Английская Википедия:Ella Mae Morse

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Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Infobox musical artist

Ella Mae Morse (September 12, 1924 – October 16, 1999)[1] was an American singer of popular music whose 1940s and 1950s recordings mixing jazz, blues, and country styles influenced the development of rock and roll. Her 1942 recording of "Cow-Cow Boogie" with Freddie Slack and His Orchestra gave Capitol Records its first gold record. In 1943, her single "Get On Board, Little Chillun", also with Slack, charted in what would soon become the R&B charts, making her one of the first white singers to do so. Morse stopped recording in 1957 but continued to perform and tour into the 1990s. In 1960 she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[2]

Career

Morse was born in Mansfield, Texas. She was hired by Jimmy Dorsey when she was 14 years old.[1] In 1942, at the age of 17, she joined Freddie Slack's band, with whom in the same year she recorded "Cow-Cow Boogie (Cuma-Ti-Yi-Yi-Ay)", the first gold record released by Capitol Records.[1][3] "Mr. Five by Five" was also recorded by Morse with Slack,[4] and became a hit record in 1942 (Capitol 115). She also originated the wartime hit "Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet",[5] which was later popularized by Nancy Walker in the 1944 film Broadway Rhythm.

In 1943, Morse began to record solo. She reached #1 in the R&B chart with "Shoo-Shoo Baby"Шаблон:Sfn in December for two weeks. In the same year she performed "Cow Cow Boogie" in the film Reveille with Beverly and co-starred in Universal's South of Dixie, Ghost Catchers with Olsen and Johnson, and How Do You Dooo?, a vehicle for radio's "Mad Russian", Bert Gordon. She sang in a wide variety of styles, and she had hits on both the U.S. pop and rhythm and blues charts. However, she never received the popularity of a major star.[1]

The song "Love Me or Leave Me" as recorded by Morse was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 1922,[6] with the flip side "Blacksmith Blues", which became her biggest hit.

In 1946, "House of Blue Lights" by Freddie Slack and Morse, (written by Slack and Don Raye) saw them perform what was one of many of Raye's songs picked up by black R&B artists.[7][8] Her biggest solo success was "Blacksmith Blues" in 1952, which sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[9] The same year her version of "Down the Road a Piece" appeared on Capitol with Slack again on piano accompaniment. Morse also recorded a version of "Oakie Boogie" for Capitol which reached #23 in 1952.[10] Her version was one of the first songs arranged by Nelson Riddle.[11]

Morse ceased recording in 1957, but continued performing until the early 1990s, under the new management of Alan Eichler,[12] performing at such clubs as Michael's Pub in New York,[13] Ye Little Club in Beverly Hills, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel's Cinegrill and the Vine St. Bar and Grill. She appeared regularly at Disneyland for several years with the Ray McKinley Orchestra, and did a successful tour of Australia shortly before her final illness.

Her music career was profiled in Nick Tosches' 1984 book, The Unsung Heroes of Rock 'N' Roll: The Birth of Rock in the Wild Years Before Elvis. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1724 Vine Street.[2] Her entire recorded body of work was issued in a deluxe box set by Bear Family Records and a rare live performance, "Ella Mae Morse On Broadway," was released in 2011.[14]

Musical style

As Morse's musical style blended jazz, blues, and country, she has sometimes been called the first rock 'n' roll singer. A good example is her 1942 recording of the song "Get On Board, Little Chillun", which, with strong gospel, blues, boogie, and jive sounds as a genuine precursor to the later rockabilly/ rock 'n roll songs.[15] Her records sold well to both Caucasian and African-American audiences. As she was not well known at the time of her first solo hits, many people assumed she was African-American because of her 'hip' vocal style and choice of material.[16]

Personal life

Morse had six children from four marriages,[17] several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and an estranged sister named Flo Handy who was also a singer.

In 1999 Morse died of respiratory failure in Bullhead City, Arizona, at the age of 75.[1]

Discography

Albums as a leader

  • Dynamite Texas Diva Live (1940s live recordings, released by Collectors Choice, 2003)
  • Barrelhouse, Boogie and the Blues with Big Dave and his orchestra (Capitol, 1957)
  • Morse Code (Capitol, 1957)

compilations:

  • Morse Code Collection (Jasmine Records, 2005)
  • Singles Collection, 1942-57 (Acrobat Records, 2018)

Hit singles

Year Single US Chart position Label Catalogue No.
1942 "Cow-Cow Boogie" 9[16] Capitol 102 [18]
"Mr. Five by Five" 10[16] Capitol 115[18]
1943 "Get On Board Little Chillun" 17 (R&B)[16] Capitol 133[18]
"Shoo Shoo Baby" 4[19] Capitol 143[18]
1944 "No Love, No Nothin’" 4[19] Capitol 143[18]
"Tess' Torch Song" 11[19] Capitol 151[18]
"Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet" 7[19] Capitol 151[18]
"The Patty Cake Man" 10[19] Capitol 163[18]
1945 "Captain Kidd" 17[19] Capitol 193[18]
1946 "Buzz Me" 15[19] Capitol 226[18]
"The House of Blue Lights" 8 (R&B) [20] Capitol 251[18]
1952 "The Blacksmith Blues" 3[19] Capitol 1922[21]
"Oakie Boogie" 23[19] Capitol 2072[22]
1953 "40 Cups of Coffee" 26[19] Capitol 2539[23]

As a collaborator or side performer

  • Ella Mae Morse and Freddie Slack, The Hits of Ella Mae Morse and Freddie Slack (Capitol, 1962)
  • Herbie Mann, Ella Mae Morse, Jimmy Giuffre, Sessions, Live (Calliope, 1976)
  • Red Norvo Quintet, With Guest Vocalists Mavis Rivers And Ella Mae Morse (United, 1962; released by Studio West, 1990)

See also

Шаблон:Portal

References

Шаблон:Reflist

External links

Шаблон:Ella Mae Morse Шаблон:Authority control

  1. 1,0 1,1 1,2 1,3 1,4 Шаблон:Cite web
  2. 2,0 2,1 Шаблон:Cite web
  3. Шаблон:Pop Chronicles 40s
  4. Шаблон:Cite web
  5. Шаблон:Cite web
  6. Abrams, Steven; Settlemier, Tyrone Capitol Records in the 1500 to 1999 series Online Discographical Project. Retrieved October 28, 2011
  7. Nick Tosches, The Unsung Heroes of Rock 'N' Roll:The Birth of Rock in the Wild Years before Elvis, 1991, Шаблон:ISBN
  8. Jim Dawson and Steve Propes, What Was The First Rock 'N' Roll Record, 1992, Шаблон:ISBN
  9. Шаблон:Cite book
  10. Lonergan, Hit Records, 1950-1975, p. 163,
  11. Levinson, September in the Rain, p. 104: "... he contacted Nelson [Riddle] to write for Ella Mae Morse. Their first endeavor together was "Oakie Boogie," which turned out to be a minor hit."
  12. Шаблон:Cite web
  13. Шаблон:Cite news
  14. [1] Шаблон:Dead link
  15. Шаблон:Cite webШаблон:Cbignore
  16. 16,0 16,1 16,2 16,3 Шаблон:Cite AV media notes
  17. Coffey, Kevin (1997). Ella Mae Morse booklet, Bear Family box set BCD 16117 EI
  18. 18,00 18,01 18,02 18,03 18,04 18,05 18,06 18,07 18,08 18,09 18,10 Abrams, Steven and Settlemier, Tyrone. Capitol100.htm " Capitol 100 - 499". Online Discographical Project. Retrieved November 1, 2011
  19. 19,0 19,1 19,2 19,3 19,4 19,5 19,6 19,7 19,8 19,9 Pop Memories 1890-1954. Joel Whitburn. 1986. Record Research Inc. p. 325. Шаблон:ISBN
  20. Шаблон:Cite AV media notes
  21. Abrams, Steven and Settlemier, Tyrone. Capitol1500.htm "Capitol 1500 - 2000". Online Discographical Project. Retrieved November 1, 2011
  22. Abrams, Steven and Settlemier, Tyrone. Capitol2000.htm "Capitol 2000 - 2500". Online Discographical Project. Retrieved November 1, 2011
  23. Abrams, Steven and Settlemier, Tyrone. Capitol2500.htm "Capitol 2500 - 3000". Online Discographical Project. Retrieved November 1, 2011