Carmen Mercedes McRae (1920-1994) was a U.S. jazz singer, songwriter, and p… Read Full Bio ↴Carmen Mercedes McRae (1920-1994) was a U.S. jazz singer, songwriter, and pianist.
McRae was born in Harlem, New York, on the 8th April 1920, and studied piano as a child. As a teenager she came to the attention of Teddy Wilson and his wife, the composer Irene Kitchings Wilson. Through their influence, one of McRae’s early songs, "Dream of Life", was recorded by Wilson’s longtime collaborator Billie Holiday.
By the late 1940s she was well known among the modern jazz musicians who gathered at Minton's Playhouse, Harlem’s most famous jazz club, where she was the intermission pianist. But it was while working in Brooklyn that she came to the attention of Decca’s Milt Gabler. Her five year association with Decca yielded twelve LPs.
The musicians she sang with include Benny Carter, Mercer Ellington, Count Basie, Sammy Davis Jr, Dave Brubeck, and Louis Armstrong. She was married once (and briefly), to drummer Kenny Clarke.
McRae died on the 10th November 1994.
McRae was born in Harlem, New York, on the 8th April 1920, and studied piano as a child. As a teenager she came to the attention of Teddy Wilson and his wife, the composer Irene Kitchings Wilson. Through their influence, one of McRae’s early songs, "Dream of Life", was recorded by Wilson’s longtime collaborator Billie Holiday.
By the late 1940s she was well known among the modern jazz musicians who gathered at Minton's Playhouse, Harlem’s most famous jazz club, where she was the intermission pianist. But it was while working in Brooklyn that she came to the attention of Decca’s Milt Gabler. Her five year association with Decca yielded twelve LPs.
The musicians she sang with include Benny Carter, Mercer Ellington, Count Basie, Sammy Davis Jr, Dave Brubeck, and Louis Armstrong. She was married once (and briefly), to drummer Kenny Clarke.
McRae died on the 10th November 1994.
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Carmen McRae Sings Lover Man And Other Billie Holiday Classics
Carmen McRae Lyrics
God Bless the Child Them that's got shall get Them that's not shall lose So the…
If the Moon Turns Green Just when I thought that fate was unkind, That happiness was…
Miss Brown to You Who do you think is comin' to town You'll never guess…
My Man My man's gone now Ain't no use a listenin' For his tired…
Some Other Spring Some other spring I'll try to love Now I still…
Strange Fruit Southern trees bear a strange fruit, Blood on the leaves and…
The Christmas Song Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at you…
Them There Eyes I was just minding my business Life was a beautiful song Did…
Trav'lin' Light I'm travlin' light Because my man has gone And from now on I…
What a Little Moonlight Can Do Ooh, ooh, ooh What a little moonlight can do Ooh, ooh, ooh W…
Yesterdays Yesterdays Yesterdays Days I knew as happy sweet Sequestered…