Eddie Tigner began his career as a young comedian in the famous Peacock Lounge in Atlanta, GA, a vestige of the fading Vaudeville circuit. Drafted into the Army and stationed near Baltimore, MD, he booked a local performance hall and was mentored and encouraged to play the piano by non other than T-Bone Walker and Les Paul. Upon his return to Atlanta, he led the house band for blues legend Elmore James. He went on to lead the legendary Rhythm & Blue trailblazers, the Ink Spots. Eddie’s version of Route 66 is truly the culmination of 10s of 1000s of versions of this song.

— Tim Duffy