by John Funke / Backwoods, Saturdays 10 am – noon
Coming from the world of jazz and swing, Bill Doggett was responsible for Honky Tonk, one of the biggest hits of the rock ‘n’ roll era. Born in Philadelphia in 1916, Doggett’s talents as a pianist and arranger kept him busy working for Lucky Millinder, the Ink Spots, and Louis Jordan, among others. In 1951 Doggett, having mastered the Hammond organ, formed a trio and began recording for King Records in Cincinnati. In 1956 Doggett’s recording of Honky Tonk, a loping rhythm and blues instrumental co-written with guitarist Billy Butler, became a massive hit, selling over 4 million copies and topping both the R&B and pop charts. The song has endured, becoming a rhythm and blues standard with Billy Butler’s guitar solo and Clifford Scott’s saxophone solo remaining textbook examples of the genre.
Other hits followed and Doggett kept recording and touring until his death in 1996. No matter when or where, Honky Tonk always brought the good times as evidenced by this TV performance from Paris in 1972.
And of course Bill Doggett can always be heard on WMBR every Saturday morning providing the theme music for that annoying radio show, Backwoods. Don’t mention that name!