ECKSTINE, Billy.

Description

De Montfort Hall, Leicester April 1954 concert flyer 

Original first printing concert flyer advertising American jazz singer and bandleader Billy Eckstine’s two performances at the De Montfort Hall in Leicester [England] on Sunday, 25th April, 1954, accompanied by Ken MacKintosh and His Orchestra, and presented by Arthur Kimbrell. The shows in Leicester were part of Eckstine’s first visit to Great Britain. Noted for his rich, almost operatic bass-baritone voice, Eckstine became a solo performer in 1947, with records featuring lush sophisticated orchestrations. Even before folding his band, Eckstine had recorded solo to support it, scoring two million-sellers in 1945 with “Cottage for Sale”, and a revival of “Prisoner of Love”. Far more successful than his band recordings, these prefigured Eckstine’s future career. Eckstine would go on to record over a dozen hits during the late 1940s. He signed with the newly established MGM Records, and had immediate hits with revivals of “Everything I Have Is Yours” (1947), Rodgers and Hart’s “Blue Moon” (1948), and Juan Tizol’s “Caravan” (1949). Eckstine had further success in 1950 with Victor Young’s theme song to “My Foolish Heart”,  and the next year with a revival of the 1931 Bing Crosby hit, “I Apologize”.  His 1950 appearance at the Paramount Theatre in New York City drew a larger audience than Frank Sinatra at his Paramount performance. Eckstine suffered a stroke while performing in Salina, Kansas, in April 1992, and never performed again. He died a few months later on 8th March, 1993, aged 78. Eckstine’s final word was “Basie”.

The flyer measures 11.8 x 18.3 cm and is beautifully printed in black ink on thin, uncoated pink paper stock. In excellent unfolded and unmarked condition. Feel free to email us with any questions you may have concerning this item. Additional images of the flyer available on request.