Beiderbecke was one of the most influential jazz soloists of the 1920s...
, and other musicians on first hearing the record. Louis Armstrong gathered quite a following of singers who later became some of the jazz greats: Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
, Cab Calloway
Cab Calloway
Cabell "Cab" Calloway III was an American jazz singer and bandleader. He was strongly associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York City where he was a regular performer....
, Leo Watson
Leo Watson
Leo Watson was an American jazz vocalese singer, drummer, trombonist and tiple player born in Kansas City, Missouri, perhaps best known as a band member of The Spirits of Rhythm which included guitarist Teddy Bunn...
, etc.
Armstrong was asked frequently about the dropped music story in his later years, giving conflicting answers. Possibly tired of repeatedly denying the story, he took to using such ambiguous descriptions as "They tell me that's how scat singin' got started".
Another notable and endearing feature of the record is the hokum
Hokum
Hokum is a particular song type of American blues music - a humorous song which uses extended analogies or euphemistic terms to make sexual innuendos...
coda
Coda
Coda can denote any concluding event, summation, or section.Coda may also refer to:-Acronyms:* Calgary Olympic Development Association, the former name of the Canadian Winter Sport Institute, a non profit organization...
, in which a line is delivered too early, leaving the break over which it should have been spoken completely empty.
Various other recordings of the tune followed in the 1920s and 1930s. The Boswell Sisters
Boswell Sisters
The Boswell Sisters were a close harmony singing group, consisting of sisters Martha Boswell , Connee Boswell , and Helvetia "Vet" Boswell , noted for intricate harmonies and rhythmic experimentation...
performed the tune on radio, record, and in the film "The Big Broadcast
The Big Broadcast
The Big Broadcast is a musical comedy film produced by Paramount Pictures, directed by Frank Tuttle, and starring Bing Crosby, Stuart Erwin, and Leila Hyams, with George Burns and Gracie Allen in supporting roles...
". Chick Webb
Chick Webb
William Henry Webb, usually known as Chick Webb was an American jazz and swing music drummer as well as a band leader.-Biography:...
made a notable recording with an arrangement by Benny Carter
Benny Carter
Bennett Lester Carter was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. He was a major figure in jazz from the 1930s to the 1990s, and was recognized as such by other jazz musicians who called him King...
.
Reference
- Who Wrote that Song? Dick JacobsDick JacobsDick Jacobs was an American musician, conductor, arranger, orchestrator, music director and an artists-and-repertoire director for several record labels who helped Jackie Wilson, Buddy Holly, Bobby Darin and others form their careers in the late 1950s and early 1960s.-Life and career:He was born...
& Harriet Jacobs, published by Writer's Digest Books, 1993
"Scat Singing." Jazz Music Made Easy. Web. 05 Oct. 2010.