King Pleasure

King Pleasure ( born March 24, 1922 in Oakdale (Tennessee ) as Clarence Beeks, † March 21, 1981 in Los Angeles ) was an American jazz singer.

King Pleasure grew up in Cincinnati. In 1949 he won a competition in New York City at the Apollo Theater, which he opened a rapid career. His recording of " Moody 's Mood for Love", one of Eddie Jefferson ( the pioneer of vocalese ) with text provided vocal version of James Moody's solo on " I'm in the Mood for Love" from 1949, was in 1952 in the U.S. hit. His popularization of the so-called Vocalizing, which also took over the vocal formation Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, earned him the 1953 victory of the Downbeat polls in. King Pleasure then developed to vocal versions of " Parker 's Mood " ( also from a story by Jefferson ) and solos by Stan Getz and Illinois Jacquet. After further recordings until the early 1960s he lived then largely withdrawn on the west coast.

The recordings made ​​by him are published on the following CDs:

• King Pleasure Sings / Annie Ross Sings
• Moody 's Mood for Love ( Blue Note )
• Golden Days