William Osborne Kyle (July 14, 1914 – February 23, 1966) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

pianist. He is perhaps best known as an

accompanist Accompaniment is the part (music), musical part which provides the rhythmic and/or harmony (music), harmonic support for the melody or main themes of a song or instrumental piece. There are many different styles and types of accompaniment in di ...

Biography

Kyle was born in

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

, United States. He began playing the piano in school and by the early 1930s worked with

Lucky Millinder Lucius Venable "Lucky" Millinder (August 8, 1910 – September 28, 1966) was an American swing music, swing and rhythm and blues, rhythm-and-blues bandleader. Although he could not read or write music, did not play an instrument and rarely sang ...

Tiny Bradshaw Myron Carlton "Tiny" Bradshaw (September 23, 1907 – November 26, 1958) was an American jazz and rhythm and blues bandleader, singer, composer, pianist, and drummer. His biggest hit was "Well Oh Well" in 1950, and the following year he record ...

and later the

Mills Blue Rhythm Band The Mills Blue Rhythm Band was an American big band active during the 1930s. History The band was formed in New York City in 1930 by drummer Willie Lynch as the Blue Rhythm Band, and then briefly operated as the Coconut Grove Orchestra. Irvi ...

. In 1938, he joined John Kirby's sextet, but was drafted in 1942. After the war, he worked with Kirby's band briefly and also worked with

Sy Oliver Melvin James "Sy" Oliver (December 17, 1910 – May 28, 1988) was an American jazz arranger, trumpeter, composer, singer and bandleader. Life Sy Oliver was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, United States. His mother was a piano teacher, and his f ...

. He then spent thirteen years as a member of Louis Armstrong's All-Stars, and performed in the 1956 musical ''

High Society High society, sometimes simply Society, is the behavior and lifestyle of people with the highest levels of wealth, power, fame and social status. It includes their related affiliations, social events and practices. Upscale social clubs were open ...

''. A fluent pianist with a light touch, Kyle always worked steadily. He died in

Youngstown, Ohio Youngstown is a city in Mahoning County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Ohio, 11th-most populous city in Ohio with a population of 60,068 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Mahoning ...

. Kyle had few opportunities to record as a leader and none during his Armstrong years, some octet and septet sides in 1937, two songs with a quartet in 1939, and outings in 1946 with a trio and an octet.

Discography

As sideman

* '' Louis Armstrong Plays W. C. Handy'' (Columbia, 1954) * ''Satch Plays Fats'' (Columbia, 1955) * ''At Newport'' (Columbia, 1956) * '' Louis and the Angels'' (Decca, 1957) * ''Satchmo On Stage'' (Decca, 1957) * ''Satchmo Plays King Oliver'' (Audio Fidelity, 1960) * '' Hello, Dolly!'' (Kapp, 1964) * ''At the Crescendo'' (MCA, 1973) With others *

Dave Brubeck David Warren Brubeck (; December 6, 1920 – December 5, 2012) was an American jazz pianist and composer. Often regarded as a foremost exponent of cool jazz, Brubeck's work is characterized by unusual time signatures and superimposing contrasti ...

, ''Summit Sessions'' (Columbia, 1971) *

Buck Clayton Wilbur Dorsey "Buck" Clayton (November 12, 1911 – December 8, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter who was a member of Count Basie's orchestra. His principal influence was Louis Armstrong, first hearing the record " Confessin' that I Love You" ...

, ''

Buck Clayton Jams Benny Goodman ''Buck Clayton Jams Benny Goodman'' is an album by trumpeter Buck Clayton performing tunes associated with Benny Goodman. The album was recorded in 1953 and 1954 and released by Columbia. Track listing # "Christopher Columbus" (Chu Berry, And ...

'' (Columbia, 1955) * Buck Clayton, ''

Jumpin' at the Woodside "Jumpin' at the Woodside" is a song first recorded in 1938 by the Count Basie Orchestra, and considered one of the band's signature tunes. When first released it reached number 11 on the ''Billboard'' charts and remained on them for four weeks. ...

'' (Columbia, 1955) *

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April25, 1917June15, 1996) was an American singer, songwriter and composer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phra ...

, ''

Ella Sings Gershwin ''Ella Sings Gershwin'' is a 1950 studio album by Ella Fitzgerald, accompanied by the pianist Ellis Larkins. Issued on DL5300 on the Decca label, Originally on 10" vinyl, which preceded album releases on 12" vinyl, it featured eight tracks. T ...

'' (Decca, 1956) *

Al Hibbler Albert George Hibbler (August 16, 1915 – April 24, 2001) was an American baritone vocalist, who sang with Duke Ellington's orchestra before having several pop hits as a solo artist. Some of Hibbler's singing is classified as rhythm and blu ...

, '' After the Lights Go Down Low'' (Atlantic, 1957) * John Kirby, ''Biggest Little Band in the Land'' (DJM, 1975) *

Charlie Shavers Charles James Shavers (August 3, 1920 – July 8, 1971) was an American jazz trumpeter who played with Dizzy Gillespie, Nat King Cole, Roy Eldridge, Johnny Dodds, Jimmie Noone, Sidney Bechet, Midge Williams, Tommy Dorsey, and Billie Holiday. He ...

, ''The Complete Charlie Shavers with Maxine Sullivan'' (Bethlehem, 1957) *

Rex Stewart Rex William Stewart Jr. (February 22, 1907 – September 7, 1967) was an American jazz cornetist who was a member of the Duke Ellington orchestra. Career As a boy he studied piano and violin; most of his career was spent on cornet. Stewart dro ...

, ''Rex Stewart and the Ellingtonians'' (Riverside, 1960)

References

External links

MIDI sequences of ''5 Blues Piano Solos by Billy Kyle

Billy Kyle recordings
at the

Discography of American Historical Recordings The Discography of American Historical Recordings (DAHR) is a database catalog of master recordings made by American record companies during the 78rpm era. The 78rpm era was the time period in which any flat disc records were being played at ...

. {{DEFAULTSORT:Kyle, Billie 1914 births 1966 deaths American jazz pianists American male jazz pianists Jazz musicians from Philadelphia 20th-century American pianists 20th-century American male musicians Mills Blue Rhythm Band members