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Carmen McRae

Background information
Birth name Carmen Mercedes McRae
Also known as "The Singer's Singer"
Born April 8, 1920 (1920-04-08)
Origin Harlem,
New York City, New York,
United States
Died November 10, 1994 (aged 74)
Beverly Hills, California, United States
Genre(s) Vocal jazz
Bebop
Ballads
Traditional pop
Occupation(s) Singer, Pianist, Actress
Instrument(s) Piano
Years active 1944s – 1994
Label(s) Decca, Verve, Atlantic, Novus, Columbia, Blue Note, Concord, Buddah
Associated acts Sammy Davis, Jr.
Cal Tjader
George Shearing
Dave Brubeck

Carmen Mercedes McRae (April 8, 1920 – November 10, 1994) was an American jazz singer, composer, pianist, and actress. Events 217 - Roman Emperor Caracalla is Assassinated (and succeeded by his Praetorian Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, long known as a major African American cultural and business center The City of New York The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 1444 - Battle of Varna: The crusading forces of King Vladislaus III of Varna (aka Ulaszlo I of Hungary and Wladyslaw Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Jazz Singing can be defined by the instrumental approach to the voice where the singer can match the instruments in their stylistic approach to the lyrics improvised or otherwise or Bebop or bop is a form of Jazz characterized by fast Tempos and Improvisation based on Harmonic structure rather than Melody A ballad is a Poem usually set to Music; thus it often is a story told in a Song. Traditional pop or Classic pop or Standards music denotes in general Western (and particularly American popular music that either wholly predates the advent of A pianist (/'piənɪst/ is a Musician who plays the Piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces play with an ensemble or Orchestra An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Decca Records is a British Record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Verve Records is an American Jazz Record label now owned by the Universal Music Group. Atlantic Records ( Atlantic Recording Corporation) is an American Record label best known for its many recordings of Rhythm & blues, Rock Arista Records (ˈɛərɪstə is an American Record label. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operates under the Columbia Records is an American Record label founded in 1888 Columbia is the oldest surviving Brand name in pre-recorded sound being the first record company Samuel George “Sammy” Davis Jr (8 December 1925 &ndash 16 May 1990 was an American Entertainer. Callen Radcliffe Tjader Jr aka Cal Tjader ( July 16 1925 &ndash May 5 1982) was a Latin jazz Musician, though Sir George Shearing OBE (b August 13, 1919) is a British Jazz Pianist who during the 1950s "had one of the David Warren Brubeck (born December 6, 1920 in Concord California) better known as Dave Brubeck, is an American jazz pianist Events 217 - Roman Emperor Caracalla is Assassinated (and succeeded by his Praetorian Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar Events 1444 - Battle of Varna: The crusading forces of King Vladislaus III of Varna (aka Ulaszlo I of Hungary and Wladyslaw Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States A composer (literally meaning 'one who puts together' is a person who creates Music, usually in the medium of notation, for Interpretation and Performance A pianist (/'piənɪst/ is a Musician who plays the Piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces play with an ensemble or Orchestra An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works Considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th Century, it was her behind-the-beat phrasing and her ironic interpretations of song lyrics that made her memorable. The twentieth century of the Common Era began on [1] McRae drew inspiration from Billie Holiday, but established her own distinctive voice. Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7 1915 – July 17 1959 was an American Jazz singer and songwriter She went on to record over 60 albums during her career, and enjoying a rich musical career, performing and recording in the United States, Europe, and Japan.

Contents

Career

McRae was born in Harlem, New York City on April 8, 1920, to West Indian (Jamaican) parents, Osmond and Evadne McRae. Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, long known as a major African American cultural and business center The City of New York Events 217 - Roman Emperor Caracalla is Assassinated (and succeeded by his Praetorian Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar She began studying piano when she was eight, and the music of jazz greats like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington filled her home. Louis Armstrong (August 4 1901 &ndash July 6 1971 nicknamed Satchmo or Sachimo and Pops, was an American Jazz Trumpeter Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29 1899 &ndash May 24 1974 was an American Composer, Pianist, and Bandleader. She met singer Billie Holiday when she was just 17 years old. Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7 1915 – July 17 1959 was an American Jazz singer and songwriter As a teenager McRae came to the attention of Teddy Wilson and his wife, the composer Irene Kitchings Wilson. Theodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson ( November 24 1912 &ndash July 31 1986) was a jazz pianist from the United States One of McRae's early songs, "Dream of Life" through their influence, was recorded in 1939 by Wilson’s longtime collaborator Billie Holiday. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7 1915 – July 17 1959 was an American Jazz singer and songwriter [2] McRae considered Holiday to be her primary influence. In her late teens and early twenties, McRae played piano at a New York club called Minton's Playhouse, Harlem's most famous jazz club, sang as a chorus girl, and worked as a secretary. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Minton’s Playhouse is a Jazz club and bar located on the first floor of the Hotel Cecil at 210 West 118th Street in Harlem. It was at Milton's where she met trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, bassist Oscar Pettiford, and drummer Kenny Clarke. John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie ( October 21 1917 &ndash January 6 1993) was an American Jazz Trumpeter Oscar Pettiford ( 30 September, 1922 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, &ndash 8 September, 1960 in Copenhagen, Denmark Kenny Clarke (born Kenneth Spearman Clarke, nicknamed " Klook " and later known as Liaqat Ali Salaam, on January 9, 1914 Had her first important job as a pianist with the Benny Carter's big band (1944), worked with Count Basie (1944) and made first recording as pianist with Mercer Ellington Band (1946-1947). Bennett Lester Carter (born August 8, 1907 in Harlem New York; died July 12, 2003 in Los Angeles California) was Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. William "Count" Basie ( August 21, 1904 &ndash April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, Organist Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Mercer K Ellington ( 11 March 1919 &ndash 8 February 1996) was an American Jazz Trumpeter Composer Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. But it was while working in Brooklyn that she came to the attention of Decca’s Milt Gabler. Brooklyn (named after the Dutch town Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. Decca Records is a British Record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Milton Gabler ( May 20, 1911 - July 20, 2001) was an American Record producer, responsible for many innovations in the recording Her five year association with Decca yielded 12 LPs.

In 1948 she moved to Chicago with comedian George Kirby. Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. George Kirby ( June 8, 1923 &ndash September 30, 1995) was an American Comedian, singer and Actor from She played piano steadily for almost four years before returning to New York. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Those years in Chicago, McRae told Jazz Forum, "gave me whatever it is that I have now. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. That's the most prominent schooling I ever had. "[3] Back in New York in the early 1950s, McRae got the record contract that launched her career. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In 1954, she was voted best new female vocalist by Down Beat magazine. Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) Down Beat is an American Magazine devoted to "jazz blues and beyond" to indicate its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively

Among her most interesting recording projects were Mad About The Man (1957) with composer Noël Coward, Boy Meets Girl (1957) with Sammy Davis, Jr., participating in Dave Brubeck's The Real Ambassadors (1961) with Louis Armstrong, a tribute album You're Lookin' at Me (A Collection of Nat King Cole Songs) (1983), cutting an album of live duets with Betty Carter, The Carmen McRae-Betty Carter Duets (1987), being accompanied by Dave Brubeck and George Shearing, and closing her career with brilliant tributes to Thelonious Monk, Carmen Sings Monk (1990), and Sarah Vaughan, Sarah: Dedicated to You (1991). Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) Sir Noël Peirce Coward ( 16 December 1899 26 March 1973) was an English Actor, Playwright Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) Samuel George “Sammy” Davis Jr (8 December 1925 &ndash 16 May 1990 was an American Entertainer. David Warren Brubeck (born December 6, 1920 in Concord California) better known as Dave Brubeck, is an American jazz pianist The Real Ambassadors is a Jazz musical developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s by Dave and Iola Brubeck, in collaboration with Louis Armstrong Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Louis Armstrong (August 4 1901 &ndash July 6 1971 nicknamed Satchmo or Sachimo and Pops, was an American Jazz Trumpeter Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17 1919 &ndash February 15 1965 known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Betty Carter ( May 16, 1929 &ndash September 26, 1998) was an American Jazz Singer who was renowned for her The Carmen McRae-Betty Carter Duets is a 1987 (see 1987 in music) Live album of Duets by the American Jazz singers Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) David Warren Brubeck (born December 6, 1920 in Concord California) better known as Dave Brubeck, is an American jazz pianist Sir George Shearing OBE (b August 13, 1919) is a British Jazz Pianist who during the 1950s "had one of the Thelonious Sphere Monk ( October 10, 1917 - February 17, 1982) was an American Jazz Pianist and Composer. Carmen Sings Monk is a 1988 (see 1988 in music) album by the American Jazz singer Carmen McRae, focusing on the songs composed by Thelonius Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) Sarah Lois Vaughan (nicknamed " Sassy " and " The Divine One ") ( March 27 1924, &ndash April Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. As a result of her early friendship with Billie Holiday, she never performed without singing at least one song associated with Lady Day, and recorded an album in 1983 in her honor entitled For Lady Day, which was released in 1995. Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7 1915 – July 17 1959 was an American Jazz singer and songwriter Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7 1915 – July 17 1959 was an American Jazz singer and songwriter Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Some songs included are; "Good Morning Heartache", "Them There Eyes", "Lover Man", "God Bless the Child", "Don't Explain", just to name a few. "Good Morning Heartache" ( Decca Records) is a song written by Irene Higgenbotham, Ervin Drake, and Dan Fisher " Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be? " (often called simply " Lover Man " is a 1941 Popular song written by Jimmy Davis Roger ("Ram" " God Bless the Child " is a song written by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog Jr McRae also recorded with the world best jazz musicians, Take Five Live (1961) with Dave Brubeck, Heat Wave (1982) with Cal Tjader, and Two for the Road (1989) with George Shearing. Take Five is a 1961 (see 1961 in music) live album by the American Jazz singer Carmen McRae, focusing on the songs composed by Dave David Warren Brubeck (born December 6, 1920 in Concord California) better known as Dave Brubeck, is an American jazz pianist Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Callen Radcliffe Tjader Jr aka Cal Tjader ( July 16 1925 &ndash May 5 1982) was a Latin jazz Musician, though Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) Sir George Shearing OBE (b August 13, 1919) is a British Jazz Pianist who during the 1950s "had one of the

Carmen McRae sang in jazz clubs throughout the United States—and across the world—for over fifty years. McRae was a popular performer at the legendary Monterey Jazz Festival (1961-1963, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1982). Debuting on October 3, 1958, the Monterey Jazz Festival (MJF is one of the longest consecutively running Jazz festivals Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Performing with Duke Ellington's at the North Sea Jazz Festival in 1980, singing "Dont Get Around Much Any More", and at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1989. Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29 1899 &ndash May 24 1974 was an American Composer, Pianist, and Bandleader. The North Sea Jazz Festival is an annual jazz festival held each second weekend of July in The Netherlands. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) The Montreux Jazz Festival is the best-known music Festival in Switzerland, Europe's most prestigious Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) [4]

Carmen McRae, who refused to quit smoking, was forced to retire in 1991 due to emphysema. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. Emphysema is a chronic obstructive Pulmonary disease ( COPD) formerly termed a chronic obstructive Lung disease (COLD [5] McRae passed away November 10, 1994 in Beverly Hills, California from a stroke, following complications from respiratory illness. Events 1444 - Battle of Varna: The crusading forces of King Vladislaus III of Varna (aka Ulaszlo I of Hungary and Wladyslaw Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar)

Selective awards and recognitions

Grammy Award History

Carmen McRae Grammy Award Recognitions[6]
Year Category Title Label Result
1990 Best Jazz Vocal Performance - Female Carmen Sings Monk Novus Nominee
1988 Best Jazz Vocal Performance - Female Fine and Mellow Concord Jazz Nominee
1988 Best Jazz Vocal Performance - Duo or Group The Carmen McRae-Betty Carter Duets Great American Music Hall Nominee
1987 Best Jazz Vocal Performance - Female Any Old Time Denon Nominee
1984 Best Jazz Vocal Performance You're Lookin' at Me (A Collection of Nat King Cole Songs) Concord Jazz Nominee
1977 Best Jazz Vocal Performance Carmen McRae at the Great American Music Hall Blue Note Nominee
1971 Best Jazz Performance - Soloist Carmen McRae Atlantic Nominee
Carmen McRae Awards
Year Organization Category Result
1994 National Endowment for the Arts NEA Jazz Masters Winner
1993 NAACP NAACP Image Awards Honoree
1984 Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame Inducted

Filmography

Movies

Television

Selective discography

Year Title Label
1990 Sarah: Dedicated to You Novus
1988 Carmen Sings Monk Novus
1987 The Carmen McRae-Betty Carter Duets Great American Music Hall
1983 You're Lookin' at Me (A Collection of Nat King Cole Songs) Concord Jazz
1980 Two for the Road with George Shearing Concord Jazz
1972 The Great American Songbook Atlantic
1965 Alive! Columbia
1962 Something Wonderful Columbia
1962 The Real Ambassadors Columbia
1961 Sings Lover Man and other Billie Holiday Classics Columbia
1961 Take Five Columbia
1960 Book of Ballads Kapp
1958 Boy Meets Girl: Sammy Davis Jr. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Roots The Next Generations is a 1979 television miniseries that continues the story of the family of Alex Haley from the time of Reconstruction Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Carmen Sings Monk is a 1988 (see 1988 in music) album by the American Jazz singer Carmen McRae, focusing on the songs composed by Thelonius The Carmen McRae-Betty Carter Duets is a 1987 (see 1987 in music) Live album of Duets by the American Jazz singers The Real Ambassadors is a Jazz musical developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s by Dave and Iola Brubeck, in collaboration with Louis Armstrong Sings Lover Man and other Billie Holiday Classics is a 1962 (see 1962 in music) studio album recorded by Carmen McRae. Take Five is a 1961 (see 1961 in music) live album by the American Jazz singer Carmen McRae, focusing on the songs composed by Dave & Carmen McRae Decca
1958 Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday at Newport Verve
1957 After Glow Decca
1955 Torchy Decca
1954 Easy to Love Bethelem
1954 Carmen McRae Bethelem

Footnotes

  1. ^ Carmen McRae at Allmusic
  2. ^ Larkin, Colin. Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday at Newport is a 1958 (see 1958 in music) Live album by Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday allmusic (previously All Music Guide) is a Metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Guinness, page 2650, (1995) - ISBN 1561591769
  3. ^ Jazz Forum, No. 2, 1990
  4. ^ Montreux Jazz Festival
  5. ^ All Music: Carmen McRae
  6. ^ Grammy Award Database
  7. ^ Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986)
  8. ^ Hotel (1967)
  9. ^ The Subterraneans (1960)
  10. ^ The Square Jungle (1956)
  11. ^ Roots: The Next Generations (1979)

External links

References

Persondata
NAME McRae, Carmen Mercedes
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION American jazz musician and actress
DATE OF BIRTH April 8, 1920
PLACE OF BIRTH Harlem, New York City
DATE OF DEATH November 10, 1994
PLACE OF DEATH Beverly Hills, California
Events 217 - Roman Emperor Caracalla is Assassinated (and succeeded by his Praetorian Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, long known as a major African American cultural and business center The City of New York Events 1444 - Battle of Varna: The crusading forces of King Vladislaus III of Varna (aka Ulaszlo I of Hungary and Wladyslaw Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar)
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