Obscure & Neglected Female Singers Of Jazz & Standards (1930s to 1960s)

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Ridin'High, Sep 4, 2016.

  1. Ridin'High

    Ridin'High Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Let's try to make a long-lasting and helpful thread about this topic!

    Who
    should we disqualify as neglected and/or obscure? Of course, it's all relative. Generally speaking, let's stay away from any singer who has had her own thread in this forum. Ditto for any singer whose records have been mentioned with regularity in other music threads. Here is a roughly alphabetical list of those who should be disqualified:

    Betty Carter
    June Christy
    Rosemary Clooney
    Chris Connor
    Doris Day
    Blossom Dearie
    Ella Fitzgerald
    Judy Garland
    Eydie Gorme
    Billie Holiday
    Shirley Horn
    Lena Horne
    Eartha Kitt
    Peggy Lee
    Abby Lincoln
    Julie London
    Carmen McRae
    Ethel Merman
    Helen Merrill
    Anita O'Day
    Patti Page
    Dinah Shore
    Nina Simone
    Keely Smith
    Jeri Southern
    Jo Stafford
    Kay Starr
    Dakota Staton
    Barbra Streisand
    Sarah Vaughan
    Dinah Washington
    Margaret Whiting
    Nancy Wilson

    (All those singers have been repeatedly celebrated elsewhere in this forum. If you feel like talking about any of them, that would be great, but don't do it here. Just search for a thread about that vocalist, or open a new one!) I'd say that female groups should also be disqualified; they deserve their own separate thread.

    What to post: It would be ideal if you mention a favorite song by the singer, or upload a video representative of her singing style, or think of some particular trait that you like about her. In other words, don't just type a name, because a name won't mean much to anyone who doesn't know the singer. Should you want to post to say that you dislike the singer, that could be a very interesting contribution, too, as long as you tell us why.

    Limits: only songstresses who primarily sang jazz and standards ("As Time Goes By," "Summertime," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "My FunnyValentine," etc.) and who were active before the 1970s. This means that r&b & country singers such as Esther Phillips or Wanda Jackson do not qualify, and neither would rock singers who, like Linda Ronstadt, recorded standards after 1970.

    Too many rules? Don't worry. I won't be putting out a contract on you if you ignore any of these!
     
  2. Colin M

    Colin M Forum Resident

    Can't believe Etta James can sneak past the rules!

    Anyway may I propose Ethel Waters
     
  3. Edotl

    Edotl formerly Rick Goodkind

    Location:
    Columbus, OH, USA
    Ivie Anderson
    Helen Humes
    Sheila Jordan
    Annie Ross
     
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  4. AaronW

    AaronW Senior Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Helen Carr, she had a great 10" on Bethlehem:
    [​IMG]
     
  5. Wally Swift

    Wally Swift Yo-Yoing where I will...

    Location:
    Brooklyn New York
  6. Wally Swift

    Wally Swift Yo-Yoing where I will...

    Location:
    Brooklyn New York
    [​IMG]
     
    Miriam likes this.
  7. Wally Swift

    Wally Swift Yo-Yoing where I will...

    Location:
    Brooklyn New York
    [​IMG]
     
    Miriam likes this.
  8. John B Good

    John B Good Forum Hall Of Fame

    Location:
    NS, Canada
    I recently got some Della Reese cds, as I realized I'd been liking 'Don't You Know' that I'd heard on one of the Ace Early Girls compilations.

    She had the kind of big voice I'd liked on a few Big Maybelle or Marie Knight tracks I'd had elsewhere.

     
  9. Wally Swift

    Wally Swift Yo-Yoing where I will...

    Location:
    Brooklyn New York
  10. Wally Swift

    Wally Swift Yo-Yoing where I will...

    Location:
    Brooklyn New York
  11. zen

    zen Senior Member

    Mildred Bailey was a popular and influential jazz singer during the 1930's,
    a.k.a. "The Queen of Swing" was inducted into the Big Band & Jazz Hall of Fame in 1989.


    Unforgettable Mildred Bailey, Somehow Forgotten ยป

    [​IMG]

    The song that turned me on to "The Queen of Swing" ...

     
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2016
  12. The Killer

    The Killer Dung Heap Rooster

    Location:
    The Cotswolds
    Ok let's break some rules, she's a blues singer but this is more jazz although not a standard. Anyway, Marion Abernathy, has she ever had a mention on the forum?

     
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  13. Neil Anderson

    Neil Anderson Forum Resident

    Location:
    Portland, Oregon
  14. John B Good

    John B Good Forum Hall Of Fame

    Location:
    NS, Canada
    Just an aside, thought I would try to find a cd of hers locally, and was in a store with a good selection, couldn't find any, was asked if I needed help, and stupidly said I was looking for Candy Staton. Still no result :(
     
    Nathan Aaron likes this.
  15. Monsieur Gadbois

    Monsieur Gadbois Senior Member

    Location:
    Hotel California
    Pinky Winters, 10" album on Vantage Records. She's still alive.



    [​IMG]
     
  16. florandia

    florandia Forum Resident

    Location:
    Florida
    Nice list of very listenable ladies .......
    I will add a few more
    Beverly Kenney........recorded five very tasteful much sought after records in the late fifties.
    Paula Castle............ recorded one very wonderful record for Bethlehem in the fifties then promptly disappeared !!
    Barbara Lea........... recorded in the fifties and on into the modern era......very cool and idolized Lee Wiley
    Lee Wiley................recorded in the thirties ,forties and fifties ........cool as an icebox in an igloo!
     
  17. Chriss Ons

    Chriss Ons Forum Resident

    Location:
    Hillegem, Belgium
    [​IMG]

    Audrey Morris. Really love this album (originally on Betlehem Records, 1956).

    [​IMG]

     
  18. florandia

    florandia Forum Resident

    Location:
    Florida
    Most of the artistes listed by the poster are well known , even by casual listener standards but very worthwhile all the same .
    Grateful to members who have posted ladies worthy of investigation, even an old know it all cannot know it all !
     
    marty g and toilet_doctor like this.
  19. krisjay

    krisjay Psychedelic Wave Rider

    Location:
    Maine
    Alice Faye, I was introduced to her when I found 3 ltd edition LP's at a thrift. They looked interesting, so I brought them home. Kind of a torch singer, easy on the eyes also.
     
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  20. florandia

    florandia Forum Resident

    Location:
    Florida
    How about Maxine Sullivan and Morgana King
     
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  21. Chriss Ons

    Chriss Ons Forum Resident

    Location:
    Hillegem, Belgium
    [​IMG]

    Can I also mention Bev Kelly - her album Love Locked Out (Riverside, 1956) is another favorite.

    [​IMG]

    The album closes with a fantastic rendition of Gloomy Sunday - can't seem to find that on Youtube, this is the opener My Ship (Gershwin/Weill):

     
  22. the sands

    the sands Forum Resident

    Location:
    Oslo, Norway
    Sophie Tucker

     
  23. dmiller458

    dmiller458 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Midland, Michigan
    Almost all traditional pop is neglected nowadays.

    1952 Kay Starr - Wheel Of Fortune (US 1)
     
  24. dmiller458

    dmiller458 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Midland, Michigan
    1951 Anita O'Day - Told Ya I Love Ya Now Get Out
     
    bluejimbop and Nathan Aaron like this.
  25. Ridin'High

    Ridin'High Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Both of those singers are listed in the opening post of this thread, with the comment that they should not be considered here. They have not been neglected by us (the members of the Steve Hoffman music forums): anyone who does a search will find threads and old posts dedicated to them.

    That said, I agree with your point that this type of music is generally neglected.
     
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2016
    Malina, .crystalised. and dmiller458 like this.

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