HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Elisabeth Welch

Born in Englewood, New Jersey, on 27 February 1904, Elisabeth Welch was a diva who began her career in New York City and worked in the United States for a decade before moving to the United Kingdom to there remain to the end of her life seventy years later. Welch was a teenager when she began her professional career as a chorus girl on Broadway. Johns at Musician Guide traces her to 'Liza' as early as age fourteen, that premiering at Daly's 63rd Street Theatre on 27 November 1922 with music by Maceo Pinkard. Other chorus roles arrived per 'Runnin' Wild' in 1923, 'The Chocolate Dandies' in 1924 and the revue, 'Blackbirds of 1928', which ran from May into June.

Welch made her initial recordings to issue on 27 July of 1928 with Irving Mills' Hotsy Totsy Gang: 'Digga Digga Do' and 'Doin' The New Lowdown' (Brunswick 4014). Discogs has her backed by Ben Pollack (drums), Eddie Lang (guitar) and Jack Pettis (tenor sax). Elisabeth also married musician, Luke Smith, in 1928 until his death in 1936. Welch would remain single, no children, the rest of her life.

'Doin' the New Low Down' Elisabeth Welch w Irving Mills and His Hotsy Totsy Gang

Elisabeth's first known recording to issue

Recorded 27 July 1928 in NYC Matrix CE-27901-A Brunswick 4014

Suggested personnel:

Cornet: Jimmy McPartland Mellophone: Dudley Fosdick

Clarinet / tenor sax: Fud Livingston Sax: C melody / tenor: Jack Pettis

Piano / celeste: Vic Breidis Banjo / ukulele: Perry Botkin

Guitar: Eddie Lang Bass brass: Harry Goodman Drums: Ben Pollack

Music: Jimmy McHugh Lyrics: Dorothy Fields

'Diga Diga Do' Elisabeth Welch w Irving Mills and His Hotsy Totsy Gang

Recorded 27 July 1928 in NYC Matrix E-27902-A Brunswick 4014

Suggested personnel:

Cornet: Jimmy McPartland Mellophone: Dudley Fosdick

Clarinet / tenor sax: Fud Livingston Sax: C melody / tenor: Jack Pettis

Piano / celeste: Vic Breidis Banjo / ukulele: Perry Botkin

Guitar: Eddie Lang Bass brass: Harry Goodman Drums: Ben Pollack

Music: Jimmy McHugh Lyrics: Dorothy Fields

Included at 2:47:

'Doin' the New Low Down' Instrumental by Irving Mills and His Hotsy Totsy Gang

Recorded 27 July 1928 in NYC Matrix E-27901-B Brunswick A-7850

Welch followed 'Blackbirds' to Paris where it premiered at the Moulin Rouge on 7 June 1929. Having a run of three months, Welch then worked cabarets until returning to the States to sing in 'The New Yorkers' from December 1930 into May 1931. Come a supporting role to sing Cole Porter's 'Solomon' in 'Nymph Errant' back in Paris in 1933, that starring Gertrude Lawrence. Her rendition of 'Solomon' on Brunswick B 8031 was issued that year with 'Nymph Errant' by Lawrence flip side.

'Solomon' Elisabeth Welch

Brunswick B-8031 issued Nov 1933 Composition: Cole Porter

Elisabeth premiered in London for the first time in later 1933 in Porter's 'Dark Doings', after which she moved to the island. Tom Lord has her backed by Maceo Jefferson and His Boys in Paris in 1933 on 'Stormy Weather' and 'Crying for Love' (Salabert 3360).

From 1934 to 1936 Elisabeth had her own radio program, 'Soft Lights and Sweet Music', with the BBC. In 1936 she recorded duets with Paul Robeson issued on HMV B.8497: 'Ol' Man River' and 'Still Suits Me'. Those were titles from the film, 'Show Boat', in which Robeson (not Welch) had starred (again in 1951). Welch also appeared with Robeson in the British films 'Song of Freedom' (1937) and 'Big Fella' (1938). Welch also recorded a few titles including 'When Lights Are Low' with Benny Carter in 1936. Her first television appearance was also in 1936, that for BBC.

'Lazy Lady' Elisabeth Welch Film

From 'Death at Broadcasting House' aka 'Death at a Broadcast' 1934

See also 'Paul Robeson & Elisabeth Welch: Songs From Their Films'

Conifer Records Ltd CMSCD-011 / 1993

Composition: Ord Hamilton

'The Girl I Knew' Elisabeth Welch

18 April 1935 HMV 2EA 1484-2

Drury Lane Theatre Orchestra led by Charles Prentice

Composition: Ivor Novello

'Yesterday's Thrill' Elisabeth Welch Film

From 'Soft Lights and Sweet Music' directed by Herbert Smith

Released in the UK on 12 Feb 1936

Bert Ambrose and His Orchestra

Music: Len Challis Lyrics: Sybil Wise

'River of Dreams' Elisabeth Welch as Ruth Zinga Film

From 'Song of Freedom' directed by Herbert Smith

Released in the UK on 17 Aug 1936

Composition: Eric Ansell / Jack Beaver

'One Kiss' Elisabeth Welch as Amanda 'Manda' Film

From 'Big Fella' directed by J. Elder Wills

Released in the UK on 8 April 1937

Music: Eric Ansell Lyrics: James Dyrenforth

'Harlem in My Heart' Elisabeth Welch as Amanda 'Manda' Film

From 'Big Fella' directed by J. Elder Wills

Released in the UK on 8 April 1937

Music: Eric Ansell Lyrics: James Dyrenforth

Welch remained in London during the Blitz and entertained troops. After the war she worked largely in theatre, radio, film and television. She issued a few titles in the forties such as 'Dark Music' on one side of HMV B.9357 in 1944. Discogs has her on LP for the first time in 1963 per the recording of the musical, 'Cindy-Ella' (stage version of 'Cinderella'). The fairy tale of Cinderella has been traced back to 'Rhodopis' sometime between 7 BC and 23 AD as told by Strabo in his 'Geographica'. In that version it is an eagle which captures the sandal of a Greek girl and carries it to the lap of the King of Egypt in Memphis who then searches out its owner and marries her. The story more famously arrived via the Brothers Grimm in their 'Fairy Tales' of 1812 followed by the version by Charles Perrault in 1901. Another twist on the story arrived per 'When the Clock Strikes' in Tanith Lee's 'Weird Tales' of 1980.

'Dark Music' Elisabeth Welch

Recorded Dec 1943 in London Matrix OEA 9014 I HMV B.9357

Tom Lewis leading the Phoenix Theatre Orchestra

Music: Ivor Novello Lyrics: Christopher Hassall For the musical 'Arc de Triomphe'

'Drums in My Heart' Elisabeth Welch as Thora Film

From 'Fiddlers Three' directed by Harry Watt

Released in the UK in Oct 1944

Spike Hughes Orchestra

Music: Mischa Spoliansky Lyrics: Diana Morgan

'The Hullalooba' Elisabeth Welch as Beulah Film

From 'Dead of Night' released in the UK on 9 Sep 1945

Composition: Anna Marly

'You Gotta Look Disdainful' Elisabeth Welch

From the album 'Cindy-Ella or I Gotta Shoe' released in the UK 1963

'Look at Me with a Loving Eye' Elisabeth Welch Duet w George Browne

From the album 'Cindy-Ella or I Gotta Shoe' released in the UK 1963

'Hush-a-Bye' Elisabeth Welch

From the album 'Cindy-Ella or I Gotta Shoe' released in the UK 1963

Welch didn't release an album in her own name until 1976 for World Records called 'Elisabeth Welch'. About nine more albums followed to as late as 'This Thing Called Love' and 'Sings Jerome Kern Songbook' in 1989. Performances at Carnegie Hall on 18-19 October of 1989 weren't released until 1995 on Jay CD 1309. Welch's last performance was a rendition of 'Stormy Weather' for the television documentary, 'Black Divas', in 1996 at age 93.