Jango Song Of The Day-Ethel Waters

Artist:Ethel Waters
Song:Am I Blue
Album:An Introduction To Ethel Waters: Her Best Recordings 1921-1940





Ethel Waters was a pioneer of black music. Though she is categorized as a jazz singer, she was also very popular on stage and in films. She was born Oct. 31, 1896 in the Philadelphia suburb Chester, PA. Ethel was married at age 13 but left her abusive husband. She was working as a maid in a hotel when she was asked to perform at a party. She was so good that she was hired to perform on stage in Baltimore. She then toured the vaudeville circuit and even performed on the same bill as Bessie Smith in Atlanta. Ethel made her recording debut in 1921 but recorded for Black Swan and then for Columbia in 1925 usually working with bandleader Fletcher Henderson. She continued to work on stage too. When sound films began, the studios were looking for singers. And Ethel Waters was one of the first black performers to appear in film. Am I Blue was her signature song and she performed it in the 1929 film On With The Show. She continued to do all these different things and was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in the 1949 film Pinky. This comp from the French label Best Of Jazz is a great intro to her music. Her career faded in the 50s and Ethel Waters died Sept. 1, 1977 at age 80. But Ethel Waters was a big influence in black music. Here's Ethel Waters performing Am I Blue in the 1929 film On With The Show.