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Thursday, March 28, 2013

Elisabeth Welch

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Elisabeth Welch, the American singer who introduced the "Charleston" on Broadway before becoming a superstar herself in England in 1935, was born in Manhattan in 1904 to a Scottish-Irish mother and African American father.
 
Ms. Welch was a favorite of iconic composers Noël Coward and Cole Porter. She was the first singer to popularize the classic Porter tune, "Love for Sale" which would become a signature song during her career. She also introduced "Stormy Weather" to British audiences and was so beloved that she remained there or the rest of her life.
 
Among other career highlights in her 70-year career, she was nominated for a Tony award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical in 1986 at age 82 for her role in "Jerome Kern Goes to Hollywood."
 
She also starred in two films with Paul Robeson, "Song of Freedom" in 1936 and "Big Fella" in 1937. Ms. Welch died at the age of 99 in 2003.
 
Photo: National Portrait Gallery, London.
Photo: Elisabeth Welch, the American singer who introduced the "Charleston" on Broadway before becoming a superstar in England, in 1935. Born in Manhattan in 1904 to a Scottish-Irish mother and African American father, Ms. Welch was a favorite of iconic composers Noël Coward and Cole Porter. She was the first singer to popularize the classic Porter tune, "Love for Sale" and it would become a signature song in her career. She also introduced "Stormy Weather" to British audiences and would be so beloved there, she remained for the rest of her life. Ms. Welch, among other career highlights in her 70-year career, was nominated for a Tony award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical in 1986 at age 82, for her role in "Jerome Kern Goes to Hollywood." Ms. Welch also starred in two films with Paul Robeson, "Song of Freedom" in 1936 and "Big Fella" in 1937. In the comment section, I am linking a fantastic short video (1:56) of Ms. Welch singing "Harlem in my Heart" from "Big Fella" and Mr. Robeson can be seen in the clip. Ms. Welch died at the age of 99 in 2003. Photo: National Portrait Gallery, London.
Posted by Bulcranium at 5:02 PM

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