Black Music Month 2014: Celebrate Ivie Anderson

She's considered to be the best vocalist that Duke Ellington ever hired to sing with his orchestra and she's probably best remembered for her vocals on "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)". Duke Ellington, a man who'd previously felt indifferent towards vocalists (and according to his memoir, Music is My Mistress, wanted to hire someone else a permanent vocalist), praised her every chance he got--as did anyone who heard her sing. The woman's name was Ivie Anderson, a woman whose name is often ignored today, with a voice too memorable to be unsung. 

From Wikipedia

Ivie (sometimes spelled "Ivy") Anderson was born in Gilroy, California on July 10, 1905. Her father's name was Jobe Smith, but her mother's name is unknown. At the age of nine, Ivie was orphaned. She spent spent the next few years in St. Mary's Convent, where she studied voice, and at Gilroy's grammar and high school, she participated in the glee club and choral society. 

Ivie's singing career began in Los Angeles in 1921. Soon, she moved to New York City to join the hit Broadway show, Shuffle Along, and subsequently, became a chorus girl at the Cotton Club. She returned to Los Angeles for a bit, but quickly moved back to the East Coast to sing with Earl "Fatha" Hines and his orchestra. In February of 1931, Ivie Anderson became a permanent vocalist in Duke Ellington's Orchestra.

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*Below are songs recorded during Ivie's eleven-year stint with the Duke Ellington Orchestra*

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"It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)"

Duke Ellington composed this song during intermissions at Chicago's Lincoln Tavern in 1931. He, the orchestra, and Ivie Anderson recorded it for Brunswick Records on February 2, 1932. It is believed to be the first song to have "swing" in the title--and was popular before the Swing era even began. The song is now a beloved jazz standard.

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"Delta Bound"

The Duke Ellington Orchestra recorded "Delta Bound" in February of 1932. It was recorded in New York and released overseas, but wasn't released in the United States until the 1940s.

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"Raisin' the Rent" 

"Raisin' the Rent" was recorded for Brunswick Records on May 9, 1933.


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"My Old Flame"
(A personal favorite)

"My Old Flame" was composed by Arthur Johnson (lyrics by Sam Coslow) for the 1934 Mae West film, Belle of the Nineties. Mae West sang it in the movie (accompanied by Duke Ellington and his Orchestra). That same year, Duke Ellington and His Orchestra recorded it for Victor Records with Ivie on vocals.


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"I've Got to Be a Rug Cutter"

The Duke Ellington Orchestra recorded "I've Got to Be a Rug Cutter" on March 5, 1937. They can be seen performing it in The Hit Parade, a movie-musical released a month later (video above).


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"All God's Chillun Got Rhythm"

Ivie Anderson and Her Boys from Dixie recorded "All God's Chillun Got Rhythm" on June 8, 1937. That same year, she performed it with Harpo Marx and The Crinoline Choir in A Day at the Races (video above). Ivie comes in on the video at about 1:56 and the actual song begins at about 3:17.


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"When My Sugar Walks Down the Street"

Ivie and Duke's Orchestra recorded their rendition of this tune for Brunswick Records on June 7, 1938. There are some awesome photos of Ivie with Duke, Cab Calloway, and other musicians in this video!


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"Stormy Weather"

The Duke Ellington Orchestra recorded a rendition of "Stormy Weather" in 1933 and that same year, he recorded a vocal version with Ivie Anderson. Another version (with Ivie) was recorded in 1940. Above is a clip from the 1933 short film, A Bundle of Blues.


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"I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)

This song was recorded on June 26, 1941 for Victor Records. Above is a "soundie" performance of the song.


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"Hayfoot, Strawfoot"

This bouncy jazz tune--one of Ivie's last with the Duke Ellington Orchestra--was recorded on July 28, 1942.


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In 1941, Ivie performed in Duke Ellington's stage production, Jump for Joy, and that same year, she and her first husband, Marques Neal, opened a successful restaurant called "Ivie's Chicken Shack". Ivie suffered from asthma for many years and when her condition worsened, she left Duke Ellington's Orchestra in 1942, but continued singing locally. On December 27, 1949 (some sources say December 28th), Ivie Anderson passed away, presumably of an asthma attack. She was married to a Walter Collins at the time of her death.


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"I soon found that she was an extraordinary artist and an extraordinary person as well. She had great dignity, and she was greatly admired by everyone everywhere we went, at home and abroad. She became one our mainstays and highlights, and she gave some unforgettable performances...They still talk about Ivie, and every girl singer we've had since has tried to prevail over the Ivie Anderson image." -- Duke Ellington in his memoir, Music is My Mistress (Source: Notable Black American Women, Book 2)

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Sources

Wikipedia
African American Registry 
Duke Ellington and His World: A Biography
Notable Black American Women, Book 2
IMDb


Ivie Anderson Discography (Wikipedia)


*I was unable to find any information on Ivie Anderson and Her Boys From Dixie*


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