Ethel Waters
Ethel Waters (October 31, 1896 – September 1, 1977) was an American blues, jazz and gospel vocalist and actress.
She frequently performed jazz, big band, and pop music, on the Broadway stage and in concerts, although she began her career in the 1920s singing blues.
Her best-known recordings include "Dinah," "Stormy Weather," "Taking a Chance on Love," "Heat Wave," "Supper Time," "Am I Blue?" and "Cabin in the Sky," as well as her version of the spiritual "His Eye Is on the Sparrow." Waters was the second African American, after Hattie McDaniel, to be nominated for an Academy Award. She is also the first African-American woman to be nominated for an Emmy Award, in 1962.
Early life
Ethel Waters was born in Chester, Pennsylvania, on October 31, 1896, as a result of the rape of her teenaged mother, Louise Anderson (believed to have been 13 years old at the time, although some sources indicate she may have been slightly older), by John Waters, a pianist and family acquaintance from a mixed-race middle-class background. He played no role in raising Ethel. Ethel Waters was raised in poverty and never lived in the same place for more than 15 months. She said of her difficult childhood, "I never was a child. I never was cuddled, or liked, or understood by my family."
Podcasts:
Ethel Waters
ALBUMS
- The Chronological Classics: Ethel Waters 1946-1947 released: 2002
- Takin a Chance on Love: The Complete Bluebird Sessions & More released: 1999
- The Chronological Classics: Ethel Waters 1921-1923 released: 1994
- The Chronological Classics: Ethel Waters 1923-1925 released: 1994
- The Chronological Classics: Ethel Waters 1935-1940 released: 1994
- An Introduction to Ethel Waters: Her Best Recordings 1921-1940 released: 1994
- The Chronological Classics: Ethel Waters 1931-1934 released: 1993
- The Chronological Classics: Ethel Waters 1929-1931 released: 1993
- The Chronological Classics: Ethel Waters 1926-1929 released: 1993
- The Chronological Classics: Ethel Waters 1925-1926 released: 1992
- The Incomparable Ethel Water released: 1990
- Shades of Blue released: 1949
- Diva (SagaJazz) released:
The Chronological Classics: Ethel Waters 1946-1947
Released 2002- Taking a Chance on Love
- Dinah
- Man Wanted
- You Took My Man
- Honey in a Hurry
- Cabin in the Sky
- Am I Blue
- I Shoulda Quit When I Was Ahead
- Careless Love
- Blues in My Heart
- Happinees Is a Thing Called Joe
- A Hundred Years From Today
- Throw the Dirt
- Summertime
- Suppertime
- Little Black Boy
- Paper Moon
- Can't Help Lovin' That Man
- St. Louis Blues
- Travelin'
- Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
- The Crucifixtion
Takin a Chance on Love: The Complete Bluebird Sessions & More
Released 1999- You're a Sweetheart
- How Can I Face This Wearied World Alone?
- I'll Get Along Somehow
- You're Mine
- Frankie and Johnnie
- They Say
- Jeepers Creepers
- Lonesome Walls
- If You Ever Change Your Mind
- What Goes Up Must Come Down
- Y' Had It Comin' To You
- Bread and Gravy
- Down in My Soul
- George on My Mind
- Stop Myself From Worryin' Over You
- Old Man Harlem
- Push-Out
- Baby, What Else Can I Do?
- I Just Got a Letter
- Taking a Chance on Love
- Honey in the Honeycomb
- Cabin in the Sky
- Love Turned the Light Out
- Am I Blue
- Taking a Chance on Love
- Cabin in the Sky
- Dinah
The Chronological Classics: Ethel Waters 1921-1923
Released 1994- The New York Glide
- At the New Jump Steady Ball
- Oh Daddy
- Down Home Blues
- One Man Nan
- There'll Be Some Changes Made
- Dying With the Blues
- Kiss Your Pretty Baby Nice
- 'Frisco Jazz Band Blues
- Royal Garden Blues
- Bugle Blues (Introducing Old Miss Blues)
- Jazzin' Babies Blues
- Kind Lovin' Blues
- Georgia Blues
- That Da Da Strain
- Tiger Rag
- Pacific Coast Blues
- At the New Jump Steady Ball
- Oh Joe, Play That Trombone
- Memphis Man
- Midnight Blues
- Brown Baby
The Chronological Classics: Ethel Waters 1923-1925
Released 1994- Long Lost Mama
- Lost Out Blues
- Ain't Gonna Marry (Ain't Goona Settle Down)
- If You Don't Think I'll Do Sweet Pop's (Just Try Me)
- Who'll Get It When I'm Gone?
- All the Time
- You Can't Do What My Last Man Did
- Ethel Sings 'em
- Sweet Man Blues
- Tell 'em 'Bout Me (When You Reach Tennessee)
- You'll Need Me When I'm Gone
- Craving Blues
- Black Spatch Blues
- I Want Somebody All My Own
- Pleasure Mad
- Black-Bittin' Mama
- No One Can Love Me (Like You Do)
- Brother, You've Got Me Wrong
- Sweet Georga Brown
- Go Back to Where You Stayed Last Night
- Sympathetic Dan
- Down Home Blues
The Chronological Classics: Ethel Waters 1935-1940
Released 1994- Hottentot Potentate
- Thief in the Night
- You're a Sweetheart
- How Can I Face This Wearied World Alone?
- I'll Get Along Somehow
- You're Mine
- Frankie and Johnnie
- They Say
- Jeepers Creepers
- Lonesome Walls
- If You Ever Changed My Mind
- What Goes Up Must Come Down
- Y' Had It Comin' to You
- Bread and Gravy
- Down in My Soul
- Georgia on My Mind
- Stop Myself From Worryin' Over You
- Old Man Harlem
- Push-Out
- Baby, What Else Can I Do?
- I Just Got a Letter
- Taking a Chance on Love
- Honey in the Honeycomb
- Cabin in the Sky
- Love Turned the Light Out
An Introduction to Ethel Waters: Her Best Recordings 1921-1940
Released 1994- There'll Be Some Changes Made
- Ethel Sings 'Em
- Sweet Georgia Brown
- Dinah
- Shake That Thing
- I'm Coming Virginia
- My Handy Man
- West End Blues
- Am I Blue
- Memories of You
- You Can't Stop Me From Loving You
- I Cant't Give You Anything but Love
- Porgy
- Stormy Weather
- Don't Blame Me
- Heat Wave
- Harlem on My Mind
- Come Up and See Me Sometime
- Miss Otis Regrets
- Y' Had It Comin' to You
- Bread and Gravy
- Cabin in the Sky
The Chronological Classics: Ethel Waters 1931-1934
Released 1993- River, Stay 'way From My Door
- Shine on, Harvest Moon
- I Can't Give You Anything but Love
- Porgy
- St. Louis Blues
- Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin' All the Time)
- Love Is the Thing
- Don't Blame Me
- Shadows on the Swanee
- Heat Wave
- Harlem on My Mind
- I Just Couldn't Take It Baby
- A Hundred Years From Today
- Come Up and See Me Sometime
- You've Seen Harlem at Its Best
- Miss Otis Regrets (She's Unable to Lunch Today)
- Dinah
- When It's Sleepy Time Down South
- Moonglow
- Give Me a Heart to Sing To
- I Ain't Gonna Sin No More
- Trade Mark
- You're Gonna to Leave the Old Home, Jim
The Chronological Classics: Ethel Waters 1929-1931
Released 1993- Second Handed Man
- True Blue Lou
- Do I Know What I'm Doing
- Shoo Shoo Boogie Boo
- Georgia Blue
- I Like the Way He Does It
- Waiting at the End of the Road
- Trav'Lin' All Alone
- Long Lean Lanky Mama
- Better Keep Your Eye on Your Man
- Porgy
- (What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue
- My Kind of Man
- You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me
- Your're Lucky to Me
- Memories of You
- I Got Rythm
- Three Little Words
- When Your Lover Has Gone
- Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
- You Can't Stop Me From Loving You
- Without That Gal
The Chronological Classics: Ethel Waters 1926-1929
Released 1993- He Brought Joy to My Soul
- Take What You Want
- I'm Coming Virginia
- We Don't Need Each Other Any More
- My Special Friend Is Back in Town
- Jersey Walk
- Weary Feet
- Smile!
- Home (Cradle of Happiness)
- Take Your Black Bottom Outside
- I Want My Sweet Daddy Now
- One Sweet Letter From You
- Someday, Sweetheart
- Some of These Days
- Lonesome Swallow
- Guess Who's in Town
- My Handy Man
- Do What You Did Last Night
- West End Blues
- Organ Grinder Blues
- Get Up Off Your Knees
- My Baby Sure Knows How to Love
- Birmingham Bertha
- Am I Blue?
The Chronological Classics: Ethel Waters 1925-1926
Released 1992- Loud Speakin' Papa
- You Can't Do What My Last Man Did
- Pickininny Blues
- Sweet Man
- Dinah
- No Man's Mama
- Tell 'em About Me
- Maybe Not at All
- Shake That Thing
- I've Found a New Baby
- Make Me a Pallet on the Floor
- Bring Your Greenbacks
- After All These Years
- Throw Dirt in Your Face
- I'm Saving It All for You
- Refrigeratin' Papa
- If You Can't Hold That Man You Love
- Satisfyin' Papa
- Sugar in the Gourd
- I Wonder What's Become of Joe
- You'll Want Me Back
- Heebie Jeebies
- Ev'rybody Mess Around
The Incomparable Ethel Water
Released 1990- Heat Wave
- I Just Couldn't Make It, Baby
- Harlem on My Mind
- Hottentot Potentate
- Stormy Weather
- Come Up and See Me Sometime
- Shake That Thing
- (What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue?
- Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
- Maybe Not at All
- Memories of You
- You Can't Stop Me From Loving You
- You're Lucky to Me
- Cabin in the Sky
- Thief in the Night
- Taking a Chance on Love
- Honey in the Honeycomb
Diva (SagaJazz)
- Sweet Man
- Dinah
- No Man's Mama
- I Found A New Baby
- Heebie Jeebies
- I'm Coming Virginia
- Some Of These Days
- Guess Who's In Town
- West End Blues
- Am I Blue
- Shoo Shoo Boogie Boo
- Black And Blue
- I Got Rythm
- Stormy Weather
- Love Is The Thing
- Heat Wave
- I Just Couldn't Take It Baby
- Moonglow
- Frankie and Johny
- Jeepers Creepers
- Georgia On My Mind
- Old Man Harlem
- Push out
- Taking A Chance On Love
Born: 1896-10-31
Died: 1977-09-01
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Down Home Blues
by: Ethel WatersI never felt
So lonesome before;
My friend has quit me;
He's gone for sure;
He broke my heart,
For I loved him true;
So now I'm worried,
Lonesome and blue.
I've got the blues on my mind,
And I just feel like crying all the time.
Woke up this morning, the day was dawning,
And I was feeling all sad and blue,
I had nobody to tell my troubles to;
I felt so worried,
I didn't know what to do.
But there's no use in grievin', because I'm leavin',
I'm broken-hearted and Dixie-bound;
I been mistreated, ain't got no time to lose.
My train is leaving,
And I got the down-home blues.
Woke up this morning, the day was dawning,
And I was feeling all sad and blue,
Lord, I had nobody to tell my troubles to;
I felt so worried,
I didn't know what to do.
But there's no use in grievin', because I'm leavin',
I'm broken-hearted and Dixie-bound;
Lord, I been mistreated, ain't got no time to lose.
My train is leaving,
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