Eddie Durham's All-Star Girl Orchestra was an African-American

all-female band An all-female band is a musical ensemble, musical group in popular music that is exclusively composed of female musicians. This is distinct from a girl group, in which the female members are solely vocalists, though this terminology is not universa ...

started by arranger

Eddie Durham Edward Durham (August 19, 1906 – March 6, 1987) was an American jazz guitarist, trombonist, composer, and arranger. He was one of the pioneers of the electric guitar in jazz. The orchestras of Bennie Moten, Jimmie Lunceford, Count Basie, ...

in January 1942. By November, the All-Stars were a part of Moe Gale's New York agency. The group was also known as "Eddie Durham's All-Girl Band" and performed throughout the country and internationally. The All-Stars typically had between eighteen and twenty-two members and pulled musicians from other popular bands of the time, including The Harlem Playgirls and

The International Sweethearts of Rhythm The International Sweethearts of Rhythm was an American jazz ensemble, believed to be the first racially-integrated all-female band in the United States. During the 1940s, the band featured some of the best female musicians of the day. They pla ...

History

Popularity

Starting July 9, 1943, the All-Star Girl Orchestra traveled throughout the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

and

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

performing, with concerts at cities, such as Columbus,

South Carolina South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...

and

Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

and USO dates. The All-Stars were very popular during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

and performed at

United Service Organization The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed F ...

(USO) Camp Shows. They dedicated at least one night per week on the war effort and their activities included raising war bonds, uplifting morale, and performing at military camps and USO centers. During their time together, they performed at seventy-two army camps throughout Canada. Unlike other bands that struggled to find funding during restrictive war times, the All-Stars had luxury buses adapt with hot and cold water, air conditioning, and sleeping accommodations. The band also received government supplied gas coupons. They had enough money because of

Mary McLeod Bethune Mary McLeod Bethune (; July 10, 1875 – May 18, 1955) was an American educator, Philanthropy, philanthropist, Humanitarianism, humanitarian, Womanism, womanist, and civil rights activist. Bethune founded the National Council of Negro Women in ...

. She was the founder of the

National Council of Negro Women The National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (NCNW) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1935 with the mission to advance the opportunities and the quality of life for African-American women, their families, and communities. Mary McLeod Bethune, ...

and Bethune-Cook College.

received permission from

Eleanor Roosevelt Anna Eleanor Roosevelt ( ; October 11, 1884November 7, 1962) was an American political figure, diplomat, and activist. She was the longest-serving First Lady of the United States, first lady of the United States, during her husband Franklin D ...

to allow the bus to travel anywhere. The All-Stars played at popular venues including the Paramount Theater,

Apollo Theater The Apollo Theater (formerly the Hurtig & Seamon's New Theatre; also Apollo Theatre or 125th Street Apollo Theatre) is a multi-use Theater (structure), theater at 253 125th Street (Manhattan), West 125th Street in the Harlem neighborhood of U ...

, and

Howard Theater The Howard Theatre is a historic theater, located at 620 T Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C., has been a pillar of the community since its opening in 1910. This historic venue, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, showc ...

, and were even invited to perform on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

. The All-Stars were repeat guests at the

. They performed in 1942 in February, September, and June, October 1943, and April 1944. At times, they performed with other popular acts including

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April25, 1917June15, 1996) was an American singer, songwriter and composer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phra ...

Moms Mabley Loretta Mary Aiken (March 19, 1897 – May 23, 1975), known by her stage name Jackie "Moms" Mabley, was an American stand-up comedian and actress. Mabley began her career on the theater stage in the 1920s and became a veteran entertainer of the ...

, and comedian duo

Butterbeans and Susie Butterbeans and Susie were an American double act, comedy duo comprising Jodie Edwards (July 19, 1893 – October 28, 1967) and Susie Edwards (née Hawthorne; December 1894 – December 5, 1963). They married in 1917, and performed togethe ...

Folding

In 1945, after

VJ day Victory over Japan Day (also known as V-J Day, Victory in the Pacific Day, or V-P Day) is the day on which Imperial Japan surrendered in World War II, in effect bringing the war to an end. The term has been applied to both of the days on wh ...

, the All-Stars were supposed to perform at Sweets' Ballroom in Oakland, California. After performing for one week, they disbanded because the male musicians were returning to the United States. Durham ensured each member returned home. Durham trained singer Jean Parks to take over the All-Stars. The band was then titled Jean Parks's All Star-Girl Band. However, the band officially ended less than a year later after Parks fell ill. Many of the former All-Star members went on to join other bands, including Lorraine Brown Guilford's Darlings of Rhythm.

Line Up

The line-up of the All-Stars changed throughout its history. * Dolly Jones Armenra - Trumpet * Edna Williams - Trumpet * Jean Starr - Trumpet * Nova Lee McGee - Trumpet * Thelma Lewis - Trumpet * Flo Jones - Trumpet * Lela Julius- Trombone * Jessie Turner - Trombone * Sammy Lee Jett - Trombone * Ellarize Thompson - Alto Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, and Violin * Alma Cortez - Baritone Saxophone * Lorraine Brown Guilford - Saxophone * Josephine Boyd- Saxophone * Margaret Backstreet "Padjo" - Saxophone * Edith Farthing - Upright Bass * Violet "Vi" M. Wilson - Bass

References

{{authority control African-American musical groups American jazz ensembles African-American history between emancipation and the civil rights movement History of women in the United States 1942 establishments in the United States 1940s disestablishments in the United States American all-female bands All-female jazz bands

History

Popularity

Folding

Line Up

See also

References