Ernie Freeman

about

* Born 16 August 1922, Cleveland, Ohio * Died 15 May 1981, Beverly Hills, California Although Ernie Freeman is best known for his work with Frank Sinatra in the mid-1960s, space age pop fans should check out his own instrumental albums, particularly those cleared targeted for heavy rotation at dance parties in the early 1960s. Limbo Dance Party and Comin' Home Baby (with a Top 100-charting cover of Mel Torme's tune) will definitely get you out there doing a Pee-Wee Herman dance (in the privacy of your own home, of course). Freeman started playing with groups in Cleveland while he was still in high school, and he and his sister Evelyn formed a combo that became quite popular among young black audiences in the area. After serving in World War Two, he spent a few years working as a pianist, alone and with groups, before he decided to try his luck in the studio business in Los Angeles. For the first few years, Freeman scraped by as a free-lancer, pinch-hitting as an R&B and rock 'n' roll pianist on a variety of major and minor label recordings, all without credit. After the studio group, B. Bumble and the Stinger had a minor hit with their upbeat version of "Flight of the Bumblebee," "B. Bumble Boogie," Freeman was brought in to raise the quality of musicianship, and he played lead for most of the groups' other releases. Around 1955, Freeman also had a hit on the R&B charts with his original rocker, "Jivin' 'O' Round." Freeman's first major break came when Lew Chudd hire

top songs

albums

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Ultra-Lounge / Fuzzy Retail Sampler

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Ultra-Lounge / Organs In Orbit Volume Eleven

Raunchy - The Best Of

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Rock'n'Roll & Jukebox Hits - 60 Originals From The 50s

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Ultra-Lounge / Cocktail Capers Volume Eight

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Billboard Top 100 of 1957

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Ultra-Lounge / Organs In Orbit Volume Eleven

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Ultra-Lounge / Cocktail Capers Volume Eight

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Essential Burlesque

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Jivin Around

Raunchy

Twistin' Time On The Organ

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