Ruth Olay
Encyclopedia
Ruth Olay is a jazz
singer with Hungarian ancestry who was born in San Francisco, the daughter of a Rabbi
and a professional chorister mother. Moving to Los Angeles
while still an infant, Olay became a fixture in Hollywood's nightclub scene in the late 40's and through the 50's and early 60's.
). While at work, she met one of Duke Ellington
's vocalists, Ivie Anderson. Together they attended the venue where Ellington was playing and Olay was persuaded to sing. In 1942, at her mother's re-marriage party she sang and impressed a guest, the wife of songwriter Irving Gordon
(Throw Mama From the Train, Unforgettable). Gordon in turn introduced Olay to jazz musician Benny Carter
who became her musical mentor.
She performed under the moniker Rachel Davis and, due to her dark complexion, passing as a black woman, with Carter in San Diego, and later with Jerry Fielding
in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills clubs, all the while holding down a secretarial day job at Twentieth Century Limited, including work for celebrated screenwriter Preston Sturges
. At the Cabaret Concert Theatre where she both waitressed and sang, she came to the attention of Bill Hitchcock of Zephyr Records. Olay's first LP on Zephyr in 1956 was promoted as coming from "the blues shouting tradition", "pop style" and "swinging interpretation"..
While gigging at the Little Club, Olay was approached by Bill Burton, who managed, among others, Jimmy Dorsey
and Dick Haymes
, and soon got her big break when Burton booked her an emergency gig at the Avant Garde Club in replacement of Billie Holiday
, who had fallen ill. This developed into a headline run, along with Shelley Berman
, Matt Dennis Trio and Lenny Bruce
. A regular at the club was arranger Peter Ruggolo, who A&R'ed for Mercury Records
.
Her first LP on Mercury OLAY! in 1958 was followed by a guest vocalist spot on Jack Paar
's Tonight Show. She became the "Singing Sensation of the Jack Paar Show" during Paar's stint, and also appeared later on Johnny Carson
's watch, the latter time backed by Duke Ellington
. Subsequent appearances included Jerry Fielding
's TV show, and with Merv Griffin
, Jackie Gleason
and Steve Allen
. In 1961, Olay found time to play the role of Julie in Lewis & Youngs' production of Showboat
.
For the second LP Easy Living on Mercury in 1959, Olay was set up with Jerry Fielding
whose credits included arranging with big bands such as those of Kay Kyser
, Claude Thornhill
, Jimmie Lunceford
, Tommy Dorsey
, Charlie Barnet
, and Les Brown
. LP's followed on diverse labels after Olay's departure from Mercury and she continued nightclub appearances and TV shows well into the 1960s (e.g.: Sue Rainey on KTLA June 11, 1965. After spending some time performing in Europe where the popularity of American jazz persisted Olay returned to the USA and gradually phased into retirement and withdrew from singing altogether.
, Lou Rawls
, Della Reese
).
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
singer with Hungarian ancestry who was born in San Francisco, the daughter of a Rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
and a professional chorister mother. Moving to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
while still an infant, Olay became a fixture in Hollywood's nightclub scene in the late 40's and through the 50's and early 60's.
Career
Initially a piano prodigy, her interest in music developed from exposure to her mother's professional chorus singing work. At age 16 or 17, working as secretary at Twentieth Century Fox Olay undertook singing lessons with vocal coach Florence Russell (Dorothy DandridgeDorothy Dandridge
Dorothy Jean Dandridge was an American actress and popular singer, and was the first African-American to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress...
). While at work, she met one of Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
's vocalists, Ivie Anderson. Together they attended the venue where Ellington was playing and Olay was persuaded to sing. In 1942, at her mother's re-marriage party she sang and impressed a guest, the wife of songwriter Irving Gordon
Irving Gordon
Irving Gordon was an American songwriter.-Biography:Irving Gordon was born in Brooklyn, New York. As a child, he studied violin, and after attending public schools in New York City, went to work in the Catskill Mountains at some of the resort hotels in the area...
(Throw Mama From the Train, Unforgettable). Gordon in turn introduced Olay to jazz musician Benny Carter
Benny Carter
Bennett Lester Carter was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. He was a major figure in jazz from the 1930s to the 1990s, and was recognized as such by other jazz musicians who called him King...
who became her musical mentor.
She performed under the moniker Rachel Davis and, due to her dark complexion, passing as a black woman, with Carter in San Diego, and later with Jerry Fielding
Jerry Fielding
Jerry Fielding was an American radio, record, film and television composer, conductor, and musical director.-Childhood and education:...
in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills clubs, all the while holding down a secretarial day job at Twentieth Century Limited, including work for celebrated screenwriter Preston Sturges
Preston Sturges
Preston Sturges , originally Edmund Preston Biden, was a celebrated playwright, screenwriter and film director born in Chicago, Illinois...
. At the Cabaret Concert Theatre where she both waitressed and sang, she came to the attention of Bill Hitchcock of Zephyr Records. Olay's first LP on Zephyr in 1956 was promoted as coming from "the blues shouting tradition", "pop style" and "swinging interpretation"..
While gigging at the Little Club, Olay was approached by Bill Burton, who managed, among others, Jimmy Dorsey
Jimmy Dorsey
James "Jimmy" Dorsey was a prominent American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, trumpeter, composer, and big band leader. He was known as "JD"...
and Dick Haymes
Dick Haymes
Richard Benjamin "Dick" Haymes was an Argentine actor and one of the most popular male vocalists of the 1940s and early 1950s. He was the older brother of Bob Haymes, who was an actor, television host, and songwriter....
, and soon got her big break when Burton booked her an emergency gig at the Avant Garde Club in replacement of Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
, who had fallen ill. This developed into a headline run, along with Shelley Berman
Shelley Berman
Sheldon "Shelley" Berman is an American comedian, actor, writer, teacher, lecturer, and poet.- Early life :Berman was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Irene and Nathan Berman.- Career :...
, Matt Dennis Trio and Lenny Bruce
Lenny Bruce
Leonard Alfred Schneider , better known by the stage name Lenny Bruce, was a Jewish-American comedian, social critic and satirist...
. A regular at the club was arranger Peter Ruggolo, who A&R'ed for Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
.
Her first LP on Mercury OLAY! in 1958 was followed by a guest vocalist spot on Jack Paar
Jack Paar
Jack Harold Paar was an author, American radio and television comedian and talk show host, best known for his stint as host of The Tonight Show from 1957 to 1962...
's Tonight Show. She became the "Singing Sensation of the Jack Paar Show" during Paar's stint, and also appeared later on Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson
John William "Johnny" Carson was an American television host and comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years . Carson received six Emmy Awards including the Governor Award and a 1985 Peabody Award; he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987...
's watch, the latter time backed by Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
. Subsequent appearances included Jerry Fielding
Jerry Fielding
Jerry Fielding was an American radio, record, film and television composer, conductor, and musical director.-Childhood and education:...
's TV show, and with Merv Griffin
Merv Griffin
Mervyn Edward "Merv" Griffin, Jr. was an American television host, musician, actor, and media mogul. He began his career as a radio and big band singer who went on to appear in movies and on Broadway. From 1965 to 1986 Griffin hosted his own talk show, The Merv Griffin Show on Group W Broadcasting...
, Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason was an American comedian, actor and musician. He was known for his brash visual and verbal comedy style, especially by his character Ralph Kramden on The Honeymooners, a situation-comedy television series. His most noted film roles were as Minnesota Fats in the drama film The...
and Steve Allen
Steve Allen
Steve Allen may refer to:*Steve Allen , American musician, comedian, and writer*Steve Allen , presenter on the London-based talk radio station LBC 97.3...
. In 1961, Olay found time to play the role of Julie in Lewis & Youngs' production of Showboat
Showboat
A showboat, or show boat, was a form of theater that traveled along the waterways of the United States, especially along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers . A showboat was basically a barge that resembled a long, flat-roofed house, and in order to move down the river, it was pushed by a small tugboat...
.
For the second LP Easy Living on Mercury in 1959, Olay was set up with Jerry Fielding
Jerry Fielding
Jerry Fielding was an American radio, record, film and television composer, conductor, and musical director.-Childhood and education:...
whose credits included arranging with big bands such as those of Kay Kyser
Kay Kyser
James Kern Kyser was a popular bandleader and radio personality of the 1930s and 1940s.-Early years:He was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, the son of pharmacists Paul Bynum Kyser and Emily Royster Kyser. Editor Vermont C. Royster was his cousin...
, Claude Thornhill
Claude Thornhill
Claude Thornhill was an American pianist, arranger, composer, and bandleader...
, Jimmie Lunceford
Jimmie Lunceford
James Melvin "Jimmie" Lunceford was an American jazz alto saxophonist and bandleader in the swing era.-Biography:...
, Tommy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey
Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...
, Charlie Barnet
Charlie Barnet
Charles Daly Barnet was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader.His major recordings were "Skyliner", "Cherokee", "The Wrong Idea", "Scotch and Soda", "In a Mizz", and "Southland Shuffle".-Early life:...
, and Les Brown
Les Brown
Les Brown may refer to:*Les Brown , U.S. Big Band leader, or his son, Les Brown Jr., leader since 2001*Les Brown , American author-See also:*Leslie Brown...
. LP's followed on diverse labels after Olay's departure from Mercury and she continued nightclub appearances and TV shows well into the 1960s (e.g.: Sue Rainey on KTLA June 11, 1965. After spending some time performing in Europe where the popularity of American jazz persisted Olay returned to the USA and gradually phased into retirement and withdrew from singing altogether.
Personal life
Olay's parents divorced when she was six, her father going on to become the Head of Research at Warner Bros. Ruth was married three times, firstly to Lionel Olay from 1947–1949, and whose name she adopted as her stage name. They had a daughter, Amy, born in 1949, and there is a son from a subsequent marriage. Her second divorce was in 1961. In 1963 she married her manager Lee Magid (Earl GrantEarl Grant
Earl Grant was an American easy listening pianist, Hammond organist, and vocalist popular in the 1950s and 1960s.-Career:...
, Lou Rawls
Lou Rawls
Louis Allen "Lou" Rawls was an American soul, jazz, and blues singer. He was known for his smooth vocal style: Frank Sinatra once said that Rawls had "the classiest singing and silkiest chops in the singing game"...
, Della Reese
Della Reese
Delloreese Patricia Early, known professionally as Della Reese , is an American actress, singer, game show panelist of the 1970s, one-time talk-show hostess and ordained minister. She started her career in the 1950s as a gospel, pop and jazz singer, scoring a hit with her 1959 single "Don't You...
).
Recordings
- 1956 - It's About Time; Zephyr 12004 LP
- 1956 - Good Love / Cotton Pickin' Moon; Zephyr ZR 70002 single
- 1958 - OLAY!; Mercury MG 36125 LP
- 1959 - Easy Living; Mercury MG 20390 LP
- 1959 - I Wanna Be a Friend of Yours / On Behalf of the Visiting Firemen; Mercury 71453 (78rpm) 71432X45 (45rpm)single
- 1960 - In Person Recorded Live at Mr. Kelly's; United Artists UAL 3115(M) UAL 6115 (S) LP
- 1963 - OLAY! O.K.!!; Everest 5218 (M) 1218 (S) LP
- 1963 - Gonna Build a Mountain / Scarlet Bird; Everest 2037 45rpm single
- 1966 - God Bless The Child / I Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues; ABC 10870 45rpm single
- 1959 - Never Do / I Wanna Be a Friend of Yours; Mercury DJ43 45rpm single promo
- 1966 - Soul In The Night; ABC 573 LP
- 1979 - Jazz at the Ojai Festivals Bowl - Ray Leatherwood (drums) Eddie Miller (sax) & Ruth Olay (vocals); Townhall Records 527
- 1982 - Ruth Olay Sings Jazz Today; Laurel Records LR-8501 LP
- 1982 - Watch What Happens - Ruth Olay & Her Friends; Laurel Records LR-8502 LP