Everything about Carmen Mcrae totally explained
Carmen Mercedes McRae (
April 8,
1920 –
November 10,
1994) was an
American jazz singer,
composer,
pianist, and
actress. Considered one of the most influential jazz
vocalists of the
20th Century, it was her behind-the-beat phrasing and her ironic
interpretations of song lyrics that made her memorable. McRae drew inspiration from
Billie Holiday, but established her own distinctive voice. She went on to record over 60 albums during her career, and enjoying a rich musical career, performing and recording in the United States, Europe, and Japan.
Career
McRae was born in
Harlem,
New York City on
April 8,
1920, to West Indian (Jamaican) parents, Osmond and Evadne McRae. She began studying piano when she was eight, and the music of jazz greats like
Louis Armstrong and
Duke Ellington filled her home. She met singer
Billie Holiday when she was just 17 years old. As a teenager McRae came to the attention of
Teddy Wilson and his wife, the composer
Irene Kitchings Wilson. One of McRae's early songs, "Dream of Life" through their influence, was recorded in
1939 by Wilson’s longtime collaborator
Billie Holiday. McRae considered Holiday to be her primary influence. In her late teens and early twenties, McRae played piano at a
New York club called
Minton's Playhouse, Harlem's most famous jazz club, sang as a chorus girl, and worked as a secretary. It was at Milton's where she met trumpeter
Dizzy Gillespie, bassist
Oscar Pettiford, and drummer
Kenny Clarke. Had her first important job as a pianist with the
Benny Carter's big band (
1944), worked with
Count Basie (
1944) and made first recording as pianist with
Mercer Ellington Band (
1946-
1947). But it was while working in
Brooklyn that she came to the attention of
Decca’s
Milt Gabler. Her five year association with Decca yielded 12 LPs.
In
1948 she moved to
Chicago with comedian
George Kirby. She played piano steadily for almost four years before returning to
New York. Those years in
Chicago, McRae told Jazz Forum, "gave me whatever it's that I've now. That's the most prominent schooling I ever had." Back in
New York in the early
1950s, McRae got the record contract that launched her career. In
1954, she was voted best new female vocalist by
Down Beat magazine.
Among her most interesting recording projects were
Mad About The Man (
1957) with composer
Noël Coward,
Boy Meets Girl (
1957) with
Sammy Davis, Jr., participating in
Dave Brubeck's the
Real Ambassadors (
1961) with
Louis Armstrong, a tribute album
You're Lookin' at Me (A Collection of Nat King Cole Songs) (
1983), cutting an album of live duets with
Betty Carter,
The Carmen McRae-Betty Carter Duets (
1987), being accompanied by
Dave Brubeck and
George Shearing, and closing her career with brilliant tributes to
Thelonious Monk,
Carmen Sings Monk (
1990), and
Sarah Vaughan,
Sarah: Dedicated to You (
1991). As a result of her early friendship with
Billie Holiday, she never performed without singing at least one song associated with
Lady Day, and recorded an album in
1983 in her honor entitled
For Lady Day, which was released in
1995. Some songs included are; "
Good Morning Heartache", "Them There Eyes", "
Lover Man", "
God Bless the Child", "Don't Explain", just to name a few. McRae also recorded with the world best jazz musicians,
Take Five Live (1961) with
Dave Brubeck,
Heat Wave (
1982) with
Cal Tjader, and
Two for the Road (
1989) with
George Shearing.
Carmen McRae sang in jazz clubs throughout the United States—and across the world—for over fifty years. McRae was a popular performer at the legendary
Monterey Jazz Festival (
1961-
1963,
1966,
1971,
1973,
1982). Performing with
Duke Ellington's at the
North Sea Jazz Festival in
1980, singing "Dont Get Around Much Any More", and at the
Montreux Jazz Festival in
1989.
Carmen McRae, who refused to quit smoking, was forced to retire in
1991 due to
emphysema. McRae passed away
November 10,
1994 in
Beverly Hills, California from a stroke, following complications from respiratory illness.
Selective awards and recognitions
Grammy Award History
| Carmen McRae Grammy Award Recognitions |
| Year |
Category |
Title |
Label |
Result |
| 1990 |
Best Jazz Vocal Performance - Female |
Carmen Sings Monk |
Novus |
Nominee |
| 1988 |
Best Jazz Vocal Performance - Female |
Fine and Mellow |
Concord Jazz |
Nominee |
| 1988 |
Best Jazz Vocal Performance - Duo or Group |
The Carmen McRae-Betty Carter Duets |
Great American Music Hall |
Nominee |
| 1987 |
Best Jazz Vocal Performance - Female |
Any Old Time |
Denon |
Nominee |
| 1984 |
Best Jazz Vocal Performance |
You're Lookin' at Me (A Collection of Nat King Cole Songs) |
Concord Jazz |
Nominee |
| 1977 |
Best Jazz Vocal Performance |
Carmen McRae at the Great American Music Hall |
Blue Note |
Nominee |
| 1971 |
Best Jazz Performance - Soloist |
Carmen McRae |
Atlantic |
Nominee |
Filmography
Movies
Television
1982: "L. A. Jazz"
1981: "Billie Holiday. A Tribute"
1981: "At the Palace"
1980: "From Jumpstreet"
1979: "", played Lila
1979: "Carmen McRae in Concert"
1976: "Sammy and Company"
1976: "Soul"
Selective discography
Footnotes
Further Information
Get more info on 'Carmen Mcrae'.
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