Women of Jazz
-Dr. Nina Simone (1933-2003) (top left) was
born in Tyron, North Carolina as Eunice Waymona she changed her name to Nina (little one) Simone after inspiration from the French actress Simone Signoret. She has unrivaled legendary status as one of the very last griots or storytellers. She received a Diamond Award for Excellence in Music from the Association of African American Music in Philadelphia, and a Lifetime Achievement in Music Award in Dublin etc.
-Billy Holiday “Lady Day” (1915 – 1959) (bottom far left with mouth open) was born in Philadelphia as Eleanora Fagan Gough. She recorded over 200 “sides” between 1933 and 1944, but she never received royalties for any part of them. She is generally considered one of the greatest jazz voices of all time and a music legend.
-Dinah Washington the “Queen of the Blues”, (1924-1963) (center, white dress with mike) was
born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She is known as one of the most versatile and gifted vocalists in American popular music history being able to sing Jazz, Blues, and Gospel.
-Betty Carter (1929 – 1998) (bottom section, pink outfit, afro with head band & mike) born in Flint, Michigan is perhaps the most consummate jazz vocalist of the late 20th Century. Invited to the White House to perform in 1994 and again in 1997 to receive a Presidential honor from then President Bill Clinton for her work, Carter is considered by many to be the Jazz singer.
-Shirley Scott (1934 – 2002) (second from top right, yellow & red dress) was born in Philadelphia. She possessed one of the most graceful and lyrical touches applied to the bulky B-3. Shirley is one of the organ’s most appealing representative and a superb pianist.
-Dottie Smith (Died 2013) (blond page boy)
Dottie arrived in Philadelphia with her parents in 1930 from North Carolina settling in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood. Over her illustrious career
she performed with the finest instrumentalists, vocalists, dancers, and comedic talents in the world.
-Ella Fitzgerald (1917 – 1996) (top, furthest right),
born in Newport New, Virginia was the most popular female jazz singer in the United States for more than half a century. During her career she won 13 Grammy awards and sold over 40 million albums, performing at top avenues around the world. She would eventually recorded over 200 albums.
-Sarah Vaughan (1924 – 1999) (bottom right, hand extended) was born in Newark, New Jersey. She is perhaps the most important singer to emerge from the bop era which began in the 1940s. She is believed to have the single best vocal instrument of any singer working within the popular field.
-Mary Lou Williams (1910 – 1981) (bottom left, blue dress, at keyboard) was born in Atlanta, Georgia. The “First Lady of Jazz” she is considered perpetually contemporary. Her writing and performing are and have always been just a little ahead throughout her career with her music retaining and maintaining a standard of quality that is timeless.
Duke Ellington said, “she is like soul on soul” (Music is my Mistress, P.169).
The mural was created with assistance from Artworks! students from Cornell Abraxas and students from the School District of Philadelphia. Ceramic tiles for the project were created at the Philadelphia Museum of Art by Delphi After School Art Club students from the following Philadelphia public schools:
-Edwin Vare
-Southwark
-James Ludlow
-General Louis Wagner
-Anna Howard Shaw
-Martha Washington
-Henry Lea
-Mayer Sulzberger
Location Note: Mural no longer on view at this location (lost to demolition in 2016).