Billy Kyle

Billy Kyle
Billy Kyle. Photography by William P. Gottlieb
Background information
Birth name	William Osborne Kyle
Born	July 14, 1914
Origin	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	February 23, 1966 (aged 51)
Genres	Jazz
Occupation	Musician
Instrument	Piano

William Osborne "Billy" Kyle (July 14, 1914 - February 23, 1966) was an American jazz pianist.

Biography

Kyle was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He began playing the piano in school and by the early 1930s worked with Lucky Millinder, Tiny Bradshaw and later the Mills Blue Rhythm Band. 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. He then spent thirteen years as a member of Louis Armstrong's All-Stars, and performed in the 1956 musical High Society. He is perhaps best known as an accompanist.

A fluent pianist with a light touch, Kyle never achieved much fame, but he always worked steadily. He died in Youngstown, Ohio.

Kyle had few opportunities to record as a leader and none during his Armstrong years; just some octet and septet sides in 1937, two songs with a quartet in 1939, and outings in 1946 with a trio and an octet, 17 songs in all.

He is credited as the co-author of the song "Billy's Bounce" recorded by the Modern Jazz Quartet in 1992 with Bobby McFerrin on the album MJQ and Friends.

Discography

With Al Hibbler

• After the Lights Go Down Low (Atlantic 1957)

External links

• MIDI sequences of 5 Blues Piano Solos by Billy Kyle