Irene Taylor
Encyclopedia
Irene Taylor was an American singer best known for her recorded work with Paul Whiteman
. She was married to singer and bandleader Seger Ellis
.
Taylor came from Muskogee, Oklahoma
, but seems to have begun her musical career in Dallas. There she made her recording debut for Okeh Records
in 1925, resulting in two sides where she is accompained by local bandleader Jack Gardner
. After that Taylor worked for a while with another local band, the Louisiana Ramblers, before going to New York City
.
In New York in 1928 Taylor made what is probably her best known and most frequently reissued recording: Mississippi Mud
(Victor 21274) with Paul Whiteman
's orchestra, also featuring Bix Beiderbecke
and The Rhythm Boys
(including a young Bing Crosby
). This was the first Whiteman recording ever to feature a female vocalist. Taylor would work briefly with Whiteman again during the early 1930s, replacing Mildred Bailey
who had left the band due to disagreements regarding her salary. During this latter period, Taylor's recordings with Whiteman included Willow Weep for Me
(Victor 24187). This was the second recording ever of this future jazz standard
by Ann Ronell
and became a hit.
Otherwise Taylor worked mostly in radio during the 1930s, including regular appearances in Bing Crosby's radio shows, and seems to have had her main base in Chicago
. She also made a few records in her own name, first for Victor Records (which were never issued) and later for Vocalion Records
. She also appeared on Broadway
and in the Vitaphone
short film Listening In where she sang I Ain't Lazy, I'm Just Dreamin.
Probably in the 1930s, Taylor married pianist, crooner and bandleader Seger Ellis
. She appeared as vocalist on several of her husband's big band recordings during the late 1930s and early 1940s. Facts about here life after that period are very scarce, and her estimated year of death is based on an interview with Ted Parrino, former pianist in the orchestra of Jack Gardner.
Paul Whiteman
Paul Samuel Whiteman was an American bandleader and orchestral director.Leader of the most popular dance bands in the United States during the 1920s, Whiteman's recordings were immensely successful, and press notices often referred to him as the "King of Jazz"...
. She was married to singer and bandleader Seger Ellis
Seger Ellis
Seger Ellis was a jazz pianist and vocalist. He also made a few brief film appearances, most notably in collaboration with director Ida Lupino....
.
Taylor came from Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
, but seems to have begun her musical career in Dallas. There she made her recording debut for Okeh Records
Okeh Records
Okeh Records began as an independent record label based in the United States of America in 1918. From 1926 on, it was a subsidiary of Columbia Records.-History:...
in 1925, resulting in two sides where she is accompained by local bandleader Jack Gardner
Jack Gardner
Jack Gardner may refer to:*Jack Gardner , 1948 ABA Heavyweight Champion*Jack Gardner , college basketball coach*Jack Gardner , general in the United States Army*Jack Gardner , American jazz musician...
. After that Taylor worked for a while with another local band, the Louisiana Ramblers, before going to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
In New York in 1928 Taylor made what is probably her best known and most frequently reissued recording: Mississippi Mud
Mississippi Mud
Mississippi Mud is a 1927 song written by Harry Barris and James Cavanaugh , first made popular by Bing Crosby when he was still a member of The Rhythm Boys. Bing Crosby recorded the song with The Rhythm Boys on June 20, 1927 for Victor...
(Victor 21274) with Paul Whiteman
Paul Whiteman
Paul Samuel Whiteman was an American bandleader and orchestral director.Leader of the most popular dance bands in the United States during the 1920s, Whiteman's recordings were immensely successful, and press notices often referred to him as the "King of Jazz"...
's orchestra, also featuring Bix Beiderbecke
Bix Beiderbecke
Leon Bismark "Bix" Beiderbecke was an American jazz cornetist, jazz pianist, and composer.With Louis Armstrong, Beiderbecke was one of the most influential jazz soloists of the 1920s...
and The Rhythm Boys
The Rhythm Boys
The Rhythm Boys were a male singing trio consisting of Bing Crosby, Harry Barris and Al Rinker. Crosby and Rinker began performing together in 1925 and were recruited by Paul Whiteman in late 1926. Pianist/singer/songwriter Barris joined the team in 1927. They made a number of recordings with the...
(including a young Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
). This was the first Whiteman recording ever to feature a female vocalist. Taylor would work briefly with Whiteman again during the early 1930s, replacing Mildred Bailey
Mildred Bailey
Mildred Bailey was a popular and influential American jazz singer during the 1930s, known as "The Rockin' Chair Lady" and "Mrs. Swing"...
who had left the band due to disagreements regarding her salary. During this latter period, Taylor's recordings with Whiteman included Willow Weep for Me
Willow Weep for Me
"Willow Weep for Me" is a popular song composed in 1932 by Ann Ronell, who also wrote the lyrics. It is mostly known as a jazz standard, but it was a Top 40 hit for the British duo Chad & Jeremy in 1964.-Notable recordings:...
(Victor 24187). This was the second recording ever of this future jazz standard
Jazz standard
Jazz standards are musical compositions which are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive list of jazz standards, and the list of songs deemed to be...
by Ann Ronell
Ann Ronell
Ann Rosenblatt, known as Ann Ronell was an American composer and lyricist best known for the jazz standard "Willow Weep for Me" .- Biography :...
and became a hit.
Otherwise Taylor worked mostly in radio during the 1930s, including regular appearances in Bing Crosby's radio shows, and seems to have had her main base in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. She also made a few records in her own name, first for Victor Records (which were never issued) and later for Vocalion Records
Vocalion Records
Vocalion Records is a record label active for many years in the United States and in the United Kingdom.-History:Vocalion was founded in 1916 by the Aeolian Piano Company of New York City, which introduced a retail line of phonographs at the same time. The name was derived from one of their...
. She also appeared on Broadway
Broadway (New York City)
Broadway is a prominent avenue in New York City, United States, which runs through the full length of the borough of Manhattan and continues northward through the Bronx borough before terminating in Westchester County, New York. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to...
and in the Vitaphone
Vitaphone
Vitaphone was a sound film process used on feature films and nearly 1,000 short subjects produced by Warner Bros. and its sister studio First National from 1926 to 1930. Vitaphone was the last, but most successful, of the sound-on-disc processes...
short film Listening In where she sang I Ain't Lazy, I'm Just Dreamin.
Probably in the 1930s, Taylor married pianist, crooner and bandleader Seger Ellis
Seger Ellis
Seger Ellis was a jazz pianist and vocalist. He also made a few brief film appearances, most notably in collaboration with director Ida Lupino....
. She appeared as vocalist on several of her husband's big band recordings during the late 1930s and early 1940s. Facts about here life after that period are very scarce, and her estimated year of death is based on an interview with Ted Parrino, former pianist in the orchestra of Jack Gardner.
Solo discography
| Recording location and date | Title | Author | Issue | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, c. October 18, 1925 | I Did Wanta, But I Don't Wanta Now | Gardner | Okeh 40527 | Accompained by Jack Gardner's Orchestra |
| Dallas, c. October 18, 1925 | I Ain't Thinkin' 'Bout You | Gardner | Okeh 40527 | Accompained by Jack Gardner's Orchestra |
| Chicago, July 20, 1928 | My Castle In The Clouds | – | Victor (unissued) | Accompained by unknown quintet |
| Chicago, July 20, 1928 | I Must Have That Man | – | Victor (unissued) | Accompained by unknown quintet |
| New York City, July 12, 1933 | Shadows On The Swanee | Young-Burke-Spina | Vocalion 25003 | Dorsey Brothers Orchestra |
| New York City, July 12, 1933 | Don't Blame Me | – | Vocalion 25003 | Dorsey Brothers Orchestra |
Sources
- Irene Taylor Website, complete discography
- Thomas A. DeLong: Pops - Paul Whiteman, King of Jazz (Piscataway 1983)
- Gary Giddens: Bing Crosby - A Pocketful of Dreams: The early years 1903-1940 (Boston, New York & London 2002)
- Dick Raichelson: Liner notes for the CD Dallas Rhythm (Jazz Oracle BDW 8021) http://www.jazzoracle.com/catalogue/BDW_8021.asp
- Brian RustBrian RustBrian Rust , was an English jazz discographer.Brian Arthur Lovell Rust was born in London, and collected records from the age of five. He worked in the BBC's record library from 1945 to 1960, and supervised broadcasting selections...
: The American Dance Band Discography 1917-1942 (New Rochelle, New York 1975) - Brian RustBrian RustBrian Rust , was an English jazz discographer.Brian Arthur Lovell Rust was born in London, and collected records from the age of five. He worked in the BBC's record library from 1945 to 1960, and supervised broadcasting selections...
: Jazz Records 1897-1942 (5th edition, Chigwell, Essex 1983) - Abrams, Steven and Settlemier, Tyrone: Taylor's recordings for Vocalion listed at The Online Discographical Project
- Irene Taylor featured at The Virtual Victrola (with photos and sound files)
- Facts about Willow Weep For Me at jazzstandards.com
- List of Vitaphone shorts (including Listening In) at The Vitaphone Project