Ivie Anderson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ivie Anderson
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ivie Anderson |
| Also known as | Ivy Anderson |
| Born | January 16, 1904 Gilroy, California, United States |
| Died | December 28, 1949 (aged 45) Los Angeles, California |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Associated acts | Duke Ellington |
Ivie Anderson (sometimes spelled Ivy) was an American jazz singer. She was born on January 16, 1904, and passed away on December 28, 1949. Ivie was a very important member of the famous Duke Ellington Orchestra for over ten years.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Training
Ivie Anderson was born in Gilroy, California. Her father's name was Jobe Smith. From 1914 to 1918, when she was about 9 to 13 years old, Ivie went to St. Mary's Convent. There, she studied how to sing.
She also joined the glee club and choral society at Gilroy grammar school and Gilroy High School. Ivie continued her voice lessons with Sara Ritt at the Nannie H. Burroughs Institution in Washington, D.C. Later, from 1930 to 1945, she lived in Los Angeles, California.
Ivie Anderson's Singing Career
Ivie Anderson started her singing career around 1921 in Los Angeles. In 1924, she went on tour with a musical show called Shuffle Along. By 1925, she had performed in many places. These included Cuba, the famous Cotton Club in New York City, and Los Angeles. She sang with bands led by Paul Howard, Curtis Mosby, and Sonny Clay.
In 1928, Ivie sang in Australia with Sonny Clay's band. She also performed at Frank Sebastian's Cotton Club in Los Angeles. Soon after, she began touring the United States as a solo singer.
Joining Duke Ellington's Orchestra
From 1930 to early 1931, Ivie performed with pianist Earl Hines's band. They had a long stay at the Grand Terrace in Chicago, Illinois. In 1931, Ivie made a big step in her career. She became the first full-time singer for the Duke Ellington orchestra. For more than ten years, she toured all over with Ellington's band.
Her first song recorded with the band was "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" in 1932. This song became a big hit! In 1933, she joined Ellington on his first tour in Europe. She also recorded famous songs like "Solitude," "Mood Indigo," and "Stormy Weather" in 1940.
Ivie didn't often sing without Duke Ellington's band during this time. But one special time was in the Marx Brothers film A Day at the Races (1937). She sang "All God's Children Got Rhythm" for the movie studio, MGM.
Later Years and Legacy
Ivie Anderson had a health condition called asthma. Because of this, she had to leave Ellington's band in 1942. After leaving the band, she opened a restaurant in Los Angeles called the Chicken Shack. She owned it with Marque Neal, whom she married. She later sold the restaurant when they divorced. She then married Walter Collins.
Ivie Anderson passed away in Los Angeles at the end of 1949. She was a very talented singer who left a lasting mark on jazz music.
What People Said About Ivie
Ivie Anderson was often featured prominently in advertisements for Duke Ellington's shows. She sang many different types of songs, including pop tunes and ballads. She was also known for her scat singing. This is a type of singing where a vocalist imitates instrumental sounds and makes vocalizations.
Many people thought she was one of Duke Ellington's best and most flexible singers. Duke Ellington even wrote about her in his book Music Is My Mistress (1973).
When Ivie performed in Ellington's musical Jump for Joy, a newspaper called the California Eagle wrote about her. They said she could sing a song so clearly that the audience understood every word. They also mentioned how she could joke with the band members and even dance!
Selected Recordings
Ivie Anderson recorded many songs with Duke Ellington's Orchestra. Here are some of her well-known recordings:
- "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" (1932)
- "Stormy Weather" (1933, 1940)
- "I've Got the World on a String" (1933)
- "Mood Indigo" (1940)
- "Solitude" (1940)
- "I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)" (1941)
- "Rocks in My Bed" (1941)
Images for kids
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Anderson lived at 724 E. 52nd Place from 1930 to 1945.
See also
In Spanish: Ivy Anderson para niños
