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Jazz | JazzTimes Magazine > Columns and Features > Final Chorus
THE LIVES OF DEAD JAZZ SINGERS:
Ivie Anderson
born……………….in a small town
sang……………….in the glee club
………………………..choral society
joined…………………..the Duke Ellington Band
sat on a stool quietly became…………………the lyrics
………………………………….when it was her turn
off to Hollywood
……………..appeared as a washerwoman.
……………………in A Day at the Races
Groucho’s eyebrows…………….rose…………………..flew
…………………………………………………………………..away
…………………………………………in the blue
liked the way………………………..her hips……………..rolled
……………………………………………………………………around
……………………………………………………………………in her dress
Harpo’s kiss…………………………blew…………………that house down
………………………..chased Ivie around the set with his flute
……………………………..she laughed like champagne
queen on the stage…………………..made you feel
……………………..you were in love
……………………..for the first time
…………………….and it was sweet
the voice of the Duke died when she was only 43.
……………………
Ivie Anderson. B. July 10, 1905. Studied music. All-black girls finishing school. St. Mary’s Convent. Sang in the glee club. The choral society. Sick the day they took pictures. Say cheese! Traveled. In small towns. In small bands. No one remembered. The big break. Joined Duke Ellington’s band. Became the lyrics. Sat on a stool to one side of the band. Until it was her turn. To play. Her voice. Oh Ivie was crazy about the movies. Appeared as a washerwoman. In A Day at the Races. Groucho’s eyebrows noticed. He liked the way she sashayed. Harpo blew his horn. Chased Ivie around the set. She laughed so hard, her voice broke all the windows. Duke nodded her way. She stood up from her stool. Stepped up to the mike. Like the piano keys. Or the horns. Her voice so clear and light. Like champagne. And those eyes were sassy. Moving those hips… slowly. Biting on her lip. A queen on the stage. She made you feel you were in love. For the first time. And it was sweet. Married a guy named Mark Neal. No one much knew. Had her own club. Ivie’s Chicken Shack. Came down with asthma. Ended her career and her life. The voice of the Duke died when she was only 43.
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