"Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar" was written in 1940 by Don Raye, Hughie Prince, and Ray McKinley. It was released that year by the Will Bradley Orchestra, with McKinley on drums a vocals (see audio clip at bottom of this post). The title phrase is a request for the drummer to set a boogie woogie rhythm, and the "best piano player by far" has been thought to be a reference to John "Peck" Kelly, who was the leader of "Peck's Bad Boys." It has since become a classic number for piano players to show off their chops. The Andrews Sisters also turned it into a signature trio act.
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