Earl Bostic

Earl Bostic
Bostic in 1961
Background information
Birth nameEugene Earl Bostic
Born(1913-04-25)April 25, 1913
Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
DiedOctober 28, 1965(1965-10-28) (aged 52)
Rochester, New York, United States
Genres
OccupationMusician
InstrumentAlto saxophone
Years active1931–1965

Eugene Earl Bostic (April 25, 1913  October 28, 1965) 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. He had a number of popular hits such as "Flamingo", "Harlem Nocturne", "Temptation", "Sleep", "Special Delivery Stomp", and "Where or When", which all showed off his characteristic growl on the horn. He was a major influence on John Coltrane.