Both his parents were classical musicians. His father, a violinist, started his young son on piano lessons at the age of four.
Ellis progressed quickly, eventually joining his father in performances with a local black orchestra in his hometown. In high school, Ellis became the first black student admitted to Baltimore's prestigious Peabody Conservatory of Music.
From Peabody, Larkins would move on to The Juilliard School of Music in New York City. To meet expenses, he began playing evening studio sessions, drawing on his classical technique to play jazz and popular music.
Soon Larkins became a prominent fixture of the Manhattan nightclub scene, playing regularly at venues like Café Society, the Blue Angel, Gregory's, and the Village Vanguard.
Sometimes Larkins led a trio, but most often he accompanied singers, including Herb Jeffries, Joe Williams, Anita Ellis and Mildred Bailey. His solo performances at the Carnegie Tavern below Carnegie Hall also became a New York institution.
Ellis Larkins' playing style has been described as “a rainbow of interwoven musical textures.”
According to NPR's Jazz Profiles “his layered technique created a warm and intimate palette of sound that brought out the full artistic potential of his partners in jazz -- Coleman Hawkins and Ella Fitzgerald among them.”
Ellis Larkins died at 79 on Sunday, September 30, 2002, in Baltimore, Maryland.
My Funny Valentine
Ellis Larkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
His virtue doth parade
Thou knowest not, my dim-witted friend
The picture thou hast made
Thy vacant brow, and thy tousled hair
Conceal thy good intent
Thou noble upright truthful sincere
And slightly dopey gent, you are...
My funny valentine, sweet comic valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable, un-photographable
Yet, you're my favorite work of art
Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?
But, don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine, stay
Each day is Valentine's Day
Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?
But, don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine, stay
Each day is Valentine's Day
The song "My Funny Valentine" is a classic jazz standard, originally written by Rodgers and Hart in 1937 for the musical "Babes in Arms." Ellis Larkin's interpretation of the song is a beautiful piano rendition. The lyrics describe in a humorous and endearing way the beauty the singer sees in his significant other, despite their imperfections. The first verse describes the image of a "fine feathered friend," a bird who proudly displays his virtues. The singer compares this to his "dim-witted friend," who doesn't realize that he too is an image of beauty with his "vacant brow" and "tousled hair." The second verse begins with the title line, "My funny valentine," indicating that the singer finds his significant other to be amusing and endearing. The lyrics go on to describe their unique features that make them beautiful, even if they may not fit traditional beauty standards. The final lines of the song express the singer's love and appreciation for their significant other, urging them to stay the way they are.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was originally written for a female character in the musical, but has since been performed by both male and female singers. The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Chet Baker. Another interesting fact is that the song's unusual melody and chord structure have made it a favorite among jazz musicians for improvisation. In fact, the song's complex structure was the subject of an entire chapter in a book on jazz improvisation by musician Hal Galper. Additionally, the song has been featured in several films, including "Babes in Arms," "Pal Joey," and "Topsy-Turvy." Overall, "My Funny Valentine" has become a classic jazz standard that continues to be beloved by audiences and musicians alike.
Chords (key of C):
Verse: Cmaj7, F7, Bbmaj7, Eb7, Abmaj7, D7, G7, Cmaj7
Chorus: Cm7, F7, Bbmaj7, Eb7, Abmaj7, D7, G7, Cmaj7
Line by Line Meaning
Behold the way our fine feathered friend
Look at the way someone with great qualities and attributes presents themselves
His virtue doth parade
Their goodness shines through in how they present themselves
Thou knowest not, my dim-witted friend
You may not realize this, but you lack understanding
The picture thou hast made
The impression you give
Thy vacant brow, and thy tousled hair
Your appearance, with an absent-minded and unkempt look
Conceal thy good intent
Hiding the truth about what drives you
Thou noble upright truthful sincere
A person with good values, honest and genuine
And slightly dopey gent, you are...
But also a bit foolish or naive at times
My funny valentine, sweet comic valentine
My dear and amusing love
You make me smile with my heart
You bring me so much joy and happiness
Your looks are laughable, un-photographable
Your appearance may not fit conventional beauty standards, but to me you are one of a kind
Yet, you're my favorite work of art
You are the most treasured and beloved thing in my life
Is your figure less than Greek?
Are you not perfectly toned or proportioned?
Is your mouth a little weak?
Do you speak with difficulty or disfluency?
When you open it to speak
The way you articulate your words
Are you smart?
Asking if you have intellectual ability
But, don't change a hair for me
Stay the way you are; I love you just the way you are
Not if you care for me
If you truly love and care for me, you won't change yourself to please me
Stay little valentine, stay
Stay affectionate and loving, like how you are on Valentine's Day
Each day is Valentine's Day
Every day should be filled with love and romance, not just February 14th
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind