Eva Taylor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eva Taylor
Background information
Birth name	Irene Joy Gibbons
Also known as	Irene Gibbons
Born	(1895-01-22)January 22, 1895 St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Died	October 31, 1977(1977-10-31) (aged 82) Mineola, New York, United States
Genres	Jazz, Blues
Occupation(s)	Singer, actress
Years active	1930s-1940s, 1960s-1970s
Labels	Black Swan, Okeh, Columbia, Edison, Vocalion

Eva Taylor (born Irene Joy Gibbons) was an amazing American singer and actress. She was famous for her blues and jazz music. Eva started performing at a very young age and traveled all over the world. She made many recordings and even had her own radio show!

Eva Taylor's Early Life and Career

Eva Taylor was born Irene Joy Gibbons in St. Louis, Missouri. She was one of twelve children in her family. Eva started performing on stage when she was only three years old!

Touring the World as a Young Performer

Even before she was a teenager, Eva toured many different countries. She traveled to New Zealand, Australia, and Europe. She also performed a lot with a group called Josephine Gassman and Her Pickaninnies. This was a popular vaudeville act, which was a type of live show with different performers like singers, dancers, and comedians.

Settling in New York and Starting a Family

By 1920, Eva had moved to New York City. She became a well-known performer in the exciting nightspots of Harlem. Within a year, she married Clarence Williams. He was a talented piano player, a music publisher, and also worked for a record company called Okeh Records.

Eva and Clarence worked together on many projects. They recorded music and performed on the radio throughout the 1930s.

Making Music with Jazz Legends

Eva and Clarence were part of a famous group called the Blue Five in the mid-1920s. This group included amazing jazz musicians. Some of these legends were the clarinet and saxophone player Sidney Bechet and the trumpet genius Louis Armstrong. Other famous singers like Sippie Wallace and Bessie Smith also joined them.

Recording and Radio Success

In 1922, Eva made her first record for Black Swan Records. This was a record company owned by African Americans. They called her "The Dixie Nightingale" because of her beautiful voice. Over the 1920s and 1930s, she recorded many blues, jazz, and popular songs. She recorded for big labels like Okeh and Columbia.

Eva used the stage name Eva Taylor, but sometimes she also performed as Irene Gibbons and her Jazz Band. She was also part of a group called The Charleston Chasers. This group was made up of different star musicians who recorded together.

Performing on Broadway and Radio Shows

In 1927, Eva performed on Broadway in a musical called Bottomland. Her husband, Clarence, wrote and produced this show. In 1929, Eva even had her very own radio show on NBC called Cavalcade. She also worked for many years at radio station WOR in New York. She even appeared as a guest on Paul Whiteman's radio show in 1932.

Eva stopped performing in the 1940s. However, she returned to the stage in the mid-1960s after her husband passed away. She then toured in Europe, sharing her music with new audiences.

Eva Taylor's Later Years

Eva Taylor passed away from cancer in 1977 in Mineola, New York. She was buried next to her husband, Clarence Williams. Her grave is in Saint Charles Cemetery, in Farmingdale, New York, under her birth name, Irene Joy Williams.

Her Talented Children

Eva and Clarence had two children who also became performers. Their son, Clarence Williams, Jr. (1923–1976), was the father of the famous actor Clarence Williams III. Their daughter, Joy Williams (1931–1970), was also a singer and actress. She performed using the stage name Irene Williams.

Eva Taylor's Music Albums

Eva Taylor's music continues to be enjoyed today. Here are some of the albums that have been released featuring her recordings: