William Ballard Doggett (February 16, 1916 – November 13, 1996) was an American pianist and organist. He began his career playing swing music before transitioning into rhythm and blues. Best known for his instrumental compositions "Honky Tonk" and "Hippy Dippy", Doggett was a pioneer of rock and roll. He worked with the Ink Spots, Johnny Otis, Wynonie Harris, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Jordan.
Biography
Doggett was born in Philadelphia. During the 1930s and early 1940s he worked for Lucky Millinder, Frank Fairfax and arranger Jimmy Mundy. In 1942 he was hired as the Ink Spots' pianist and arranger.
In 1951, Doggett organized his own trio and began recording for King Records. His best known recording is "Honky Tonk", a rhythm and blues hit of 1956, which sold four million copies (reaching No. 1 R&B and No. 2 Pop), and which he co-wrote with Billy Butler. The track topped the US Billboard R&B chart for over two months. He also arranged for many bandleaders and performers, including Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Lionel Hampton.
He continued to play and arrange until he died, aged 80, from cancer in New York City.
Discography
Singles
7" EPs (all on King) KEP-259 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo, Vol. 1 (1954) KEP-325 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo, Vol. 2 (1954) KEP-326 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo, Vol. 3 (1954) KEP-334 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo, Vol. 4 (1955) KEP-346 All Time Christmas Favorites (1955) KEP-352 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo, Vol. 5 (1955) KEP-382 Doggett Dreams, Vol. 6 (1956) KEP-388 Doggett Jumps, Vol. 7 (1956) KEP-390 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo: Honky Tonk! (1956) KEP-391 Bill Doggett, Volume 1 (1956) KEP-392 Bill Doggett, Volume 2 (1956) KEP-393 Bill Doggett, Volume 3 (1956) KEP-394 As You Desire Me (Volume 1) (1956) KEP-395 As You Desire Me (Volume 2) (1956) KEP-396 As You Desire Me (Volume 3) (1956) KEP-397 Earl Bostic – Bill Doggett (1956) KEP-399 A Salute To Ellington (Volume 1) (1957) KEP-400 A Salute To Ellington (Volume 2) (1957) KEP-401 A Salute To Ellington (Volume 3) (1957) KEP-402 Dame Dreaming (Volume 1) (1957) KEP-403 Dame Dreaming (Volume 2) (1957) KEP-404 Dame Dreaming (Volume 3) (1957) KEP-407 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo: Hot Doggett (1957) KEP-408 Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo: Soft (1957) KEP-424 Hold It! (Volume 1) (1958) KEP-425 Hold It! (Volume 2) (1958) KEP-426 Hold It! (Volume 3) (1958) KEP-442 High And Wide (Volume 1) (1959) KEP-443 High And Wide (Volume 2) (1959) KEP-444 High And Wide (Volume 3) (1959) KEP-448 Big City Dance Party (Volume 1) (1959) KEP-449 Big City Dance Party (Volume 2) (1959) KEP-450 Big City Dance Party (Volume 3) (1959)
10" LPs
Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo, Volume 1 King 295-82 (1954) Bill Doggett, His Organ And Combo, Volume 2 King 295-83 (1954) All Time Christmas Favorites King 295-89 (1954) Sentimentally Yours King 295-102 (1955)
12" LPs
Moon Dust King 395-502 (1956) Hot Doggett King 395-514 (1956) As You Desire Me King 395-523 (1956) [reissue of King 295-102 plus 4 additional tracks] Everybody Dance the Honky Tonk King 395-531 (1956) Dame Dreaming King 395-532 (1957) A Salute to Ellington King 533 (1957) Doggett Beat for Dancing Feet King 557 (1957) Candle Glow King 563 (1958) Swingin' Easy King 582 (1958) Dance Awhile with Doggett King 585 (1958) 12 Songs Of Christmas King 600 (1958) [reissue of King 295-89 plus 6 additional tracks] Hold It! King 609 (1959) High And Wide King 633 (1959) Big City Dance Party King 641 (1959) Bill Doggett on Tour [this is NOT a live album] King 667 (1959) For Reminiscent Lovers, Romantic Songs By Bill Doggett King 706 (1960) Back With More Bill Doggett King 723 (1960) The Many Moods Of Bill Doggett King 778 (1962) Bill Doggett Plays American Songs, Bossa Nova Style King 830 (1963) Impressions [compilation] King 868 (1963) The Best Of Bill Doggett [compilation] King 908 (1964) Bonanza Of 24 Songs [compilation] King 959 (1966) Take Your Shot King 1041 (1969) Honky Tonk Popcorn King 1078 (1970) The Nearness Of You [compilation] King 1097 (1970) Ram-Bunk-Shush [compilation] King 1101 (1970) Sentimental Mood [compilation] King 1104 (1971) Soft [compilation] King 1108 (1971) 14 Original Greatest Hits [compilation; reissued as All His Hits] King-Starday 5009 (1977) Charles Brown: PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS [this vocal album includes 4 instrumental tracks by Bill Doggett] King-Starday 5019 (1978)