Ethel Waters and the Plantation Orchestra - Dinah (1926)

Ethel Waters (oct.31,1896 - sep.1,1977) was an American blues and jazz vocalist and actress.

She was born to a 12 year old mother, Louise Anderson, who had been raped by a white man, John Waters. Although she was raised by her maternal grandmother, she took her father's surname. Reared in poverty, she left school at the age of 13 in order to support herself through domestic housework.

Waters performed for the first time at the age of five in a children's church program. She was called Baby Star and later, performing on the black vaudeville circuit, became known as Sweet Mama Stringbean. After moving to New York City in 1919, at the start of the Harlem Renaissance, Waters recorded songs for Black Swan Records and then Colombia Records while playing in revues and performing on the white vaudeville circuit during the 1920s. Two of her more popular songs were "Dinah" (1925) and "Stormy Weather" (1933). By refining the lyrics and the performance, Waters introduced urban blues to a white audience. Her stylistic alterations created a niche for the black nightclub singers who gained popularity from the 1930s through the 1950s.

In 1927, Waters career as an actress began with the musical Africana. She played singing roles in other Broadway productions: Blackbirds (1930), Rhapsody in Black (1931), As Thousands Cheer (1933), At Home Abroad (1936, and Cabin in the Sky (1940). Waters played more dramatic roles in Mamba's Daughters (1939) and The Member of the Wedding (1950). Appearing in nine films between 1929 and 1959, she received an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress in Pinky (1949). Through these roles, Waters transformed the image of the older black woman from that of the servile "Mammy" to the self-sufficient Earth Mother. She toured with evangelist Billy Graham from 1957 to 1976. Waters is the author of two autobiographies: His Eye is on the Sparrow (1951) and To Me It's Wonderful (1972)


Ethel Waters and the Plantation Orchestra - Dinah (1926)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ethel
• Waters
• Plantation
• Orchestra
• 1926
• 20's
• 30's
• 40's
• 50's

[scotnick59]

one of the very first electronically recorded hits (1925); a real treat. Thanks, Ethel!

[wavesnearmyhome]

What a privilege to listen to this!

[bellini7verdi]

NO ME DEJAN ESCRIBIR

[JCJasion]

According to my late friend David Morris, Ethel had a small summer cottage up in Kinnelon, NJ and she used to treat the kids up there to chocolate chip cookies. That would have been around 1943 when she was between pictures.

[nirbija]

Thanks, Ethel; you are divine and the ancestors are definitely pleased with your.

Life is a play; and you surely did your part well.

[ChingfordSpur]

Given the story of her birth, the name 'Dinah' is an interesting choice of song...(see Genesis 34)

[Georgewos]

I love the Ted Lewis version but noone has posted it on YouTube.

[Somepeople]

She's marvelous. Interesting, though, the picture posted is not of Ethel Waters. Who is it?

[jahlaune]

I love this song be it old as dirt. Every singer after this song has taken something from Miss. waters from Mildred bailey to Billie Holiday you clearly hear the influence

[heinbanjo12]

She is great. Thanks for the two songs.