Mabel Mercer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mabel Mercer
|
|
|---|---|
A photo of cabaret performer Mabel Mercer, from the archives of The Mabel Mercer Foundation.
|
|
| Background information | |
| Born | 3 February 1900 Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England |
| Died | 20 April 1984 (aged 84) Pittsfield, Massachusetts, US |
| Genres | Jazz, cabaret |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Labels | Liberty Music Shop |
Mabel Mercer (born February 3, 1900 – died April 20, 1984) was a famous singer from England. She sang in cabaret and jazz clubs in the United States, Britain, and Europe. Mabel performed in many famous clubs, like Chez Bricktop in Paris, France. She also sang at Le Ruban Bleu, Tony's, and eventually her own club, the Byline Club. Even famous singers like Frank Sinatra loved her shows. He said he learned a lot from how she sang and told stories through her music.
Contents
Early Life of Mabel Mercer
Mabel Mercer was born on February 3, 1900, in Burton upon Trent, England. Her mother was an English performer in music halls. Her father was an American musician who traveled a lot and died before Mabel was born.
When she was 14, Mabel left her school in Manchester. She then traveled around Britain and Europe with her aunt. They performed in vaudeville and music hall shows. People believed her clear way of singing came from her voice training at the convent school.
Mabel Mercer's Singing Career
In 1928, Mabel was a lesser-known singer in a London show called Show Boat. But by the 1930s, she became very popular in Paris. Famous people like Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Cole Porter admired her singing.
When World War II started, Mabel moved to America. She began singing in the best supper clubs in New York. Her first recordings were made in 1942. It was an album of songs from Porgy and Bess.
Over the next few years, Mabel performed in many concerts across the U.S. In the late 1960s, she gave two concerts with Bobby Short at Town Hall in New York City. These concerts were later released as albums. In 1969, she even appeared on the TV show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.
Her old and new albums are now special items for collectors. In 1975, four of her early albums were re-released in a special box set. This was to celebrate her 75th birthday. She also received an award for her amazing work in music. This award was later renamed the Mabel Mercer Award in her honor.
Later Years in Music
On July 4, 1977, Mabel Mercer performed in England for the first time in 41 years. The BBC filmed three of her performances. They later showed them as a week-long TV program called Miss Mercer in Mayfair. This was the first time the BBC did this for an entertainer.
In 1978, her 1956 album, Midnight at Mabel Mercer's, was highly praised. It was called "one of the best recordings of the past twenty years." That same year, Mabel performed in San Francisco to celebrate her 78th birthday. All her shows were completely sold out.
In 1982, Mabel Mercer performed in a concert with her friend Eileen Farrell. This was part of the Kool Jazz Festival.
Awards and Recognition
In January 1981, the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York honored Mabel. They held a special musical event called "An American Cabaret." This was the only musical event of its kind at the museum at that time. Mabel was also the first guest on Eileen Farrell's new radio show. This show on National Public Radio featured great popular singers.
Mabel Mercer received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1983. This is the highest award a civilian can get in the US. President Ronald Reagan gave her the award at the White House. He called her "a singer's singer" and said she showed the true art of American song.
She also received two special Doctor of Music degrees. One was from Boston's Berklee College of Music. The other was from the New England Conservatory of Music.
Death
Mabel Mercer passed away on April 20, 1984, at the age of 84. She died in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. She is buried at Red Rock Cemetery near Chatham, New York.
The Mabel Mercer Foundation
In 1985, the Mabel Mercer Foundation was created. This was thanks to her long-time friend Donald F. Smith. This group helps keep Mabel's memory alive. It also supports the art of cabaret singing by helping artists and sharing information.
The Foundation has international activities, like the London Cabaret Convention. It also helped celebrate Noël Coward's 100th birthday at Carnegie Hall. They also have a Young Person's Series. This series helps introduce young people to classic American songs, known as The Great American Songbook.
Filmography
Live Concerts
- 1990: View Video VHS: Mabel Mercer: A Singer's Singer (reissued 2005 on DVD)
- 1991: View Video VHS: Mabel Mercer: An Evening with Mabel Mercer (also known as Cabaret Artist "Now and Always")
As Actress
- 1936: Tropical Trouble
- 1936: Everything Is Rhythm
- 1961: The Sand Castle
Discography
- 1942: Porgy and Bess (three songs by Mabel)
- 1953: Songs by Mabel Mercer, Vol. 1
- 1953: Songs by Mabel Mercer, Vol. 2
- 1953: Songs by Mabel Mercer, Vol. 3 (Written Especially For Her)
- 1955: Mabel Mercer Sings Cole Porter
- 1956: Midnight at Mabel Mercer's
- 1958: Once in a Blue Moon
- 1960: Merely Marvelous Mabel Mercer
- 1964: Mabel Mercer Sings
- 1965: The Art of Mabel Mercer
- 1968: At Town Hall (live recording, with Bobby Short)
- 1969: Second Town Hall Concert (live recording, with Bobby Short)
- 1974: For Always
- 1975: A Salute to Mabel Mercer on her 75th Birthday
- 1980: Echoes of My Life (her final studio recordings)
- 2002: Previously Unreleased Live Performances (Legendary Performers)
Images for kids
-
A photo of cabaret performer Mabel Mercer, from the archives of The Mabel Mercer Foundation.
-
A photograph of Mercer in later life, from the archives of The Mabel Mercer Foundation.
