Artist: Earl Bostic

Eugene Earl Bostic was an American alto saxophonist. Bostic's recording career was diverse, his musical output encompassing jazz, swing, jump blues, and the post-war American rhythm and blues style, which he pioneered.

Bostic turned professional at the age of 18 when he joined Terence Holder's "Twelve Clouds of Joy". He made his first recording with Lionel Hampton in October 1939, with Charlie Christian, Clyde Hart, and Big Sid Catlett. Before that, he performed with Fate Marable on New Orleans riverboats. Bostic graduated from Xavier University in New Orleans. He worked with territory bands as well as Arnett Cobb, Hot Lips Page, Rex Stewart, Don Byas, Charlie Christian, Thelonious Monk, Edgar Hayes, Cab Calloway, and other jazz luminaries.

In 1938, and in 1944, Bostic led the house band at Smalls Paradise. While playing at Small's Paradise, he doubled on guitar and trumpet. During the early 1940s, he was a well-respected regular at the famous jam sessions held at Minton's Playhouse. He formed his own band in 1945 and made the first recordings under his own name for the Majestic  label. He turned to rhythm and blues in the late 1940s.

His biggest hits were "Temptation", "Sleep", "Flamingo", "You Go to My Head" and "Cherokee". At various times, his band included Keter Betts, Jaki Byard, Benny Carter, John Coltrane, Teddy Edwards, Benny Golson, Blue Mitchell, Tony Scott, Cliff Smalls, Sir Charles Thompson, Stanley Turrentine, Tommy Turrentine, and other musicians who rose to prominence, especially in jazz.