Billy Kyle

William Osborne Kyle (July 14, 1914 – February 23, 1966) was an American jazz pianist.^[1] He is perhaps best known as an accompanist.^[2]

Billy Kyle
Billy Kyle Photography by William P. Gottlieb
Background information
Born	William Osborne Kyle (1914-07-14)July 14, 1914 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	February 23, 1966(1966-02-23) (aged 51) Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
Genres	Jazz
Occupation	Musician
Instrument	Piano
Years active	1930s–1960s

Biography

Kyle was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.^[2] 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.^[2] In 1938, he joined John Kirby's sextet, but was drafted in 1942.^[2] After the war, he worked with Kirby's band briefly and also worked with Sy Oliver.^[2] He then spent thirteen years as a member of Louis Armstrong's All-Stars,^[2] and performed in the 1956 musical High Society.

A fluent pianist with a light touch, Kyle always worked steadily. He died in Youngstown, Ohio.

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

Discography

As sideman

• Louis Armstrong Plays W. C. Handy (Columbia, 1954)
• Satch Plays Fats (Columbia, 1955)
• At Newport (Columbia, 1956)
• Louis and the Angels (Decca, 1957)
• Satchmo On Stage (Decca, 1957)
• Satchmo Plays King Oliver (Audio Fidelity, 1960)
• Hello, Dolly! (Kapp, 1964)
• At the Crescendo (MCA, 1973)

With others

• Dave Brubeck, Summit Sessions (Columbia, 1971)
• Buck Clayton, Buck Clayton Jams Benny Goodman (Columbia, 1955)
• Buck Clayton, Jumpin' at the Woodside (Columbia, 1955)
• Ella Fitzgerald, Ella Sings Gershwin (Decca, 1956)
• Al Hibbler, After the Lights Go Down Low (Atlantic, 1957)
• John Kirby, Biggest Little Band in the Land (DJM, 1975)
• Charlie Shavers, The Complete Charlie Shavers with Maxine Sullivan (Bethlehem, 1957)
• Rex Stewart, Rex Stewart and the Ellingtonians (Riverside, 1960)