[Oe List ...] Death of an Artist

Mon May 10 15:54:49 CDT 2010

Re: [Oe List ...] Death of an ArtistI have a vague memory of Robert Schropshire telliing about moving from Atlanta to Chicago as a small child so that his father could go to work with one of the bands of this era. I think he was a drummer. Speaking of Robert does anyone know antninh about him?

David Walters

  I had the pleasure of meeting trumpeter, Joe Wilder, and hearing him play ("How are things in Glocca Morra") at a concert on campus honoring Eddie Durham.  Wilder helped integrate a lot of swing bands around the time of WWII.  A short man at age 88, his huge heart and smile were unforgettable, as were his songs. --Diann McCabe

  On 5/10/10 1:28 PM, "R Williams" <rcwmbw at yahoo.com> wrote:

    Ah yes, the Misty Miss Christy. She Kenton and the Four Freshmen did all those college "road shows."  And if we're including men, how about Mel Torme? Julie London also sang the unforgettable "Cry Me A River," backed by Barney Kessel on jazz guitar.  I think she was married to Bobby Troup who blew trumpet and didn't the two of them play in some TV medical series?

    --- On Mon, 5/10/10, George Holcombe <geowanda at earthlink.net> wrote:

      From: George Holcombe <geowanda at earthlink.net>
      Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Death of an Artist
      To: "Order Ecumenical Community" <oe at wedgeblade.net>
      Date: Monday, May 10, 2010, 1:17 PM

      Ah, memories.  If we're making a list my favorite was Billie Holliday and a close second was June Christy who sang with Kenton.  Hayden was white and an arranger, director.  I think he also managed Lena's career for a while.  The one Lena claimed she really loved was Billy Strayhorn, who worked with Ellingtton, and he was gay.  She used to claim he taught her how to sing. 
      George Holcombe
      14900 Yellowleaf Tr.
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      Home: 512/252-2756
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      geowanda at earthlink.net <http://us.mc593.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=geowanda@earthlink.net> 

      On May 10, 2010, at 11:48 AM, R Williams wrote:

        Absolutely Ella is on the list!  There are several somewhat lesser knowns who should probably be included, like Dakota Staton, Nancy Wilson and Julie London,  remembered for her sultry version  of "Scotch and Soda".

        In reading a little more about Lena I learned that she was one of the first black entertainers to work in "all white" venues.  In her earlier days she was accepted by whites as an entertainer but was not allowed into their social circles.  Later she married Lenny Hayden who, as I remember, was white.  That made her more acceptable with some whites but less so with others.  She broke down some big walls, from which we all have benefited, but payed a price.

        Randy

        --- On Mon, 5/10/10, Sandra/Bob True <icatrue at igc.org <http://us.mc593.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=icatrue@igc.org> > wrote:

          From: Sandra/Bob True <icatrue at igc.org <http://us.mc593.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=icatrue@igc.org> >
          Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Death of an Artist
          To: "Order Ecumenical Community" <oe at wedgeblade.net <http://us.mc593.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=oe@wedgeblade.net> >
          Date: Monday, May 10, 2010, 10:57 AM

          Ella Fitzgerald is also on the list. Because of my love for Ella I lived jazz singers Lena Horn among them. Saw her perform at a Jazz Festival in CA many years ago. Truely great!

          Sandra 

          On May 10, 2010, at 11:47 AM, Pamela Bergdall <pbergdall2 at yahoo.com <http://us.mc593.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=pbergdall2@yahoo.com> > wrote:

            Thanks for alerting me Randy.  I hadn't seen that Lena died.  I agree with what you say.  Pam

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            From: R Williams <rcwmbw at yahoo.com <http://us.mc593.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=rcwmbw@yahoo.com> >
            To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe at wedgeblade.net <http://us.mc593.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=oe@wedgeblade.net> >;  <http://us.mc593.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=dialogue-request@wedgeblade.net> dialogue-request at wedgeblade.net <http://us.mc593.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=dialogue-request@wedgeblade.net> 
            Sent: Mon, May 10, 2010 7:36:36 AM
            Subject: [Oe List ...] Death of an Artist

            Today I noted with sadness the death of singer and actress Lena Horne at the age of 92.  She was, in my opinion, one of the great, if not the greatest, song stylist of our time.  Her rendition of "Stormy Weather," from the movie of the same title, is arguably the greatest popular vocal of the 20th century.

            One of the lilting lyrics from the opening number of her night club act keeps running through my head:

            "...today I love everybody,
            Everybody I see.
            And today I state
            I think all folks are great,
            Including them that are not."

            Lena and others like her have contributed to the civilizing process and cultural enlightenment of the globe and, one way or another, to ours and other movements for whom music and singing is important.  She is in company with the likes of Ethyl Waters, Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Peggy Lee, Tony Bennett and others whom you would perhaps include.  

            Randy

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