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.
Night and Day
Maxine Sullivan Lyrics
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Only you 'neath the moon or under the sun
Whether near to me or far
It's no matter, darling, where you are
I think of you day and night
Night and day, why is it so
That this longin' for you follows wherever I go ?
In the silence of my lonely room
I think of you day and night
Night and day, under the hide of me
There's an oh, such a hungry yearnin' burnin' inside of me
And its torment won't be through
Till you let me spend my life makin' love to you
Day and night, night and day
Night and day, you are the one
Only you 'neath the moon or under the sun
Whether near to me or far
It's no matter, baby, where you are
I think of you day and night
Night and day, why is it so
That this longin' for you follows wherever I go ?
In the roarin' traffic's boom
Silence of my lonely room
I think of you day and night
Night and day, under the hide of me
There's an oh, such a hungry burning inside of me
And its torment won't be through
Till you let me spend life makin' love to you
Day and night, night and day
Maxine Sullivan's "Night and Day" is a ballad that captures the feeling of longing and yearning for someone, no matter where you are or what you're doing. The lyrics express that the singer cannot escape their love for their significant other and is constantly thinking of them day and night, whether they are close or far away. The song emphasizes the idea that love is an all-consuming force that cannot be ignored, and that it is omnipresent in our lives.
The chorus of "Night and Day" repeats the phrase "you are the one," which speaks to the depth and intensity of the relationship between the singer and their loved one. The verses describe how the singer thinks of this person "under the moon or under the sun" and how they cannot escape their thoughts, no matter what they're doing or where they are. The song paints a picture of someone who is consumed by their love for another person and cannot imagine a life without them.
One interesting fact about this song is that it was first introduced in the 1932 Broadway musical "Gay Divorce," starring Fred Astaire. The original lyrics were written by Cole Porter, and the song has since been covered by many artists, including Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. Another fact is that the song's popularity was partly due to the smooth and sultry jazz arrangement created by Sullivan's pianist, Claude Thornhill. The song has also been used in several films, including the 1953 musical film "Kiss Me Kate" and the 2008 romantic comedy "The Women."
Line by Line Meaning
Night and day, you are the one
I only have you in my heart no matter what time of day or night it is.
Only you 'neath the moon or under the sun
Out of all people, you are the one that I desire.
Whether near to me or far
Distance doesn't matter because my love for you is endless and never-ending.
It's no matter, darling, where you are
Your physical presence isn't necessary because you are always with me in spirit.
I think of you day and night
I cannot stop thinking about you and your place in my life.
Night and day, why is it so
I wonder why my love for you is unwavering throughout the day and night.
That this longin' for you follows wherever I go ?
I constantly long for you and this feeling follows me everywhere I go.
In the roarin' traffic's boom
Even in the midst of chaos, my thoughts wander to you and only you.
In the silence of my lonely room
When I'm alone with my thoughts, you are the only thing on my mind.
Night and day, under the hide of me
Deep within me, there's an insatiable hunger for you that will never be satisfied.
There's an oh, such a hungry yearnin' burnin' inside of me
My love for you is intense and all-consuming.
And its torment won't be through
This burning desire for you will never be extinguished.
Till you let me spend my life makin' love to you
Only by being with you and experiencing your love can I find peace.
Day and night, night and day
My love knows no bounds and persists through every moment of my life.
It's no matter, baby, where you are
Your physical presence does not affect the depth of my love for you.
Lyrics © Roba Music Verlag GMBH, Red Brick Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tony C.
Lots of folks have covered this, but her's is the best. Even better than Astaire. Just lovely.
Kirk Barkley
Such an underrated joy was Maxine!
gossamerwings
absolutely love this!!!
Paula Mendell
Pure and beautiful !
blakely1955
My sister Robin just got me into listening to Maxine S. The world is a finer place for these two women.....
Dave Sinclair
What an enchanting video, which makes me think how "tuff" it had to be at that time. My mother would have been about (20) years of age at the time as a Choctaw Indian from Southeastern Oklahoma (Smithville), and had experienced the same struggles in life.
alim3611
Love this and if u can try Ella Fitzgerald 's version of this song . Pretty good
suzycanuck
I enjoyed Maxine's rendition as well.... very lovely and delicate.....
Dave Sinclair
Such a rare talent
Tina H
Elegance!!!!