the forgotten jazz world by: tinisha shaw & jennifer nuñez

The Forgotten The Forgotten JAZZ WorldJAZZ World

By: Tinisha Shaw & Jennifer NuñezBy: Tinisha Shaw & Jennifer Nuñez

Women of JazzWomen of Jazz

Women, especially African American women, are often not Women, especially African American women, are often not recognized for their contributions to the jazz.recognized for their contributions to the jazz.

As singers, band leaders, instrumentalists, writers, and As singers, band leaders, instrumentalists, writers, and producers these women were a vital aspect of popularity producers these women were a vital aspect of popularity and legacy of jazz.and legacy of jazz.

The following are examples of the female key note jazz during the early to mid 20th century.

(International Sweethearts of Rhythm)

Ella FitzgeraldElla Fitzgerald“The First Lady of Song”“The First Lady of Song”

The most popular female jazz The most popular female jazz singer in the United States for singer in the United States for more than half a century. more than half a century.

Born in Newport News, Born in Newport News, Virginia on April 25, 1917 and Virginia on April 25, 1917 and grew up in Yonkers, New York. grew up in Yonkers, New York.

Her childhood is described as Her childhood is described as happy. Ella grew up in a happy. Ella grew up in a mixed neighborhood and was mixed neighborhood and was a self-described tomboy.a self-described tomboy.

Her mother worked at a Her mother worked at a laundry mat and as a caterer. laundry mat and as a caterer. Her step-father dug ditches Her step-father dug ditches and as a part-time chauffeur. and as a part-time chauffeur.


As a teenager Ella would take As a teenager Ella would take the train into Harlem to the the train into Harlem to the Apollo Theater and enter into Apollo Theater and enter into Amateur Night at the Apollo.Amateur Night at the Apollo.

By 1934 Ella was able to By 1934 Ella was able to compete as a dance act but compete as a dance act but when faced with boos she when faced with boos she decided to sing. decided to sing.

From then on she began From then on she began entering every talent show entering every talent show she could find.she could find.


In January 1935 she won the In January 1935 she won the chance to perform for a week chance to perform for a week with Tiny Bradshaw band at with Tiny Bradshaw band at the Harlem Opera House. the Harlem Opera House.

In mid 1936 Ella made her In mid 1936 Ella made her first recording first recording Love and Love and KissesKisses. .

By 1938 at the age of 21 Ella By 1938 at the age of 21 Ella had hit number one on the had hit number one on the pop charts for 17 weeks and pop charts for 17 weeks and sold one million copies with sold one million copies with the album the album A-Tisket, A-A-Tisket, A-TasketTasket. .

After this Ella’s stardom grew.After this Ella’s stardom grew.


Ella joined the Philharmonic Ella joined the Philharmonic tour and worked with Louis tour and worked with Louis ArmstrongArmstrong

From 1956-1964 she recorded From 1956-1964 she recorded covers for Cole Porter, Duke covers for Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, the Gershwin’s, Ellington, the Gershwin’s, Irving Berlin, and Rodgers and Irving Berlin, and Rodgers and Hart. Hart.

She was a favorite and She was a favorite and frequent guest on The Bing frequent guest on The Bing Crosby Show, The Dinah Crosby Show, The Dinah Shore Show, The Ed Sullivan Shore Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, and The Tonight Show.Show, and The Tonight Show.

By her death at the age of 79 By her death at the age of 79 on June 15, 1996 Ella had on June 15, 1996 Ella had recorded over 200 albums, recorded over 200 albums, won 13 Grammy awards, and won 13 Grammy awards, and sold over 40 million albums. sold over 40 million albums.

Just One of Those Things

Bessie SmithBessie Smith“The Empress of the Blues”“The Empress of the Blues”

Described as the greatest of Described as the greatest of the classic Blues singers of the classic Blues singers of the 1920s. the 1920s.

Also described as a rough, Also described as a rough, crude, and violent woman crude, and violent woman who loved her Gin. who loved her Gin.

Born in Chattanooga, Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on April 15 Tennessee on April 15 sometime between the years sometime between the years of 1894 and 1900.of 1894 and 1900.

She made her start as a street She made her start as a street musician in Chattanooga until musician in Chattanooga until she was discovered by Blues she was discovered by Blues singer Ma Rainey.singer Ma Rainey.


In 1912 she joined the Rabbit In 1912 she joined the Rabbit Foot Minstrels were she was Foot Minstrels were she was mentored by Ma Rainey. mentored by Ma Rainey.

In 1915 she left the show and In 1915 she left the show and joined the T.O.B.A vaudeville joined the T.O.B.A vaudeville circuit (Theatre Owners circuit (Theatre Owners Booking Association) where Booking Association) where she built up a following she built up a following throughout the south.throughout the south.

Her first recording was Her first recording was Down Down Hearted BluesHearted Blues, in 1923. The , in 1923. The record sold more than 750,000 record sold more than 750,000 copies in a year. copies in a year.


Throughout the 1920s Bessie Throughout the 1920s Bessie recorded with many of the recorded with many of the great Jazz musicians of that great Jazz musicians of that era such as Fletcher era such as Fletcher Henderson, James P. Johnson, Henderson, James P. Johnson, Don Redman, and Louis Don Redman, and Louis Armstrong.Armstrong.

Her record Her record St. Louis BluesSt. Louis Blues with Louis Armstrong was with Louis Armstrong was considered one of the finest considered one of the finest recordings of the 1920srecordings of the 1920s

Bessie Smith became one of Bessie Smith became one of the biggest African-American the biggest African-American stars of the 1920s with all stars of the 1920s with all races.races.


Smith became the highest Smith became the highest paid Black entertainer in the paid Black entertainer in the country during the 1920s country during the 1920s making $1500 a week.making $1500 a week.

However, by 1930 her career However, by 1930 her career had faltered due to changing had faltered due to changing music tastes, music tastes, mismanagement, and her mismanagement, and her heavy drinking. heavy drinking.

Her last New York appearance Her last New York appearance was in 1936. On September was in 1936. On September 27, 1937 she was killed in an 27, 1937 she was killed in an automobile accident in automobile accident in Clarksdale, Mississippi Clarksdale, Mississippi traveling to Memphis, traveling to Memphis, Tennessee. Tennessee.


Bessie Smith was known for Bessie Smith was known for her slow blues ballads.her slow blues ballads.

Her voice was described as Her voice was described as huge, sweeping, and capable huge, sweeping, and capable of strength and tenderness.of strength and tenderness.

She left behind over 160 She left behind over 160 recordings and huge legacy.recordings and huge legacy.

Billie HolidayBillie Holiday“Lady Day”“Lady Day”

Described as the Greatest Female Described as the Greatest Female Jazz Vocalist of all time.Jazz Vocalist of all time.Born Eleanora Fagan in 1915 in Born Eleanora Fagan in 1915 in Baltimore, MDBaltimore, MDHer childhood was difficult and led Her childhood was difficult and led to her dropping out of high school to her dropping out of high school and moving in with her mother to and moving in with her mother to Harlem.Harlem.Desperate for money she auditions Desperate for money she auditions to be a singer at a speakeasy. to be a singer at a speakeasy. This job leads to many other This job leads to many other performances in Harlem clubs.performances in Harlem clubs. Soon discovered by John Hammond she was given great exposure and worked with many great jazz names such as Duke Ellington and Lester Young.


Established a lifelong relationship with Lester Young "Prez” who coined the nickname “Lady Day.”She began making her first recordings in 1935 with Teddy Wilson.In 1938 she joined Artie Shaw’s band becoming one of the first black singers to be featured in a white orchestra.

Due to the Jim Crow Laws in the South “Lady Day” found it difficult to tour the area when she was not given the respect to even enter the venue’s front door.

She decided to leave and pursue a solo career.

Fun Fact: She used the name "Billie Holiday" because of her admiration for film star Billie Dove.


In 1939 Strange Fruit was released and jumpstarted her solo career given her not only the respect she deserved, but also created a large fan base.

Her career began to take off with the success of slow, melancholy songs of unreciprocated love such as Gloomy Sunday (1941) God Bless the Child and Lover Man (1944).

These songs showed off her vocal skills and also revealed the pain that she suffered as her personal life deteriorated.

Drugs, Alcohol, Abusive Men, and Cocaine/Heroine all took their tolls on her health and career.


Despite her personal problems “Lady Day” become one of the worlds most famous voices. She successfully broke race lines by being one of the few black artists to perform in all-white and interracial venues.

Her influences live on still today through the works of modern jazz vocalists

The lyrics from many of her songs revealed and made the “general public” aware of the turmoil and pain that many blacks suffered during the early to mid 20th century.

International International Sweethearts of RhythmSweethearts of Rhythm

All-Girl Band that was active All-Girl Band that was active from 1937-1949.from 1937-1949. This band was unique in This band was unique in

that it was both all female that it was both all female as well as a racially as well as a racially integrated group. integrated group.

Black, Asian, Latina, Black, Asian, Latina, Indian, White, and Puerto Indian, White, and Puerto Rican women came Rican women came together and created together and created music that more than music that more than held its own held its own

Hence the name Hence the name “International”“International”

Admired by their peers, Admired by their peers, including Count Basie and including Count Basie and Louis Armstrong. Louis Armstrong.


Very popular among Very popular among black/interracial audiences black/interracial audiences but faced a great amount of but faced a great amount of problems when touring the problems when touring the South.South.

The South caused problems The South caused problems not only for the minority not only for the minority members, but also for the members, but also for the white members.white members.

Despite their struggles in Despite their struggles in dealing with a racist society, dealing with a racist society, people could not overlook people could not overlook the great amount of talent the great amount of talent that composed the that composed the Sweethearts.Sweethearts.


The height of their careers The height of their careers came during WWII. As men came during WWII. As men were off fighting the war were off fighting the war people began to focus their people began to focus their attention on women jazz attention on women jazz performers who now had performers who now had the responsibility the responsibility continuing the continuing the development of jazz as well development of jazz as well as entertaining the troops as entertaining the troops abroad. abroad.


USO TOURUSO TOUR The Sweethearts The Sweethearts

were so popular that were so popular that they were invited to they were invited to take a 6month take a 6month European tour during European tour during WWII.WWII.

Many of its members Many of its members became the first became the first women of their race women of their race to travel to travel internationally with internationally with the USO. the USO.

Remember…Remember…

Women, especially African Women, especially African American women American women contributed a great deal to contributed a great deal to the creation, development, the creation, development, and continuation of Jazz.and continuation of Jazz.

They did so under the roles They did so under the roles of vocalists, instrumentalists, of vocalists, instrumentalists, band leaders, conductors, band leaders, conductors, and much more. and much more.

ReferencesReferences All songs taken from The Smithsonian Collections of All songs taken from The Smithsonian Collections of

Classic Jazz. Sony Music Entertainment Inc., 1997.Classic Jazz. Sony Music Entertainment Inc., 1997. Dahl, Linda. Dahl, Linda. Stormy Weather: The Music and Lives of a Stormy Weather: The Music and Lives of a

Century of Jazzwomen.Century of Jazzwomen. New York: Pantheon Books, 1984. New York: Pantheon Books, 1984. ML82 .D3 1984ML82 .D3 1984

O’Meally, Robert. O’Meally, Robert. Lady Day: The Many Faces of Billie Lady Day: The Many Faces of Billie Holiday. Holiday. De Capo Press, 2000. ML420.H58 O4 1991De Capo Press, 2000. ML420.H58 O4 1991

Tucker, Sherrie. Tucker, Sherrie. Swing Shift: “All-Girl” Bands of the Swing Shift: “All-Girl” Bands of the 1940s. 1940s. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, 2000. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, 2000. ML82 .T83 2000ML82 .T83 2000

Tucker, Sherrie. “Nobody's Sweethearts: Gender, Race, Tucker, Sherrie. “Nobody's Sweethearts: Gender, Race, Jazz, and the Darlings of Rhythm.” Jazz, and the Darlings of Rhythm.” American MusicAmerican Music, Vol. , Vol. 16, No. 3. (Autumn, 1998), pp. 255-288. Online via JSTOR. 16, No. 3. (Autumn, 1998), pp. 255-288. Online via JSTOR. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0734-http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0734-4392%28199823%2916%3A3%3C255%3ANSGRJA4392%28199823%2916%3A3%3C255%3ANSGRJA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-Y (25 August 2005). %3E2.0.CO%3B2-Y (25 August 2005).

Tucker, Sherrie. Tucker, Sherrie. PBS – Jazz a Film by Ken Burns: Jazz in PBS – Jazz a Film by Ken Burns: Jazz in Time – Women in Jazz. Time – Women in Jazz. < < http://www.pbs.org/jazz/time/time_women.htm> (25 http://www.pbs.org/jazz/time/time_women.htm> (25 August 2005).August 2005).

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