Ivie Anderson (sometimes Ivy) (January 16, 1904 – December 28, 1949) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

singer. Anderson was a member of the

Duke Ellington Orchestra Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was bas ...

for more than a decade.

Personal life

Anderson was born on January 16, 1904, in

Gilroy, California Gilroy is a city in Northern California's Santa Clara County, south of Morgan Hill and north of San Benito County. Gilroy is the southernmost city in the San Francisco Bay Area, with a population of 56,766 as of the 2019 U.S. Census Projection ...

. Although her mother's name is unknown, her father was Jobe Smith. From 1914 to 1918 (age 9 to 13), Anderson attended St. Mary's Convent and studied voice. At Gilroy grammar school and

Gilroy High School Gilroy High School is a co-educational public school located in Gilroy, California, that serves the city of Gilroy. A part of the Gilroy Unified School District, is one of two public comprehensive high schools in the city and has an approximat ...

, she joined glee club and choral society. She also studied voice under Sara Ritt while in Nannie H. Burroughs Institution in Washington, D.C. From 1930 to 1945, Anderson lived at 724 East 52nd Place in Los Angeles, part of the 52nd Place Historic District.

Career

Anderson's singing career began around 1921 with performances in Los Angeles. In 1924, she toured with the musical '' Shuffle Along''. By 1925, she had performed in Cuba, the

Cotton Club The Cotton Club was a New York City nightclub from 1923 to 1940. It was located on 142nd Street and Lenox Avenue (1923–1936), then briefly in the midtown Theater District (1936–1940).Elizabeth Winter"Cotton Club of Harlem (1923- )" Blac ...

in New York City, and Los Angeles with the bands of Paul Howard,

Curtis Mosby Curtis J. Mosby (July 7, 1895 (or 1892) in Kansas City, Missouri – June 25, 1957 in San Francisco) was an American jazz drummer, bandleader, and businessman. Bio Mosby toured with the Tennessee Ten in the 1910s, and also led his own ensem ...

, and Sonny Clay. In 1928, she sang in Australia with Clay's band and starred in Frank Sebastian's Cotton Club in Los Angeles in April. Soon after, she began touring in the United States as a solo singer. From 1930 to early 1931, with pianist

Earl Hines Earl Kenneth Hines, also known as Earl "Fatha" Hines (December 28, 1903 – April 22, 1983), was an American jazz pianist and bandleader. He was one of the most influential figures in the development of jazz piano and, according to one source, " ...

's band, Anderson performed in a 20-week residency at the Grand Terrace in Chicago, Illinois. In 1931, she became the first full-time vocalist in the

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was bas ...

orchestra. Her career for over a decade consisted of touring with Ellington. Her first appearance on record, " It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)", recorded in 1932, was a hit. She participated in Ellington's first European tour in 1933. In 1940, she recorded "Solitude", "Mood Indigo", and "Stormy Weather". One of the rare occasions Anderson sang independently of Ellington in this period was her performance of "All God's Children Got Rhythm" in the

Marx Brothers The Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act that was successful in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in motion pictures from 1905 to 1949. Five of the Marx Brothers' thirteen feature films were selected by the American Film Institute (AFI) ...

film '' A Day at the Races'' (1937) for MGM. Owing to her chronic

asthma Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, co ...

, Anderson left Ellington's band in 1942. She started the Chicken Shack restaurant in Los Angeles with Marque Neal after they married but sold the business when they divorced. She had a second marriage with Walter Collins. At the end of 1949, Anderson died in Los Angeles. Although her earliest obituary was dated December 27, 1949, later sources state her date of death as December 28, 1949.

Comments about Ivie Anderson

Anderson often received prominent billing on advertisements for Ellington's appearances in theatres, auditoriums, arenas, and ballrooms, wherever the Ellington band toured in the 1930s. She sang pop tunes and ballads and was the band's scat singer, imitating instrumental sounds and vocalizations. She was said to be one of Ellington's finest and most versatile singers before Swedish vocalist Alice Babs performed with the band. Ellington wrote ''Music Is My Mistress'' (1973) with Anderson in mind. When Anderson played in Ellington's musical '' Jump for Joy'', the '' California Eagle'' wrote of her:

"Ivie can sing a song so that the audience get every word, and at the same time make cracks at Sonny Greer, tease Duke and wink at the boys in the front row. Wednesday night she went into a dance routine that would have slayed you."

Discography

;1932 *" It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" (Brunswick 6265) February 2, 1932 *"Delta Bound" (Columbia 37298) December 21, 1932 (not issued until the 1940s) ;1933 *"

I've Got the World on a String "I've Got The World on a String" is a 1932 popular jazz song composed by Harold Arlen, with lyrics written by Ted Koehler. It was written for the twenty-first edition of the Cotton Club series which opened on October 23, 1932, the first of th ...

" (UK Columbia CB-625) February 15, 1933 (recorded in New York but only issued overseas) * " Stormy Weather" 1933 quoted in Stuart Nicholson's book "Reminiscing in Tempo" page 131 *"Happy as the Day Is Long" (Brunswick 6571) May 9, 1933 *"Raisin' the Rent" (Brunswick 6571) May 9, 1933 *"Get Yourself a New Broom (and Sweep Your Blues Away)" (Brunswick 6607) May 9, 1933 *"I'm Satisfied" (Brunswick 6638) August 15, 1933 ;1934 *"Ebony Rhapsody" (Victor 24622) April 12, 1934 *"Troubled Waters" (Victor 24651) May 9, 1934 *"My Old Flame" (Victor 24651) May 9, 1934 ;1935 *"Let's Have a Jubilee" (unissued on 78) January 9, 1935 *"Cotton" (Brunswick 7525) August 19, 1935 *"Truckin'" (Brunswick 7514) August 19, 1935 ;1936 *"Dinah Lou" (unissued on 78) January 20, 1936 *"Isn't Love the Strangest Thing?" (Brunswick 7625) February 27, 1936 *"Love Is Like a Cigarette" (Brunswick 7627) February 28, 1936 *"Kissin' My Baby Goodnight" (Brunswick 7627) February 28, 1936 *"Oh Babe! Maybe Someday" (Brunswick 7667) February 28, 1936 *"Shoe Shine Boy" (Brunswick 7710) July 17, 1936 *"It Was a Sad Night in Harlem" (Brunswick 7710) July 17, 1936 ;1937 *"I've Got To Be a Rug Cutter" (Master MA-101) March 5, 1937 *"My Honey's Lovin' Arms" (as The Gotham Stompers) (Variety VA-629) March 25, 1937 *"Did Anyone Ever Tell You?" (as The Gotham Stompers) (Variety VA-541) March 25, 1937 *"Where Are You?" (as The Gotham Stompers) (Variety VA-541) March 25, 1937 :(The Gotham Stompers session included members of Ellington's band plus members of

Chick Webb William Henry "Chick" Webb (February 10, 1905 – June 16, 1939) was an American jazz and swing music drummer and band leader. Early life Webb was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to William H. and Marie Webb. The year of his birth is disputed. ...

's.) *"There's a Lull in My Life" (Master MA-117) April 9, 1937 *"It's Swell of You" (Master MA-117) April 9, 1937 *"The Old Plantation" (as Ivie Anderson And Her Boys From Dixie) (Variety VA-591) April 22, 1937 *" All God's Chillun Got Rhythm" (as Ivie Anderson And Her Boys From Dixie) (Variety VA-591) June 8, 1937 *"Alabamy Home" (Master VA-137) June 8, 1937 ;1938 *"If You Were in My Place (What Would You Do?)" (Brunswick 8093) February 24, 1938 *"Scrounch" (Brunswick 8093) February 24, 1938 *"Carnival in Caroline" (Brunswick 8099) March 3, 1938 *"Swingtime in Honolulu" (Brunswick 8131) April 11, 1938 *"You Gave Me the Gate (and I'm Swingin')" (Brunswick 8169) June 7, 1938 *"Rose of the Rio Grande" (Brunswick 8186) June 7, 1938 *" When My Sugar Walks Down the Street" (Brunswick 8168) June 7, 1938 *"Watermelon Man" (Brunswick 8200) June 20, 1938 *"La De Doody Do" (Brunswick 8174) June 20, 1938 ;1939 *"In a Mizz" (Brunswick 8405) June 12, 1939 *"I'm Checkin' Out, Goo'm Bye" (Columbia 35208) June 12, 1939 *"A Lonely Co-ed" (Columbia 35240) June 12, 1939 *"You Can Count On Me" (Brunswick 8411) June 12, 1939 *"Killing Myself" (Columbia 35640) October 16, 1939 *"Your Love Has Faded" (Columbia 35640) October 16, 1939 ;1940 *"

Solitude Solitude is a state of seclusion or isolation, meaning lack of socialisation. Effects can be either positive or negative, depending on the situation. Short-term solitude is often valued as a time when one may work, think, or rest without distu ...

" (Columbia 35427) February 14, 1940 *" Stormy Weather" (Columbia 35556) February 14, 1940 *"

Mood Indigo "Mood Indigo" is a jazz song with music by Duke Ellington and Barney Bigard and lyrics by Irving Mills. Composition Although Irving Mills—Jack Mills's brother and publishing partner—took credit for the lyrics, Mitchell Parish claimed in ...

" (Columbia 35427) February 14, 1940 *"So Far, So Good" (Victor 26537) March 6, 1940 *"Me and You" (Victor 26598) March 15, 1940 *"At a Dixie Roadside Diner" (Victor 26719) July 22, 1940 *"Five O'Clock Whistle" (Victor 26748) September 15, 1940 ;1941 *"Chocolate Shake" (Victor 27531) June 26, 1941 *" I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)" (Victor 27531) June 26, 1941 *"Jump for Joy" (Victor LPV 517) July 2, 1941 *" Rocks in My Bed" (Victor 27639) September 26, 1941 ;1942 *"I Don't Mind" (Victor 20-1598) February 26, 1942 *"Hayfoot, Strawfoot" (Victor 20-1505) July 28, 1942

Compilations

*''Duke Ellington Presents Ivie Anderson'' 931–1940(Columbia KG 32064 2-LP release) 1973 *''Her Best Recordings, 1932–1942'' (Best Of Jazz 4020) 1995

Appearances on Ellington recordings

**'' The Blanton–Webster Band'' 940–1942(RCA 5659-2-RB) 1990 **''Ellington and His Great Vocalists'' (Columbia CK 66372) 1993

Charting singles

References

External links

Ivie Anderson – American National Biography

Barry Kernfeld Barry Dean Kernfeld (born August 11, 1950) is an American musicologist and jazz saxophonist who has researched and published extensively about the history of jazz and the biographies of its musicians. Education In 1968, Kernfeld enrolled at ...

Musician Ivie Anderson (Vocal)

All About Jazz ''All About Jazz'' is a website established by Michael Ricci in 1995. A volunteer staff publishes news, album reviews, articles, videos, and listings of concerts and other events having to do with jazz. Ricci maintains a related site, ''Jazz Near ...

Ivie Anderson – Music Biography, Credits and Discography

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Music ...

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Ivie 1904 births 1949 deaths People from Gilroy, California 20th-century African-American women singers American women jazz singers American jazz singers Duke Ellington Orchestra members Gilroy High School alumni Jazz musicians from California