Velma Middleton
Encyclopedia
Velma Middleton was an American
jazz
vocalist
born in Holdenville, OK, best known for having sung with Louis Armstrong
's big band
s and small groups. Born in Oklahoma, Velma later moved with her parents to St. Louis, MO. She was with Armstrong from 1942 to 1961, when she had a stroke in Africa
on tour with him and died one month later in the Hill Station Hospital in Sierra Leone
.
Middleton spent most of her career as Louis Armstrong's singer. She was originally a dancer and, although overweight, she often did splits on stage, even during her Armstrong years. Middleton had an average but pleasing and good-humored voice. After freelancing, including a visit to South America in 1938 with Connie McLean's Orchestra and performing as a solo act, she joined Louis Armstrong's big band in 1942, appearing on some Soundies with Satchmo.
After Armstrong broke up the orchestra in 1947, Middleton joined his All-Stars. She was often used for comic relief (such as for duets with Satchmo on "That's My Desire" and "Baby, It's Cold Outside"), and she did occasional features. Few jazz critics thought highly of her singing, but Armstrong considered her part of his family, and she was a constant part of his show.
She recorded eight selections as a leader for the Dootone label, in 1948 and 1951.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
vocalist
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
born in Holdenville, OK, best known for having sung with Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
's big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
s and small groups. Born in Oklahoma, Velma later moved with her parents to St. Louis, MO. She was with Armstrong from 1942 to 1961, when she had a stroke in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
on tour with him and died one month later in the Hill Station Hospital in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
.
Middleton spent most of her career as Louis Armstrong's singer. She was originally a dancer and, although overweight, she often did splits on stage, even during her Armstrong years. Middleton had an average but pleasing and good-humored voice. After freelancing, including a visit to South America in 1938 with Connie McLean's Orchestra and performing as a solo act, she joined Louis Armstrong's big band in 1942, appearing on some Soundies with Satchmo.
After Armstrong broke up the orchestra in 1947, Middleton joined his All-Stars. She was often used for comic relief (such as for duets with Satchmo on "That's My Desire" and "Baby, It's Cold Outside"), and she did occasional features. Few jazz critics thought highly of her singing, but Armstrong considered her part of his family, and she was a constant part of his show.
She recorded eight selections as a leader for the Dootone label, in 1948 and 1951.