Cecil Gant
Cecil Gant (April 4, 1913 - February 4, 1951[1]) was an American blues singer and pianist.
Biography
Gant was born in Nashville, Tennessee, where he worked as a musician from the mid-1930s until he joined the army at the start of World War II.[2] After performing at a War Bond rally in Los Angeles, California, he signed with the Gilt Edge record label. His recording of "I Wonder" (1944) was released under the name "Pvt. Cecil Gant."[2]
"I Wonder" sold well, and reached number one on the Billboard Harlem Hit Parade (the former name of the R&B chart). Gant toured as "The G.I. Sing-sation".[2] Gant also released material for King Records (1947), Bullet Records (1948–49), Downbeat/Swingtime (1949), and Imperial Records (1950).[1]
Gant died from pneumonia[3] in Nashville in 1951, at the age of 37. He is buried in Highland Park Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio.
Compilation albums
See also
- List of West Coast blues musicians
- List of Boogie-Woogie musicians
- List of artists who reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart
- List of number-one rhythm and blues hits (United States)
- R&B number-one hits of 1945 (USA)
- West Coast blues
- First rock and roll record
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Biography by Bill Dahl". Allmusic.com. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues - From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 113. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
- ↑ J C Marion, Cecil Gant : The Forgotten Pioneer , 1999. Retrieved 2 March 2013
External links
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