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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZSLACK, Freddie(b 7 Aug. '10, LaCrosse WI; d 10 Aug. '65, Hollywood) Pianist, bandleader, composer. Studied at American Conservatory in Chicago, played with Ben Pollack, '35-6, Jimmy Dorsey '36-9, Will Bradley '39-41, fame during boogie-woogie fad: "Beat Me, Daddy, Eight To The Bar' (no. 2 '40), named in "Down The Road A Piece' (no. 10 '40: "You remember Doc, and ol' {Beat Me Daddy} Slack'). On Capitol he backed T- Bone Walker on "I Got A Break, Baby', Johnny Mercer on "I Lost My Sugar In Salt Lake City'; ten own hits '42-6 incl. four with Ella Mae Morse, two with Margaret Whiting, instrumentals "Cuban Sugar Mill', "Riffette'. He was seen in films Reveille With Beverly (incl. "Cow Cow Boogie' with Morse) and The Sky's The Limit '43, Babes On Swing Street and Follow The Boys '44. Played in piano duo or led trio in '50s, 60s. Wrote or co- wrote "Strange Cargo' (sometime Bradley theme), "House Of Blue Lights' (hit with Morse, often revived: hit for Chuck Miller '55). |