Eddie Beal (June 13, 1910, Redlands, California – December 15, 1984, Los Angeles) was an American jazz pianist. He was the brother of Charlie Beal.
Beal started on drums but switched to piano in his teens. Early in the 1930s he worked in the orchestras of Earl Dancer and Charlie Echols. From 1933 to 1936 he toured China with Buck Clayton, then freelanced in California (with Maxine Sullivan, among others) until 1941. After military service from 1943–45, he accompanied Ivie Anderson, and led his own trio which accompanied Billie Holiday at one point. He also worked in the Spirits of Rhythm. As a composer, he penned the tunes "Softly" (covered by Holliday) and "Bye and Bye", a hit for The Turbans. He plays on the soundtrack to the 1951 film The Strip; he also makes an appearance in the film. Later recording credits include work with Jimmy Mundy, Herb Jeffries, Helen Humes, Red Callender, and others. He led his own group in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1973-74, and in 1974-75 he played with Tommy Dorsey.
Discography
Track Performances
Married Man Blues (1946) By Helen Humes And All Stars
Lost Love (1951) by Percy Mayfield And Orchestra
Swingin' Suite (1956) By Red Callender And His Modern Octet
The Lowest (1958) By Red Callender
The Rising Surf (1963) By Richie Allen (AKA Richard Allen) And The Pacific Surfers The Hunt Is On (1982) By Percy Mayfield With Monroe Tucker & His Orchestra Hopeless (1982) By Percy Mayfield With Monroe Tucker & His Orchestra Two Hearts Are Greater Than One (1982) By Percy Mayfield With Monroe Tucker & His Orchestra Candy Store Blues (1988) By Toni Harper Sam's Song (The Happy Tune) (1988) By Toni Harper Happy Feet (1988) By Toni Harper The Dish Rag (Rub A Dub Dub) (1988) By Toni Harper Get Up (1988) By Toni Harper Dolly's Lullaby (1988) By Toni Harper I Dream Of Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair (1998) By Maxine Sullivan I'm Happy About The Whole Thing (1998) By Maxine Sullivan Surfers' Slide (2006) By Richie Allen And The Pacific Surfers If I Had You By Flora Washington With Eddie Beal Trio What Will I Tell My Heart By Flora Washington With Eddie Beal Trio Writing and Compositions Sweet Riley O'Toole (1954) By Ken Hanna And His Orchestra Move On (1957) By The Blossoms Young Heartaches (1958) By Ben Joe Zeppa Who Slammed The Door (1958) By Little Caesar With Eddie Beal And His Orchestra I'm Reachin' (1958) By Little Caesar With Eddie Beal And His Orchestra Let's Close The Door (1964) By Georgia Carr Softly (1964) By Georgia Carr Once To Ev'ry Girl (1964) By Georgia Carr Skoot (1972) By Stan Kenton And His Orchestra Candy Store Blues (1988) By Toni Harper You're Too Tall, I'm Too Small (1988) By Toni Harper All Because Of You (1989) By Dinah Washington Softly (Baby) (1989) By Dinah Washington Softly (1990) By Billie Holiday Bye and Bye (1992) By The Turbans Arrangements When Does Friendship End And True Love Start (1962) By Debbie Stuart Does Your Heart Beat For Me (1962) By Debbie Stuart
References
Eugene Chadbourne, [ Eddie Beal] at Allmusic
"Eddie Beal". Grove Jazz online.