Props for Ivie Anderson

I first became aware of the great singer Ivie Anderson (1905-1949) — of course — from her turn in the Marx Brothers’ movie A Day at the Races(1937), which I’ve seen about ten times. She’s the lady who sings “All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm”, one of the most memorable moments in the film. It’s a specialty turn, same as you would have in a revue, and as such, she deserved to be credited as one of the film’s stars. But it wasn’t like that back then. Artists of color were treated almost like props. If her name is in the credits (I can’t recall) it’s buried somewhere near the bottom.

Anderson was a full time singer with Duke Ellington’s band between 1931 and 1942, as well as side outfits such as The Gotham Stompers, and Her Boys from Dixie. As such, she sang on many of the band’s hit singles, including “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” (1932), “I’ve Got the World on a String” (1933), “Stormy Weather” (1933 and 1940 — before Lena Horne), “When My Sugar Walks Down the Street” (1938), “Solitude” (1940), “Mood Indigo” (1940), and “I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good” (1941).

Anderson was from Gilroy, California, about a half hour south of San Jose. She studied voice at a convent school, and was part of vocal groups in high school. She was already a professional singer in Los Angeles nightclubs as a teenager. She toured with a production of Shuffle Along in 1924 (coincidentally she shared a birthday with Noble Sissle. co-creator of that show). She also performed at the Cotton Club (both the Harlem one and the Frank Sebastian one in L.A.) and sang with various big bands. Just prior to being snatched up by Ellington she was performing with Earl Hines‘ band at the Grand Terrace in Chicago.

Anderson quit Ellington’s band because of a chronic asthma problem. She recorded some additional sides with different bands in 1944 and 1946, but could no longer do the daily grind of live performance and touring. The breathing problems finally killed her in 1949.

For more on the history of show business,please consult No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous, and pleasestay tuned for my upcomingElectric Vaudeville: A Century of Radio and TV Variety.