William Patton Black Jr. (September 17, 1926 – October 21, 1965) was an American musician and bandleader who is noted as one of the pioneers of rock and roll. He played in Elvis Presley's early trio, The Blue Moon Boys. Black later formed the Bill Black's Combo.
The original lineup of Bill Black's Combo was Black (bass), Joe Lewis Hall (piano), Reggie Young (guitar), Martin Willis (saxophone), and Jerry Arnold (drums). There were several personnel changes over the next couple of years (Hank Hankins, Chips Moman or Tommy Cogbill on guitar; Ace Cannon on sax; Carl McVoy or Bobby Emmons on piano). "Smokie, Part 2" and "White Silver Sands" were U.S. pop hits (#17 and #9 respectively), and both made #1 on the R&B charts. Eight of their recordings placed in the Top 40 between 1959 and 1962. They were voted Billboard's number one instrumental group of 1961.
The band continued to produce albums after Black's death in late 1965.
Links to Peel[]
On his 9th January 1971 column in the Disc & Music Echo music paper, Peel mentioned seeing Bill Black's Combo along with Roy Orbison at the Hi-Ho Ballroom in Texas, when he was living in America in the early 60's.
A year later on his column in the Disc & Music Echo music paper, published on 15th January 1972, he ranked Bill Black's Combo's 'Don't Be Cruel', as one of his Peel's 77 All Time Favourite Records List.
Peel would play Bill Black's Combo's songs at least every decade on his radio programmes, especially from the 70's and onwards, according to available tracklistings on this site.
Shows Played[]
- unknown (see 18 July 1974)
- 1975
- 10 March 1975: Little Queenie
- 16 December 1975: Smokie - Part Two (album - Saxy Jazz) Hi HL 12002 (JP: "ah, teen terrific for dancing indeed......tomorrow night we have a session from Viv Stanshall. Blimey...".)
- 1981
- 29 August 1981: Hearts Of Stone
- 1983
- 05 June 1983 (BFBS): White Silver Sands (album - Saxy Jazz) Hi
- 31 August 1983: Turn On Your Love Light
- 1986
- 01 January 1986: White Silver Sands (LP - The Untouchable Sound Of Bill Black's Combo) Hi
- 1987
- 18 August 1987: Smokie Pt. 2 (v/a LP - Hi Records - The Early Years 1957 To 1964) Hi
- 16 December 1987: Do It - Rat Now (LP - The Untouchable Sound Of Bill Black's Combo) Hi
- 1988
- 01 November 1988: Son Of Smokie (v/a LP - Hi Records - The Early Years: Vol. 2) Hi
- 08 November 1988: Crank Case (v/a 2xLP - Hi Records - The Early Years: Vol. 2) Hi
- 23 November 1988: Deep Elem Blues (v/a LP - Hi Records - The Early Years: Volume 2) Hi
- 02 December 1988 (BFBS): 'Deep Elm Blues (LP-Saxy Jazz)' (Hi)
- 06 December 1988 (Radio Bremen): TD's Boogie Woogie (Cyclone Bop) (v/a album - Hi Records - The Early Years: Vol. 2) Hi
- 1989
- 15 August 1989: Smokie, Part 2 (compilation album - The Hi Records Story) Hi
- 19 August 1989 (BFBS): Smokie, Part 2 (compilation album - The Hi Records Story) Hi
- 04 September 1989: White Silver Sands (v/a album - The Hi Records Story) Hi
- 1991
- 07 July 1991: Don’t Be Cruel (single, 1960)
- 1993
- 22 October 1993: 'White Silver Sands (Compilation LP-Saxy Jazz)' (Hi)
- 29 October 1993 (BFBS): 'White Silver Sands (Compilation LP-Saxy Jazz)' (Hi)
- 1994
- 08 April 1994: 'White Silver Sands' (LP - 'The Untouchable Sound Of The Bill Black Combo') Hi
- 1998
- 04 November 1998: 'White Silver Sands (LP-Saxy Jazz)' (Hi)
- 2002
- 19 September 2002 (Radio Eins): White Silver Sands (album - Saxy Jazz) Hi Records
- 2003
- 11 March 2003: Deep Elm Blues (album - Saxy Jazz) Hi Records