Willard McDaniel (November 15, 1915 – December 13, 1961)[1] was an American jazz and blues singer and pianist.
He was born in Stamps, Arkansas.[1] He started playing the piano at an early age. He lived in California from the mid-1930s, where he began playing in Hollywood with Roy Milton's group, later working as a session musician at Specialty Records. He performed in a distinctive stride piano style that has been compared to Fats Waller. McDaniel released most of his work during the 1950s. In 1958, Crown Records issued his album 88 a la Carte, with McDaniel leading a jazz trio performing standards in an easy listening style.[2]
He died in 1961 in Los Angeles at the age of 46.[1]
His work is also featured on other records, including Singin' the Blues and was a member of the band Gene Phillips & His Rhythm Aces.[3]
He contributed to films such as Young Man with a Horn, Panic in the Streets and The World in His Arms.[4] Compilations include 100 Christmas Blues - Songs To Get You Through The Cold released in 2014, Blues 'N Boogie in 2012, and Specialty Legends of Boogie Woogie released in 1992.
Discography edit
- 88 A La Carte (Crown, 1958)
- "The Curse of an Aching Heart/My Sin" (Crown, 1954) (single)
- "Ciri-Biri-Bin Boogie" (Specialty Records) (single)
References edit
- ^ a b c Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger. p. 297. ISBN 978-0313344237.
- ^ Adams, Greg. "88 à la Carte". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- ^ Royal, Marshal; Gordon, Claire P. (1 September 2001). Marshal Royal: Jazz Survivor. A&C Black. pp. 149–. ISBN 978-1-4411-8069-8. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
- ^ "88" a la carte (Vinyl record sleeve ed.). Crown Records. 1958.