Bobby Tucker | |
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Bobby Tucker and Billie Holiday in 1948 |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Robert Tucker |
Also known as | Piano Man |
Born | January 8, 1923 Morristown, New Jersey, U.S. |
Origin | Harlem, New York, U.S. |
Died | April 12, 2007 Morristown, New Jersey, U.S. |
(aged 84)
Genres | Jazz, swing |
Occupations | Pianist, composer, arranger |
Instruments | Piano |
Years active | 1946–2007 |
Associated acts | Billie Holiday and Billy Eckstine |
Bobby Tucker (born Robert Nathaniel Tucker; January 8, 1923 - April 12, 2007) was a pianist and arranger during the jazz era from the 1940s into the 1960s. He is most famous for being Billie Holiday's accompanist from 1946 to 1949.
On November 12, 1946, during Billie Holiday's stay at the Down Beat Club, Bobby Tucker was drafted to accompany Holiday because Eddie Heywood refused his opportunity. Billie's stay at the Down Beat was so successful due to Tucker's playing that she decided to keep him as her accompanist. The partnership lasted until 1949, where Tucker quit due to Holiday's abusive lover, John Levy, threatening him. (Not to be confused with the bass player)
After leaving Holiday in 1949, Bobby Tucker began playing for Billy Eckstine. Not much is known about this partnership, but there is a 1960 album, No Cover, No Minimum which features Tucker playing piano for Eckstine. Tucker also released his own album under his own name in 1960, Too Tough. Tucker died of a heart attack.