Red Norvo was born Kenneth Norville in Beardstown, Illinois. The story goes that he sold his pet pony to help pay for his first marimba. Norvo's career began in Chicago with a band called "The Collegians", in 1925. He played with many other bands, including an all-marimba band on the vaudeville circuit, and the bands of Paul Whiteman, Benny Goodman, Charlie Barnet, and Woody Herman. Norvo recorded with Mildred Bailey (his wife), Billie Holiday, Dinah Shore and Frank Sinatra, among others. Together, Red and Mildred were known as "Mr. and Mrs. Swing." He also appeared in the film Screaming Mimi (1958), playing himself, and in Ocean's 11, backing Dean Martin's "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?".
In 1933 he recorded two sessions for Brunswick under his own name. The first, "Knockin' on Wood" and "Hole in the Wall", pleased Brunswick's recording director Jack Kapp and he was booked for another session. This time, Kapp was out of town and Norvo went ahead and recorded two of the earliest, most modern pieces of chamber jazz yet recorded: Bix Beiderbecke's "In a Mist" and Norvo's own "Dance of the Octopus". Playing marimba instead of xylophone in the second session, he was accompanied by Benny Goodman in a rare performance playing a bass clarinet, Dick McDonough on guitar and Artie Bernstein on slap bass. Kapp was outraged when he heard the recordings and tore up Norvo's contract and threw him out. Nevertheless, this modern record remained in print all through the 1930s.
Norvo recorded 8 modern swing sides for Columbia in 1934–1935, and 15 sides of Decca and their short-lived Champion label series in 1936 (strangely enough, Jack Kapp ran Decca, so they must've patched things up by then).
Starting in 1936 through 1942, Norvo formed a Swing Orchestra and recorded for ARC first on their Brunswick label, then Vocalion and finally Columbia, after CBS bought out the ARC company. Featuring the brilliant arrangements of Eddie Sauter and often featuring Mildred Bailey as vocalist, this series of recordings were among the more sophisticated and elegant swing records of the era.
In 1938, Red Norvo and His Orchestra reached number one with their recordings of "Please Be Kind", which was number one for two weeks, and "Says My Heart", with lead vocals by Mildred Bailey, which was number one for four weeks on the pop charts, reaching number one during the week of June 18, 1938.
In June 1945, while a member of the Benny Goodman Sextet, he recorded a session for Comet records using a sextet which featured members of the Goodman group and also Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. He said: "Bird and Diz were dirty words for musicians of my generation. But jazz had always gone through changes and in 1945 we were in the middle of another one. Bird and Diz were saying new things in an exciting way. I had a free hand so I gambled".
In 1949, while trying to find work near home on the West Coast and running into difficulties with large groups, Norvo formed a trio with the novel combination of vibes, guitar, and bass. When the original guitarist and bassist quit (Mundell Lowe and Red Kelly), he brought in two previously little-known players. Tal Farlow became one of the most important of the post-War generation of guitarists, in part because the demands of the trio led him to explore new levels of both speed and harmonic richness on the instrument. Farlow left the group in 1953 and guitarist Jimmy Raney took his place. Charles Mingus's prominence as a bass player increased through this group, though its reportoire did not reflect the major career he would develop as a composer. Mingus left in 1951 and Red Mitchell replaced him. The Norvo, Farlow and Mingus trio recorded two LPs for Savoy.
In 1959 Norvo's group played concerts in Australia with Frank Sinatra; Blue Note released these recordings in 1997. Red Norvo and his group also made several appearances on The Dinah Shore Chevy Show in the late 1950s and early '60s.
Norvo recorded and toured throughout his career until a stroke in the mid-1980s forced him into retirement (although he developed hearing problems long before his stroke). He died at a convalescent home in Santa Monica, California at the age of 91.
Red Norvo composed a.o.: "Dance of the Octopus", "Bughouse" (with Irving Mills and Teddy Wilson), "The Night is Blue", "A Cigarette and a Silhouette", "Congo Blues", "Seein' Red", "Blues in E Flat", "Hole in the Wall", "Knockin' on Wood", "Decca Stomp", "Tomboy", and "1-2-3-4 Jump".
I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
Red Norvo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The wind is blowing
But I can weather the storm
Why do I care how much it may storm
I've got my love to keep me warm
I can't remember
A worse December
Why do I care if icicles form
I've got my love to keep me warm
Off with my overcoat
Off with gloves
I need no overcoat
I'm burning with love
My heart's on fire
The flame grows higher
So I will weather the storm
Why do I care how much it may storm
I've got my love to keep me warm
The song "I Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" is a cheerful and optimistic one, as the lyrics focus on the idea that love can keep one warm and happy even in the midst of cold weather and difficult times. The first two lines set the scene for the song, as they describe the snow and wind blowing outside. However, the singer is not concerned about the storm, as they have their love to keep them warm. The repeated question of "Why do I care how much it may storm?" emphasizes this point.
The singer then goes on to describe a particularly bad December, with icicles forming. But again, they are not worried, as they have their love to keep them warm. The lyrics "Off with my overcoat/Off with gloves/I need no overcoat/I'm burning with love" show that the warmth of their love is far more important than any physical warmth.
Finally, the chorus repeats that the singer's heart is on fire, and they will weather any storm because they have their love to keep them warm. Overall, the song is a celebration of the power of love to bring warmth and happiness even in difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
The snow is snowing
It's snowing outside
The wind is blowing
The wind is blowing
But I can weather the storm
I can handle the bad weather
Why do I care how much it may storm
I don't care how bad the storm gets
I've got my love to keep me warm
I have someone I love to keep me feeling warm and happy
I can't remember
I can't recall
A worse December
A December that was so bad
Just watch those icicles form
Just see how icicles are forming
Why do I care if icicles form
I don't care if icicles are forming
Off with my overcoat
Take off my overcoat
Off with gloves
Take off gloves
I need no overcoat
I don't need an overcoat
I'm burning with love
I have a strong feeling of love
My heart's on fire
My heart is burning with passion
The flame grows higher
My passion is growing stronger
So I will weather the storm
I can handle the bad weather
Why do I care how much it may storm
I don't care how bad the storm gets
I've got my love to keep me warm
I have someone I love to keep me feeling warm and happy
Lyrics © IMAGEM U.S. LLC
Written by: FRANCOIS JOSEPH CHARLES SALABERT, IRVING BERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Trombonology
I recall reading a comment from Mildred, in which she explained that she had an immediate idea of how she would interpret her material. Whether instinct or a tremendous capacity for empathy with the songwriters, the effect is always powerful. This irresistible treatment of my favorite Berlin tune is Ms. Bailey at her most joyous -- you can just see her smile as she flings off her overcoat. The band, whose sound was sculpted by the modern-thinking Norvo and arranger Eddie Sauter when he was at his best, displays its characteristic lightness, unburdened by non-essential brass or reeds. After Mildred's chorus, the modulation from Bb to G is cleverly executed and then Red comes in like one of Santa's merry elves for his sixteen bars. The bridge, halved by first trombone and reeds and then Herbie Haymer's swinging tenor, is snazzy, and then the trumpets emerge from a punctuating role to take center stage, with Stew Pletcher stepping out front for the last eight bars. Red again scampers in for the coda. One of my all-time favorite records!
@faststratjo2006
Thank you for your clear, concise and informative comment. I don't know why exactly but this song just popped into my head tonight, I hummed it then chose this Red Norvo - Mildred Bailey version. Is this considered the definitive version?
@Trombonology
@Too Rolling Stoned Thank YOU for the very nice comment! ... I don't know that there is a definitive version per se, though this one is certainly well known among fans of standards. Billie Holiday's record, too, is famous and Les Brown had a million-selling instrumental take.
@honestabe1991
I've been searching for this song forever! Thank you!
@the78prof72
You're most welcome!
@scotnick59
My favorite Bailey recording = and that says a LOT
@XdebariaX
I Love this song ❤️
@martinholopes2148
Magnifique.
@LilianBrazil
🎼❤🙏✨
@khussein6409
Awesome...I care!!!