Beatrice C. "Bee" Palmer (11 September 1894 – 22 December 1967) was an American singer and dancer born in
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...
.
Palmer first attracted significant attention as one of the first exponents of the "
shimmy
A shimmy is a dance move in which the body is held still, except for the shoulders, which are quickly alternated back and forth. When the right shoulder goes back, the left one comes forward.
History
In 1917, a dance-song titled "Shim-Me-Sha ...
" dance in the late 1910s. She was sometimes credited as the creator of the "shimmy" (although there were other claimants at the time as well).
She first appeared in the
Ziegfeld Follies
The ''Ziegfeld Follies'' was a series of elaborate theatrical revue productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 to 1931, with renewals in 1934 and 1936. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as ''The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air ...
in 1918.
She toured with an early
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...
band, which included such notables as
Emmett Hardy,
Leon Ropollo
Leon Joseph Roppolo (March 16, 1902 – October 5, 1943) was an American early jazz clarinetist, best known for his playing with the New Orleans Rhythm Kings. He also played saxophone and guitar.
Life and career
Leon Roppolo (nicknamed "Rap" and ...
and
Santo Pecora
Santo Pecora (born Santo Joseph Pecoraro, March 21, 1902 – May 29, 1984) was an American jazz trombonist known for his longtime association with the New Orleans jazz scene.
He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Pecora changed h ...
in addition to pianist/songwriter
Al Siegel (whom Palmer married). The band was called "Bee Palmer's
New Orleans Rhythm Kings
The New Orleans Rhythm Kings (NORK) were one of the most influential jazz bands of the early to mid-1920s. The band included New Orleans and Chicago musicians who helped shape Chicago jazz and influenced many younger jazz musicians.
History
The ...
". With some personnel changes, the Rhythm Kings went on to even greater fame after parting ways with Palmer.
In 1921, an alleged affair with boxing champ
Jack Dempsey
William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey (June 24, 1895 – May 31, 1983), nicknamed Kid Blackie and The Manassa Mauler, was an American professional boxer who competed from 1914 to 1927, and reigned as the world heavyweight champion from 1919 to 1926. ...
created a scandal and a lawsuit.
Palmer is credited as co-composer of the pop song standard "
Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
"Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" is a song published in 1930. It was written by Sam H. Stept with lyrics by Sidney Clare. The original publication also credited singer Bee Palmer as co-composer.
Background
The lyrics are an admonishmen ...
".
She made a few recordings which were not issued at the time. One was a session with
Frankie Trumbauer
Orie Frank Trumbauer (May 30, 1901 – June 11, 1956) was an American jazz saxophonist of the 1920s and 1930s. His main instrument was the C-melody saxophone, a now-uncommon instrument between an alto and tenor saxophone in size and pitch. He a ...
that featured Palmer performing
vocalese
Vocalese is a style of jazz singing in which words are added to an instrumental soloist's improvisation.
Definition
Vocalese uses recognizable lyrics that are sung to pre-existing instrumental solos, as opposed to scat singing, which uses nonsen ...
on the
Bix Beiderbecke
Leon Bismark "Bix" Beiderbecke (March 10, 1903 – August 6, 1931) was an American jazz cornetist, pianist and composer.
Beiderbecke was one of the most influential jazz soloists of the 1920s, a cornet player noted for an inventive lyrical app ...
and Trumbauer solos on
Singin' the Blues
''Singin' the Blues'' is the first LP album by American bluesman B.B. King, released in 1957 by the Bihari brothers on their Crown budget label. It is a compilation album whose songs were issued between 1951 and 1956 on singles by RPM Records a ...
to lyrics by
Ted Koehler
Ted L. Koehler (July 14, 1894 – January 17, 1973) was an American lyricist. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972.
Life and career
Koehler was born in 1894 in Washington, D.C.
He started out as a photo-engraver, but w ...
.
Thanks to surviving test pressings/masters, the recordings were finally issued in the 1990s and 2000s.
References
External links
Bee Palmer 1894-1967at the Red Hot Jazz Archive
Bee Palmer at Jazzage 1920s site
1894 births
1967 deaths
American female dancers
Dancers from Illinois
American women jazz singers
American jazz singers
Singers from Chicago
20th-century American singers
Jazz musicians from Illinois
20th-century American women singers
20th-century American dancers
New Orleans Rhythm Kings members
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