Mary Lou Williams in Harlem - early 20th Century

from Hear Me Talkin' To Ya: The Classic Story of Jazz as Told by the Men Who Made It, pages 195-196:

One night scuffling around Harlem, I fell in the Savoy. After dancing a couple of rounds, I heard a voice that sent chills up and down my spine (which I never thought could happen). I almost ran to the stand to find out who belonged to the voice, and I saw a pleasant-looking, brown-skinned girl standing modestly and singing the greatest. I was told her name was Ella Fitzgerald and that Chick Webb had unearthed her from one of the Apollo's amateur hours.

cite as

Nat Hentoff and Nat Shapiro, Hear Me Talkin' To Ya: The Classic Story of Jazz as Told by the Men Who Made It (London, 1992), p. 195-196. https://led.kmi.open.ac.uk/entity/lexp/1435062350234 accessed: 19 April, 2024

location of experience: Harlem

Listeners

Mary Lou Williams
jazz pianist, Composer, Pianist
1910-1981

Listening to

hide composers
Female Jazz singing performed by Ella Fitzgerald

Experience Information

Date/Time early 20th Century
Medium live
Listening Environment in the company of others, indoors, in public

Originally submitted by 5011Henning on Tue, 23 Jun 2015 13:25:50 +0100
Approved on Mon, 29 Aug 2016 15:11:11 +0100