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King Pleasure
Birth nameClarence Beeks
Born(1922-03-24)March 24, 1922
Oakdale, Tennessee
OriginNew York City
DiedMarch 21, 1982(1982-03-21) (aged 59)
GenresJazz
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

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

7-inch EP

10-inch LP

12-inch LPs

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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