Carmen McRae
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 Read Full BioCarmen 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 Read Full BioCarmen 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.
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How Long Has This Been Going On
Carmen McRae Lyrics
'Neath the stars, at bazaars
Often I've had to caress men
Don't be sad, I must add, that they meant no more than chess-men
How long has this been?
How long has this been going on?
I could cry
Salty tears
Going on
How long has this been?
How long has this been going on?
Dear, when in your arms I creep
That divine rendezvous
Kiss me once, kiss me twice
Then once more, that makes thrice
Come on let's make it four
How long has this been?
How long has this been going on?
Going on
How long has this been going on?
Going on
How long has this been?
How long has this been?
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IRA GERSHWIN, GEORGE GERSHWIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Gavin Kerslake
'Neath the stars, at bazaars
Often I've had to caress men
Five or ten, dollars then, I'd collect from all those yes-menDon't be sad, I must add, that they meant no more than chess-men
Darling, can't you see?
'Twas for charity?
Though these lips have made slips, it was never really serious
Who'd have thought, I'd be caught in a state that's so delirious?I could cry
Salty tears
Where have i been all these years
Listen you, tell me do
How long has this been going on?What a kick
How I buzz
Boy, you click like no one does
Listen sweet, i repeat
How long has this been going on?Dear, when in your arms I creep
That divine rendezvous
Don’t wake me if i’m asleep
Let me dream that it’s trueKiss me once, kiss me twice
Then once more, that makes thrice
Come on lets make it four
What a break, for heaven’s sake
How long has this been going on?What a break, for heaven’s sake
How long has this been going on?
Tam J. S
One of my favorites!
Ann Carr
good girl! shows you are one of the gifted ones. the inimitable Mr Sid McCoy introduced all Chicago to Madame McCrae on his all-night jazz radio program n the '50's-'60's. She was soooooo classy. Hearing her art went a long way to getting black and white to tolerate, and then appreciate each other.
I hope God allows you to enjoy this formally years to come
Carlton Baker II
Love this! And the Verve Remixed version is excellent, too.
Ann Carr
THE gold standard ! Play twice, or thrice - the last 4 bars, until you can sing along with Ms McRae note for note, eh?
Ann Carr
digs a track in your head deeper and deeper
Gavin Kerslake
'Neath the stars, at bazaars
Often I've had to caress men
Five or ten, dollars then, I'd collect from all those yes-menDon't be sad, I must add, that they meant no more than chess-men
Darling, can't you see?
'Twas for charity?
Though these lips have made slips, it was never really serious
Who'd have thought, I'd be caught in a state that's so delirious?I could cry
Salty tears
Where have i been all these years
Listen you, tell me do
How long has this been going on?What a kick
How I buzz
Boy, you click like no one does
Listen sweet, i repeat
How long has this been going on?Dear, when in your arms I creep
That divine rendezvous
Don’t wake me if i’m asleep
Let me dream that it’s trueKiss me once, kiss me twice
Then once more, that makes thrice
Come on lets make it four
What a break, for heaven’s sake
How long has this been going on?What a break, for heaven’s sake
How long has this been going on?
Ann Carr
travels with you for a lifetime...thanks forever, Madame
Abby Constable
Carmen ! What an underrated beautiful jazz vocalist!
Pere Muller
À mon avis, la meilleure interprétation
SuCole
Wonderful, amazing..💞💞💞