As a vocalist, Maxine Sullivan was active for half a century, from the mid-1930s to just before her death in 1987. She is best known for her 1937 recording of a swing version of the Scottish folk song "Loch Lomond". Throughout her career, Sullivan also appeared as a performer on film as well as on stage. A precursor to better-known later vocalists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Sarah Vaughan, Maxine Sullivan is considered one of the best jazz vocalists of the 1930s.
Maxine Sullivan was born in Homestead, Pennsylvania in 1911. Sullivan began her music career singing in her uncle's band, The Red Hot Peppers, in her native Pennsylvania, in which she occasionally played the flugelhorn and the valve trombone, in addition to singing. In the mid-1930s she was discovered by Gladys Mosier (then working in Ina Rae Hutton's big band). Mosier introduced her to Claude Thornhill, which led to her first recordings made in June of 1937. Shorty thereafter, Sullivan became a featured vocalist at the Onyx Club in New York. During this period, she began forming a professional and close personal relationship with bassist John Kirby, to whom she was married from 1938 to 1941.
Early sessions with Kirby in 1937 yielded a hit recording of a swing version of the Scottish folk song "Loch Lomond" featuring Sullivan on vocals. This early success "branded" Sullivan's style, leading her to sing similar swing arrangements of traditional folk tunes mostly arranged by pianist Claude Thornhill, such as "Darling Nellie Gray", "I Dream of Jeanie", "Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes", and "If I Had a Ribbon Bow". Her early popularity also led to a brief appearance in the movie Going Places opposite Louis Armstrong. In 1940, Sullivan and Kirby were featured on the radio program Flow Gently Sweet Rhythm, making them the first black jazz stars to have their own weekly radio series. From 1940-1942, Sullivan often performed with her husband Kirby's sextet. During the 1940s Sullivan then performed with a wide range of bands, including those of Teddy Wilson, Benny Carter, and Jimmie Lunceford. Sullivan also performed at many of New York's hottest jazz spots such as the Ruban Bleu, the Village Vanguard, the Blue Angel, and the Penthouse.
In 1956, Sullivan shifted away from her earlier style and recorded the album A Tribute to Andy Razaf. Originally on the Period record label, A Tribute to Andy Razaf featured Sullivan's interpretations of a dozen tunes featuring the lyrics of the poet and lyricist Andy Razaf. The album also highlighted the music of Fats Waller, including versions of "Keepin' Out of Mischief Now", "How Can you Face Me?", "My Fate is in Your Hands", "Honeysuckle Rose", "Ain't Misbehavin'", and "Blue Turning Grey Over You". Sullivan was joined by a sextet that was reminiscent of John Kirby's group of 15 years prior, including trumpeter Charlie Shavers and clarinetist Buster Bailey. In 1953 Sullivan starred in the play, Take a Giant Step.
From 1958 to 1966, Sullivan began working as a nurse and raising her children, which largely consumed most of her time. Her music career did not reassert itself until 1966, when she began performing in jazz festivals alongside her new husband, Cliff Jackson, who can be heard on the 1966 live recording of Sullivan's performance at the Manassas Jazz Festival.
Sullivan continued to perform throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and produced an output of recordings during the 1980s despite being over 70 years old. She was nominated for the 1979 Tony Award for Featured Actress in a Musical for her role in My Old Friends. She participated in a documentary film portrait, Maxine Sullivan: Love to Be in Love, shortly before her death.
Maxine Sullivan died in 1987 in New York. She was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1998.
Easy Love
Maxine Sullivan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In thinking such a thing could be
That you could ever care for me
I'm sure you hate to hear
That I adore you, dear
But grant me
Just the same
For love
You'd be so easy to love
So easy to idolize
All others above
So worth the yearning for
So swell to keep every home fire burning for
We'd be so grand at the game
So carefree together
That it does seem a shame
That you can't see
Your future with me
Cause you'd be oh, so easy to love
In Maxine Sullivan's song, "Easy to Love," the singer is expressing their unrequited love for someone, knowing that they are most likely wasting their time. The singer expresses how they adore the person, but understands that it is unlikely that the person feels the same way. They wish that the person they love could see how easy it would be to love them too, and how perfect they would be together. The singer lamentably realizes that the love they feel will never be reciprocated and it would be easier if they could move on, but they cannot.
This song talks about the beauty of a love that is effortless. The singer feels that their love could be "easy to love", and that they could be "so grand at the game" of love. They are willing to keep every home fire burning for this person who they believe is worth the yearning. The song seems to be about hopelessness and longing for something that can never be, but there is still a sense of optimism and resilience in the singer's voice. The melody is upbeat and harmonious, even though the lyrics are sad, showing that love can still bring joy even in a state of unrequited love.
Line by Line Meaning
I know too well that I'm just wasting precious time
I understand that my hopes and dreams are just a waste of time
In thinking such a thing could be
Believing that you could ever return my feelings is unrealistic
That you could ever care for me
I know it's impossible for you to care for me
I'm sure you hate to hear
I know you don't want to hear my love confession
That I adore you, dear
I can't help but love you deeply
But grant me
Please consider my request
Just the same
Regardless of your response, I'll still feel the same about you
I'm not entirely to blame
I can't help how I feel, it's not entirely my fault
For love
When it comes to love
You'd be so easy to love
You have qualities that make it easy to love you
So easy to idolize
You're like an ideal person I've always looked up to
All others above
You're above everyone else I've come across
So worth the yearning for
You're worth all the longing and desire I feel for you
So swell to keep every home fire burning for
You're so wonderful, I'd do everything to keep our relationship going
We'd be so grand at the game
We would be great together in love
So carefree together
We would be relaxed and enjoy each other's company
That it does seem a shame
It's such a pity that you can't see how wonderful we could be together
That you can't see
It's unfortunate that you can't understand how I feel about you
Your future with me
A future in love with me
Cause you'd be oh, so easy to love
You'd be a dream come true, so easy to love
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@scotnick59
Perhaps the most underrated popular singer of all-time
@kingusmcgee
All the lionizing of Sarah Vaughn, Billy Holliday, Ella being the ultimate, but personally, Maxine Sullivan blows them all away, particularly in this rendition of Easy To Love. I love the second note how she ascends rather than dropping down..."You'd Be." Never heard another singer do that. Have applied that 2nd note ascension to my piano version of Easy To Love. Thanks for posting.
@phaasch
She had a purity that is deeply affecting, particularly in our present day world. A place of solace.
@paulostroff99
Another winner for this awesome songbird.
@keithmcmahon202
Maxine is easy to love ....every note every phrase her superlative easy swing will last forever
@bbcisrubbish
I must confess I had forgotten about Maxine it is so long since I had heard her. Thanks for reminding me, I shall be listening to her often hence forth.
@gregorysullivan9371
as gentle as soft summer rain. thanks
@phaasch
What a lovely way to describe this beautiful voice.
@jimthompson606
Thank you for uncovering this gem.
@vanyadolly
I'm shocked that so few people know of this amazing talent.