Pianist Billy Kyle was born on July 14, 1914 in Philadelphia. He is probably best known for his time with Louis Armstrong’s All-Stars in the 1950s and 1960s.

Kyle began playing piano at age 8 and rarely recorded as a leader during his career but was a solid sideman for several name jazz groups throughout his career. Beginning his professional journey at 18, Billy Kyle played with the big bands of Lucky Millinder and Tiny Bradshaw during the 1930s and in the John Kirby Sextet from 1938 until 1942 at which time he was drafted into the U.S. Army.

After his discharge from the army at the end of World War II, Billy Kyle worked as a sideman, often with trumpeter and bandleader Sy Oliver. He also played gigs with Rex Stewart, Ella Fitzgerald and Buck Clayton. Kyle’s light touch and fluent style kept him in demand. In 1953 he became a member of Louis Armstrong’s quintet where he played for 13 years until he passed away in 1966. While with Armstrong Kyle appeared on eight albums and in the 1956 movie High Society.

Here is a link to a Billy Kyle playing Perdido during a 1963 telecast of a performance by the Louis Armstrong All-Stars in Australia:

"PERDIDO"