Song:The Dipsy Doodle
Album:The Seventeen Number Ones
Edythe Wright was a featured vocalist in Tommy Dorsey's band from 1935-39 usually on his radio broadcasts. She sang several Dorsey hits from that era including The Dipsy Doodle and You was probably the biggest Dorsey hit she appeared on. She was apparently born Aug. 16, 1914 in Bayonne, NJ. I say apparently because the census info is sketchy. Her father died when she was young and she and her siblings lived with their grandparents. After graduating high school, Edythe ran a coffee shop with her sister and studied drama at the New Jersey College for Women in New Brunswick, NJ. In the summer of 1935, bandleader Frank Dailey asked Edythe to fill in for his regular vocalist on a show at the Asbury Park Casino. She was spotted by Tommy Dorsey's manager and he hired her to sing in the Dorsey band. She wasn't crazy about the idea but at age 21, she needed a job. Edythe was frequently described as sultry. Her singing voice was okay but I wouldn't describe her as passionate. She appeared frequently on Dorsey's radio show and those recordings are available on a massive box set. You and The Dipsy Doodle were her two biggest hits. The Dipsy Doodle was written by Larry Clinton who recorded his own version with his big band. There are no Edythe Wright CDs but you can get several of her notable recordings on this budget CD. Like Dorsey's male vocalist of that era, Jack Leonard, Edythe left Dorsey in 1939. She was ultimately replaced by Jo Stafford and of course Leonard was replaced by Frank Sinatra. Edythe constantly argued with Dorsey over her dislike of performing novelty songs and that led to her departure. Both had notoriously fiery tempers. Afterwards, Edythe moved to Los Angeles and worked in radio voiceovers. She moved back to New Jersey in 1950 and managed musician Sy Oliver. She was married with a son and was involved in local politics and amateur theater. Edythe Wright died of pancreatic cancer on Oct. 27, 1965 at age 51. Here's a video of The Dipsy Doodle by Tommy Dorsey featuring Edythe Wright.
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