Elisabeth Welch
Encyclopedia
Elisabeth Welch was an American born singer, actress, and entertainer whose career spanned seven decades, many years of which she was based in Britain.
on 19 February 1904. Her father was the chief gardener in an estate in Englewood, New Jersey
. He was of mixed race being Afro-American and Native American
. Her mother was Scottish of Irish descent. She had intended to go, after finishing High School, into Social Work, but instead became a singer. She started her career in New York, went on to Paris
(France), and from there went on to Britain where she remained for the seventy years left in her life. In 1928, she was married to Luke Smith, a musician and remained with him until his death in 1936. They had no children. She died a few months short of her hundredth birthday in Northwood, London on 15 July 2003.
shows.
She made relatively few recordings. Prior to moving to Europe, she only made one record ("Doin' The New Lowdown") b/w 'Digga Digga Do" as vocalist for the Irving Mills
assembled "Hotsy Totsy Gang" (Brunswick 4014, July, 27, 1928).
One of these was taken to Paris where she, following co-artist Josephine Baker
, was in a number of cabaret shows, including performances at the Moulin Rouge. She was asked to return to New York where she replaced a singer in The New Yorkers
where she sang 'Love for Sale'. Cole Porter
, its composer, met her after in Paris, and later requested that she perform his song 'Solomon' in Nymph Errant
in London. Before this show was available. she was given permission to perform in Dark Doings, in which she sang 'Stormy Weather', which she took as her signature tune.
She was seen by Ivor Novello
, who offered her a part in his new show Glamorous Nights, in which she sang 'Far Away in Shanty Town'. During the late 1930s, Elisabeth Welch entered two different media. She appeared in several films, usually as a singer, including two with American singer and actor Paul Robeson
. She was one of the first artists to perform on TV, as she was asked by the BBC
to appear on their new TV service from a studio in Alexandra Palace
. During World War II
she stayed in London in spite of the Blitz
. She also entertained the armed forces along with many other artists.
After the war she was in many West End
shows, including a number of revues. She continued on both TV and Radio and was even in one pantomime
, Aladdin
. She also had a series of one-woman shows that lasted until 1990. She was in the Royal Variety Performance
in both 1979 and 1986.
In 1980, she returned to New York to appear in "Black Broadway" after an absence of nearly fifty years, and appeared there again in 1986 where she did a one-woman show that earned her an Obie Award. Her final performance was in 1996 for a TV documentary where she sang Stormy Weather at the age of 93.
Personal life
Elisabeth Welch was born in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on 19 February 1904. Her father was the chief gardener in an estate in Englewood, New Jersey
Englewood, New Jersey
Englewood is a city located in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 27,147.Englewood was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1899, from portions of Ridgefield Township and the remaining portions of...
. He was of mixed race being Afro-American and Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
. Her mother was Scottish of Irish descent. She had intended to go, after finishing High School, into Social Work, but instead became a singer. She started her career in New York, went on to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(France), and from there went on to Britain where she remained for the seventy years left in her life. In 1928, she was married to Luke Smith, a musician and remained with him until his death in 1936. They had no children. She died a few months short of her hundredth birthday in Northwood, London on 15 July 2003.
Professional career
After her first appearance in "Liza" in 1922, Elisabeth Welch was the initial singer of the Charleston in the show "Runnin' Wild" (1923). During the 1920s she appeared in several Negro BroadwayBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
shows.
She made relatively few recordings. Prior to moving to Europe, she only made one record ("Doin' The New Lowdown") b/w 'Digga Digga Do" as vocalist for the Irving Mills
Irving Mills
Irving Mills was a jazz music publisher, also known by the name of "Joe Primrose."Mills was born to Jewish parents in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City. He founded Mills Music with his brother Jack in 1919...
assembled "Hotsy Totsy Gang" (Brunswick 4014, July, 27, 1928).
One of these was taken to Paris where she, following co-artist Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker was an American dancer, singer, and actress who found fame in her adopted homeland of France. She was given such nicknames as the "Bronze Venus", the "Black Pearl", and the "Créole Goddess"....
, was in a number of cabaret shows, including performances at the Moulin Rouge. She was asked to return to New York where she replaced a singer in The New Yorkers
The New Yorkers
The New Yorkers is a musical written by Cole Porter and Herbert Fields . The musical premiered on Broadway in 1930. It is based on a story by cartoonist Peter Arno and E. Ray Goetz. The musical satirizes New York types, from high society matrons to con men, bootleggers, thieves and prostitutes...
where she sang 'Love for Sale'. Cole Porter
Cole Porter
Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
, its composer, met her after in Paris, and later requested that she perform his song 'Solomon' in Nymph Errant
Nymph Errant
Nymph Errant is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and book by Romney Brent based upon the novel by James Laver. The somewhat controversial story concerned a young English lady intent upon losing her virginity. Porter considered the score his best because of its worldliness and sexual...
in London. Before this show was available. she was given permission to perform in Dark Doings, in which she sang 'Stormy Weather', which she took as her signature tune.
She was seen by Ivor Novello
Ivor Novello
David Ivor Davies , better known as Ivor Novello, was a Welsh composer, singer and actor who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the 20th century. Born into a musical family, his first successes were as a songwriter...
, who offered her a part in his new show Glamorous Nights, in which she sang 'Far Away in Shanty Town'. During the late 1930s, Elisabeth Welch entered two different media. She appeared in several films, usually as a singer, including two with American singer and actor Paul Robeson
Paul Robeson
Paul Leroy Robeson was an American concert singer , recording artist, actor, athlete, scholar who was an advocate for the Civil Rights Movement in the first half of the twentieth century...
. She was one of the first artists to perform on TV, as she was asked by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
to appear on their new TV service from a studio in Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace is a building in North London, England. It stands in Alexandra Park, in an area between Hornsey, Muswell Hill and Wood Green...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
she stayed in London in spite of the Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
. She also entertained the armed forces along with many other artists.
After the war she was in many West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
shows, including a number of revues. She continued on both TV and Radio and was even in one pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
, Aladdin
Aladdin
Aladdin is a Middle Eastern folk tale. It is one of the tales in The Book of One Thousand and One Nights , and one of the most famous, although it was actually added to the collection by Antoine Galland ....
. She also had a series of one-woman shows that lasted until 1990. She was in the Royal Variety Performance
Royal Variety Performance
The Royal Variety Performance is a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom, which is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family, usually the reigning monarch. In more recent years Queen Elizabeth II and The Prince of Wales have alternately attended the performance...
in both 1979 and 1986.
In 1980, she returned to New York to appear in "Black Broadway" after an absence of nearly fifty years, and appeared there again in 1986 where she did a one-woman show that earned her an Obie Award. Her final performance was in 1996 for a TV documentary where she sang Stormy Weather at the age of 93.
Theatrical performances
- Liza – 1922 – on Broadway
- Running Wild – 1923 – on Broadway
- Chocolate Dandies – 1924 – on Broadway
- Blackbírds of 1928 – 1928 – on Broadway
- Cabaret – 1929 – at the Moulin RougeMoulin RougeMoulin Rouge is a cabaret built in 1889 by Joseph Oller, who also owned the Paris Olympia. Close to Montmartre in the Paris district of Pigalle on Boulevard de Clichy in the 18th arrondissement, it is marked by the red windmill on its roof. The closest métro station is Blanche.The Moulin Rouge is...
, Paris - Cabaret – 1930 – at the Le Boeuf sur le ToitLe Boeuf sur le Toit (cabaret)Le Boeuf sur le Toit is the name of a celebrated Parisian cabaret-bar in Paris, founded in 1921 by Louis Moysés which was originally located at 28, rue Boissy d'Anglas in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. It was notably the gathering place for the avant garde arts scene during the period between...
, Paris - The New Yorkers – 1931 – on Broadway
- Dark Doings – 1933 – at Leicester Square Theatre, London
- Nymph Errant – 1933 – at Adelphi Theatre, London
- Glamorous Nights – 1934 – at Drury Lane Theatre, London
- Let's Raise the Curtain – 1936 – at Victoria Palace, London
- Its in the Bag – 1937 – at Saville Theatre, London
- All the Best – 1938 – at the Opera House, Blackpool
- No Time for Comedy – 1941 – at Comedy Theatre, London
- Sky High – 1942 – at Phoenix Theatre, London
- Happy and Glorious – 1944 – at London Palladium, London
- Twopenny Coloured – 1947 – review
- Oranges and Lemons – 1949 – review
- Penny Plain – 1951 – review
- The Crooked Mile – 1959 – London
- Cindy Ella – 1962 – London
- Pippin – 1973 – London
- Black Broadway – 1980 – on Broadway
Film Performances
- Death At Broadcasting House 1934
- Soft Lights And Sweet Music 1936
- Song of FreedomSong of Freedom (film)Song of Freedom is a 1936 British film starring Paul Robeson.One of two elements pivotal to the plot is an opera composer named Gabriel Donizetti, presumably suggested by the historical opera composer Gaetano Donizetti...
1936 - Calling All Stars 1937
- Big FellaBig FellaBig Fella is a 1937 film directed by J. Elder Wills, loosely based on the novel Banjo by Harlem Renaissance writer Claude McKay.-Plot:...
1937 - Over the Moon 1939
- Alibi 1942
- Fiddlers ThreeFiddlers ThreeThe fiddlers three are characters featured in the English nursery rhyme "Old King Cole".Fiddlers Three may also refer to:*Fiddlers Three , a 1918 Broadway production that ran for 87 performances...
1944 - Dead of NightDead of NightDead of Night is a British portmanteau horror film made by Ealing Studios, its various episodes directed by Alberto Cavalcanti, Charles Crichton, Basil Dearden and Robert Hamer. The film stars Mervyn Johns, Googie Withers and Michael Redgrave...
1945 - Our Man in HavanaOur Man in HavanaOur Man In Havana is a novel by British author Graham Greene, where he makes fun of intelligence services, especially the British MI6, and their willingness to believe reports from their local informants....
1959 - Revenge of the Pink PantherRevenge of the Pink PantherRevenge of the Pink Panther is the sixth film in the Pink Panther film series. Released in 1978, Revenge of was the last entry featuring series star Peter Sellers, who died in 1980...
1978 - The TempestThe TempestThe Tempest is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1610–11, and thought by many critics to be the last play that Shakespeare wrote alone. It is set on a remote island, where Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place,...
1979