Carmen McRae
| Carmen McRae | |
|---|---|
Portrait by Zita Cypress, circa 1949
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Carmen Mercedes McRae |
| Also known as | "The Singer's Singer" |
| Born | April 8, 1922 |
| Origin | Harlem, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | November 10, 1994 (aged 72) Beverly Hills, California, United States |
| Genres | Vocal jazz, bebop, traditional pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, pianist |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano |
| Years active | 1939–1991 |
| Labels | Decca, Kapp, Columbia, Mainstream, Atlantic, Blue Note, Concord, Novus |
| Associated acts | Jack Pleis, Sammy Davis, Jr., Billie Holiday, Norman Simmons, Cal Tjader, George Shearing, Dave Brubeck |
Carmen Mercedes McRae (April 8, 1922 – November 10, 1994) was an American jazz singer, composer, pianist, and actress. 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. McRae drew inspiration from Billie Holiday, but established her own distinctive voice. She went on to record more than 60 albums, enjoying a rich musical career, performing and recording in the United States, Europe, and Japan.
McRae was born in Harlem. Her father, Osmond, was originally from Costa Rica, and her mother, Evadne McRae, an immigrant from Jamaica. She began studying piano when she was eight, and the music of jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington filled her home. When she was just 17 years old she met singer Billie Holiday. As a teenager McRae came to the attention of Teddy Wilson and his wife, the composer Irene Kitchings Wilson. One of McRae's early songs, "Dream of Life", was, through their influence, recorded in 1939 by Wilson’s long-time collaborator Billie Holiday. McRae considered Holiday to be her primary influence.
In her late teens and early twenties, McRae played piano at a New York City club called Minton's Playhouse, Harlem's most famous jazz club, sang as a chorus girl, and worked as a secretary. It was at Minton's where she met trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, bassist Oscar Pettiford, and drummer Kenny Clarke, had her first important job as a pianist with Benny Carter's big band (1944), worked with Count Basie (1944) and under the name "Carmen Clarke" (having married Kenny Clarke) made her first recording as pianist with the Mercer Ellington Band (1946–47). But it was while working in Brooklyn that she came to the attention of Decca’s Milt Gabler. Her five-year association with Decca yielded 12 LPs.
...
Wikipedia