The Jezebel of Jazz: Thanks for the boogie ride

Anita O'day was born October 18, 1919 in Chicago. She left home at 14 and became a contestant in walk-a-thons as a dancer - touring that circuit for two years and occasionally being called on to sing. Eventually she would work with a ton of different huge Jazz names like Gene Krupa and Benny Goodman - but I've not met many people that know of her.

Anita had a long term problem with heroin and alcohol addiction which led to frequent erratic behavior earning her the nickname "The Jezebel of Jazz" - I don't like that that much because I like her a lot and she almost died of it in 1968 - she rid herself of that habit and began making a come back in 1970.

She maintained that the accidental excision of her uvula during a childhood tonsillectomy left her incapable of vibrato and unable to maintain long phrases; so as necessity being the mother of invention - she said she was forced to develop a more percussive style based on short notes and a rhythmic drive.

Her real name was Anita Belle Colton; she changed her surname from Colton to O'Day because O'Day was pig Latin for "dough" or money and that's why she wanted to be a singer; authentically no-nonsense and direct no matter how she may have been perceived for it - and frankly I really question if the concern of perception for it even entered her mind - who knows? She wanted to sing for money - so that's what she did.

In case you haven't picked up on it - I think she's cool; ha! And maybe because I was so floored when I heard how overtly simple the lyrics she was singing on the radio the other day (a recording from 1942 with Krupa posted in the video below) were; or that her album with Gene Krupa and his big band orchestra played all day Christmas eve and Christmas day for me. She dances all fun and looks like she's having a great time, seems glamorous but accessible- almost kind of weird (which I love)- and she uses her voice in really interesting ways. Plus, she's like the underdog in my eyes because nobody seems to have any idea who she is and it makes no sense to me why she wasn't better known.

So here's to the unsung American lady Jazz singer - Anita O'day.

Thanks for the boogie ride Anita, it really was great.

"That's all there is, there isn't anymore!"