Roberta Gambarini and Roy Hargrove Live in Porgy en Bess

Roberta Gambarini and Roy Hargrove Live in Porgy en Bess (English) Roberta Gambarini en Roy Hargrove Samen in Porgy en Bess (Nederlands)

Porgy en Bess Jazz Club - Terneuzen in the southwest part of The Netherlands: 28th and 29th of March 2009: The Best Place To Be.

Mini Jazz Festival "Summertime"
ROBERTA GAMBARINI and ROY HARGROVE Live in PORGY en BESS
Hans Koert

In the last weekend of March 2009, a Mini Jazz Festival, titled Summertime, to label this opportunity, was organized at the cozy Huiskamer Van De jazz, the Living Room of Jazz in the Noordstraat in Terneuzen. On Sunday the Italian-American vocalist Roberta Gambarini was scheduled with her quartet and, thanks to a lucky coincidence, also Roy Hargrove could be present with his quintet during the weekend. So, enough elements for a hot and swinging weekend in Porgy en Bess. Roberta Gambarini Quartet in Porgy en Bess (March 2009) ( photo courtesy Hans Koert)

On Saturday Roy Hargrove brought his new Quintet to Terneuzen, featuring Justin Robinson on alto saxophone and Montez Coleman on drums as some old hands and Joel Holmes at the piano and Ameen Saleem on bass; both newcomers in the band. Although I couldn't be at this concert I learned that Roy and his men had a party on stage, together with some musicians in the house from the Gambarini Quartet, Willy Jones III and Cyrus Chestnut. Roberta Gambarini (Porgy en Bess - March 2009) (photo courtesy Hans Koert)

On Sunday afternoon Roberta Gambarini was scheduled for a concert with her quartet. Roberta Gambarini, the Italian born vocalist, has been performing in Porgy en Bess several times before. I remember her on a concert November 2003 with the late Jimmy Woode, the veteran bass player and in October 2007 with piano player Kirk Lightsey.
This time she brought some great musicians, like Cyrus Chestnut on piano, Neil Swainson on the bass and Willie Jones III at the drums.
Cyrus Chestnut in Porgy en Bess (March 2009) (photo courtesy: Hans Koert)

Cyrus Chestnut started as a piano player in his hometown Baltimore and his first concert ( during a service in a church) was when he was six years old; when he was nine years old he got inspired by the Thelonious Monk album "Monk's Greatest Hits", with tunes like Epistrophy, Ruby My Dear and Crepuscule With Nellie. My first introduction to Cyrus was in the film Kansas City where he played some great tunes as a Count Basie-inspired pianist in a great piano boogie duet on two pianos with Geri Allen. Ten years ago, in April 1999, he performed here in the Porgy en Bess jazz club with the great saxophone player Benny Golson. Willie Jones III (Porgy en Bess - March 2009) (photo courtesy Hans Koert)

Willie Jones III played with Roy Hargrove for a very long time and was his regular drummer man for years. In the RH Factor he impressed with Jason Thomas in synchronic drumming. In the 1990s he played in the bands of Arturo Sandoval and Horace Silver. He played with Roy Hargrove since the 1990s and a few years ago he was the drummer man in an all-star group around Herbie Hancock. The Roman number three ( III ) behind his name wants to distinguish him from Chicagoan piano player Willie Jones and drummer Willie Jones jr., who played with Monk himself; all three are no relatives at all. I heard Willie Jones III for the very first time with Roy Hargrove's Quintet, January 1999 ( featuring Larry Willis). On stage he always seems to be a bit shy; keeping himself in the background. Half way the second set during this Roberta Gambarini concert in Porgy en Bess he had part of the audience laughing, unintended, as he wanted to leave the stage before the concert had finished; it embarrassed him! Neil Swainson in Porgy en Bess ( March 2009) (photo courtesy Hans Koert)

Neil Swainson was a new face for me, although I knew that he performed with George Shearing for years ( late 1980s up to the late 1990s). I learned during the concert that he is a very skilled bass player doing a good job in accompanying Roberta Gambarini.

Roberta Gambarini (Porgy en Bess March 2009) ( photo courtesy Hans Koert)

In fact this concert tour along European and Japanese venues, was scheduled as a promotion tour for her new album So In Love, which will be released in May 2009. In the first set she sung several tracks from this new album, like the Johnny Griffin' composition The JAMF's Are Coming, That Old Back Magic, Get Out of Town and Estate, a tune made famous by Joao Gilberto. In this first set the four musicians showed that they are a group of skilled musicians in playing ballads from the American song book repertoire; in tunes like No More Blues, You Don't Know What Love Is and Lover Come Back To Me and a great performance by Roberta singing from the Gershwin Porgy and Bess Opera Musical Suite Bess You Is My Woman Now. Roberta Gambarini (Porgy en Bess March 2009) (photo courtesy Hans Koert)
The second set started with I Fall In Love Too Easily and the Dave Brubeck tune ( no, not Take Five, Cyrus !!) In Your Own Sweet Way. The Billy Strayhorn composition Lush Life, in a great interpretation by Roberta and her men. Roy Hargrove (Porgy en Bess - March 2009) (photo courtesy Hans Koert)
With the tune On The Sunny Side of the Street the concert took an unexpected turn as Roy Hargrove joined the quartet. Montez Coleman stood in for Willie Jones and Joel Holmes took Cyrus's chair behind the keys for one tune.

Roy Hargrove in Porgy en Bess (March 2009) (photo courtesy Hans Koert)
A great jam session on stage with tunes like the Thelonious Monk standard Rhythm-a-Ning, the tune Never Let Me Go and a great performance of If You Could See Me Now from Roberta's new album, on which James Moody and Roy Hargrove are to be heard as guest musicians.
The well known tune, Body and Soul , became the final number of the show, in which all members of the quartet ( including Roy) could show what they are made for.
Roberta and Roy in a hilarious vocal duet (Porgy en Bess - March 2009) (photo courtesy Hans Koert)
This concert, specially the second part, learned what a great jazz musician Roy Hargrove is, a great soloist on trumpet and maybe even greater on his flugelhorn in ballads and he sings too ( ....... watch out watch out !), but above all things he can get the mood for the show - he can transform each performance to a little party for both the musician on stage as the people in the audience. Thanks Roy for that !! That’s where Jazz is made for!
Roy Hargrove (Porgy en Bess - March 2009) (photo courtesy March 2009)
This Mini Jazz Festival "Summertime" (what's in a name - This weekend we went over to summer time in this part of the world) was the last activity for this winter concert season: Great concerts were organized in Porgy en Bess withRik Mol, Robin Verheyen, Jeff Hamilton and Tamir Hendelman; the Rein De Graaff Trio with Pete Christlieb en Ferdinand Povel, The Pierre Courbois Vijfkwarts Sextet, Benjamin Herman and Ernst Glerum and a great New Years concert with Rony Verbiest with the Cauter family.
Hans Koert and Cyrus Chestnut ( Porgy en Bess - March 2009) (photo courtesy Peter Koert)
Thanks to all volunteers of Porgy en Bess Jazz Club that made these great concerts possible!

Hans Koert - keepswinging@live.nl

You want a news letter? - keepswinging@live.nl


Retrospect
PHOTO ALBUM of the concert by ROBERTA GAMBARINI and ROY HARGROVE (March 2009) PHOTO ALBUM of the 2007 ROBERTA GAMBARINI concert PHOTO ALBUM of the ROY HARGROVE Concerts ALL KEEP SWINGING PHOTO ALBUMS Oscar Aleman Choro Music Flexible Records Hit of the Week-Durium Keep Swinging News letter Keep Swinging Contributions

Williams Sisters: Het Leven van Dorothy

The Williams Sisters - The Vaudeville and Broadway Years (English) The Jazz Age (English) Hannah's Career (English) The Life of Dorothy (English) The Williams Sisters - De Periode van de Vaudeville en Broadway optredens (Nederlands) De Jazzjaren (Nederlands) Hannah's Carriere (Nederlands) Het leven van Dorothy (Nederlands)

THE WILLIAMS SISTERS Discografie - Hans Koert

Het Leven van Dorothy
THE WILLIAMS SISTERS
Bill Schoerner
(vertaling: Hans Koert)

The Williams Sisters, Hannah Williams en Dorothy Williams, was één van die talrijke, nu bijna vergeten zanggroepjes uit de jaren twintig. They were known as one of the hippest "girl" acts of the 1920s, (= Ze werden bekend als één van de modernste zanggroepjes uit de jaren twintig) ..... They were making tempo changes and varying their song sections, the Boswell Sisters later turned into an art form but which were still employed with organic logic in smart Williams novelties like Sam The Accordion Man ( = Ze gebruikten tempowisselingen en varieerden in de afzonderlijke delen binnen een lied, iets waar de Boswell Sisters later een patent op zouden krijgen, dat ze ontwikkelden met gemakkelijk in het oor liggende goed klinkende nummers, zoals Sam The Accordion Man) ( uit: That Devilin' Tune - Allen Lowe blz. 90). Bill Schoerner onderzocht het zangduo The Williams Sisters. Het lijkt erop dat eind 1930 het zangduo uit elkaar viel, toen Hannah ging optreden in de Broadway musical "Sweet and Low", geproduceerd door Billy Rose en zijn vrouw Fanny Brice, George Jessel en Frank Barton. Op 26 januari 1931 trouwt Hannah, in het geniep, met Roger Wolfe Kahn op het landgoed van Kahn in Cold Springs, Long Island. De vader van Roger, de bankier Otto H. Kahn, vond het ongepast dat zijn zoon zou trouwen met een zangeresje en dus liet hij Billy Rose haar contract voor "Sweet and Low" ontbinden. Ze werd vervangen door haar zus Dorothy.
De muzikale carriere van Dorothy stopte na dit project met optreden en ze belandde achter het aanrecht en werd huisvrouw. Dankzij de bijdragen in deze Keep Swinging blog van de afgelopen dagen, kregen we enthusiaste berichtjes en unieke privéfoto's van de kleinkinderen van oma "Dot" ( Dorothy ) (één woont in Frankrijk, de ander in Californië), die het mogelijk maakten ook wat herinneringen aan oma Dorothy te vermelden, zodat het verhaal over The Wiliams Sisters niet eindigt met het turbulente levensverhaal van Hannah; een geliefd onderwerp avant la lettre voor de Story en de Privé uit die tijd.
Terwijl Hannah Williams, actrice uit New York en Roger Wolfe Kahn, zoon van Otto Kahn, filantroop en beschermheer voor cultuur, van hun wittebroodsweken genieten, neemt Hannah's zus Dorothy haar rol over in de Broadway show die Hannah verliet vanwege haar huwelijk. ( v.l.n.r.: Fannie Brice, ster uit de show en Dorothy). (1931)

Doug Kassel, de kleinzoon van Dorothy Williams en Jimmy McPartland, stuurde aanvullende informatie over - en herinneringen aan zijn oma: When we were growing up, Grandma Dorothy had already retired from show business, although she would occasionally break into song or a dance step.( = Toen we opgroeiden, was oma Dorothy al niet meer actief in de showbusiniss alhoewel ze nog wel af en toe spontaan in een lied kon uitbarsten of een paar danspasjes maakte.) We didn't see Hannah that much, but were aware that she was the more "successful" of the two. (= We zagen tante Hannah maar zelden en we wisten dat ze meer succes had dan oma Dorothy.) Aunt Hannah came to visit us in Chicago and we made some visits to NY. ( = Tante Hannah kwam wel eens naar Chicago en wij zochten haar wel eens op in New York).

Watch Your Credit .. International Newsreel Photo slug .. (Dorothy Williams) "Bezig met de repetities voor haar nieuwe rol (onderschrift bij onderstaande foto)(1931) (foto Doug Kassel)

When our mother split from our father, we went to stay with Jimmy and Marian (McPartland) in Merrick, Long Island. ( = Toen onze vader en moeder scheidden bleven we bij onze vader, Jimmy McPartland en zijn nieuwe vrouw Marian (McPartland) wonen.). At that time, about 1957, Dorothy was living in Levittown, NY and briefly married to a man named Marino Bragino. (= Rond die tijd, 1957, was Dorothy korte tijd getrouwd met een andere man, Marino Bragino en woonde in Levittown NY). We would often spend the weekends with them. (= We waren in de weekends vaak bij hen.) Mom was close to her half-brother, (Sergio) Mike Gomez and his family. (= Ma kon het goed vinden met haar halfbroer (Sergio) Mike Gomez en zijn gezin.). They lived with us after he got out of the Air Force and they put us up after our return from Mexico in the mid-60's. ( = Ze woonden bij ons, nadat hij de Luchtmacht had verlaten en we trokken bij hen in, midden jaren zestig, nadat we uit Mexico teruggekomen waren). The Gomezes moved to Northridge, in the San Fernando Valley in the late 60's and Dorothy lived with them (as far as I know), till the end. (= De Gomez-familie verhuisde, eind jaren zestig, naar Northridge, in de San Fernando vallei en Dorothy trok bij hen in tot op het eind ). I believe at that time she was doing factory work, making aluminum screen doors or something. (= Ik geloof dat ze toen in een fabriek werkte, waar ze aluminium hordeuren maakten).
New York ... Dorothy ("Dot") Williams repeteert haar nummers voor de Broadway Show waarin ze de rol van haar zus Hannah Williams, overnam, die vrij gekomen was, omdat ze onlangs trouwde met Roger Wolfe Kahn, zoon van Otto Kahn, de vermogende bankier en beschermer van de kunsten. Kahn junior, die wat naam maakte als jazzorkestleider en piloot, ontmoette zijn bruid meer dan een jaar geleden. Ze trouwden in het geheim afgelopen maand, en dit grote nieuws lekte pas eergisteren uit. ( BS-5-10-31) (foto Doug Kassel)

Hannah - haar levensverhaal vol mislukte huwelijken, werd besproken in het stuk Hannah's Carriere - overleed op 11 januari 1973 en Dorothy, bijna drie jaar later, op 2 september 1976.

Jimmy McPartland, Dorothy (jr) McPartlanden Dorothy Williams.(ca. 1950) ( foto Doug Kassel)

The Williams Sisters begonnen hun carriere als kindersterretjes in obscure toneelzaaltjes; later op de grote podia van Broadway. Ze namen ook deel aan die opwindende jaren twintig, The Roaring Twenties, waarin de hot Jazzmuziek zich ontwikkelde en ontmoetten en traden op met jazzlegenden, acteurs en producers van naam. De top van hun populariteit lag rond hun twintigste jaar en, omdat Hannah met vermogende mannen trouwde, die niets in een carriere in de showbizz zagen, zullen we nooit weten wat er van hen geworden hadden kunnen zijn, als ze kansen gekregen hadden en zich verder hadden kunnen ontwikkelen. Een verhaal met een haast sprookjesachtig begin, maar zonder happy end.

Bill Schoerner (vertaling: Hans Koert) - keepswinging@live.nl

Bill Schoerner is een Amerikaan uit de staat Arizona. Hij was ingenieur voordat hij met pensioen ging. Hij heeft de afgelopen veertig jaar een verzameling amusements- en dansplaten aangelegd en is altijd nieuwsgierig geweest naar het verhaal achter het label, de muzikanten en hun instrumenten en de componisten en tekstschrijvers. Zijn belangstelling loopt van Gershwin tot Jobim, maar is ook een operafan. Hij is in het bijzonder geïnteresseerd in de populaire Amerikaanse muziek en jazz uit de eerste helft van de Twintigste Eeuw, de tijd van de ragtime, de vaudeville, musicals en de hits uit die tijd.


Retrospect
The Williams Sisters - The Vaudeville and Broadway Years (English) The Jazz Age (English) Hannah's Career (English) The Life of Dorothy (English) The Williams Sisters - De Periode van de Vaudeville en Broadway optredens (Nederlands) De Jazzjaren (Nederlands) Hannah's Carriere (Nederlands) Het leven van Dorothy (Nederlands) Oscar Aleman Choro Music Flexible Records Hit of the Week-Durium Keep Swinging News letter Keep Swinging Contributions

The Williams Sisters - The Life of Dorothy

The Williams Sisters - The Vaudeville and Broadway Years (English) The Jazz Age (English) Hannah's Career (English) The Life of Dorothy (English) The Williams Sisters - De Periode van de Vaudeville en Broadway optredens (Nederlands) De Jazzjaren (Nederlands) Hannah's Carriere (Nederlands) Het leven van Dorothy (Nederlands)

THE WILLIAMS SISTERS Discography - Hans Koert

The Life of Dorothy
THE WILLIAMS SISTERS
Bill Schoerner

The Williams Sisters, Hannah Williams and Dorothy Williams, was one of those numerous vocal groups during the 1920s. They were known as one of the hippest "girl" acts of the 1920s, ..... They were making tempo changes and varying their song sections, the Boswell Sisters later turned into an art form but which were still employed with organic logic in smart Williams novelties like Sam The Accordion Man ( from: That Devilin' Tune - Allen Lowe p. 90). Bill Schoerner made an in-depth investigation about this Pennsylvanian vocal duo. By late 1930, it seems that the sister act broke up when Hannah was hired for "Sweet and Low" a Broadway musical produced by Billy Rose and featuring his wife, Fanny Brice, George Jessel and Frank Barton. On January 26, 1931, Hannah married Roger Wolfe Kahn at the Kahn estate at Cold Springs, Long Island. Roger's father, the banker Otto H. Kahn, would not allow his son to be married to a show girl so Billy Rose terminated her contract with "Sweet and Low" at the request of her new father-in-law. Hannah's sister, Dorothy, replaced her in "Sweet and Low."
It seems that Dorothy's career in music was soon over and she became a house wife. Thanks to these Keep Swinging contributions we received some enthusiastic messages from her grand children which made it possible to fill in and finish the story of the life of Dorothy. While Hannah Williams, New York actress and Roger Wolfe Kahn, son of Otto Kahn, financier and patron of the arts, are honeymooning, Hannah's sister, Dorothy, is taking her part in the Broadway show which Hannah left to become a bride. ( f.l.t.r.: Fannie Brice, start of the show and Dorothy). (1931)

Doug Kassel, the grandson of Dorothy Williams and Jimmy McPartland, has generously provided me with additional information about Dorothy. When we were growing up, Grandma Dorothy had already retired from show business, although she would occasionally break into song or a dance step. We didn't see Hannah that much, but were aware that she was the more "successful" of the two. She came to visit us in Chicago and we made some visits to New York.

Watch Your Credit .. International Newsreel Photo slug .. (Dorothy Williams) "Putting Over Her Song --- in Sister's Role. (see next photo for original)(1931) (photo courtesy Doug Kassel)

When our mother split from our father, we went to stay with Jimmy and Marian (McPartland) in Merrick, Long Island. At that time, about 1957, Dorothy was living in Levittown, NY and briefly married to a man named Marino Bragino. We would often spend the weekends with them. Mom was close to her half-brother, (Sergio) Mike Gomez and his family. They lived with us after he got out of the Air Force and they put us up after our return from Mexico in the mid-60's. The Gomezes moved to Northridge, in the San Fernando Valley in the late 60's and Dorothy lived with them (as far as I know), till the end. I believe at that time she was doing factory work, making aluminum screen doors or something.
New York ... Dorothy ("Dot") Williams rehearses her songs in the Broadway Revue where she has taken over the role left vacant by her sister, Hannah Williams, recent bride of Roger Wolfe Kahn, son of Otto Kahn, millionaire banker and patron of the arts. Young Kahn who has achieved some fame as a jazz band leader and pilot, met his bride more than a year ago. They were married quietly last month but the news did not leak out along Broadway until two days ago ( BS-5-10-31) (photo courtesy Doug Kassel)

Hannah, whose life was discussed in Hannah's Career, passed away on January 11, 1973 and Dorothy almost three years later in September 2, 1976.

Jimmy McPartland, Dorothy (jr) McPartland and Dorothy Williams.(ca. 1950) ( photo courtesy Doug Kassel)

The Williams Sisters entered the scene as child performers on the vaudeville stage, then progressed to the Broadway Stage. They also participated in the early excitement of the Jazz Age in the 1920's and met and performed with some of the biggest jazz legends and actors of the stage and music industry. Sadly, their careers peaked in their early twenties. Even though Hannah married wealthy men, they did not encourage her career in show business, so we may never know what she could have achieved. It's a story with an exciting beginning but an unhappy ending.



Bill Schoerner - keepswinging@live.nl



Bill Schoerner is an American living in Arizona. He was a research engineer but now retired. He has been a collector of vintage records for more than 40 years and has always been interested in the names on the record label, the musicians, the song writers and the instruments. His interests range from Gershwin to Jobim, but he is also a fan of opera. He is particularly interested in the history of American popular music and jazz from the first half of the twentieth century, musical casts, songs, composers and popular recordings.



Retrospect
The Williams Sisters - The Vaudeville and Broadway Years (English) The Jazz Age (English) Hannah's Career (English) The Life of Dorothy (English) The Williams Sisters - De Periode van de Vaudeville en Broadway optredens (Nederlands) De Jazzjaren (Nederlands) Hannah's Carriere (Nederlands) THE WILLIAMS SISTERS Discography Oscar Aleman Choro Music Flexible Records Hit of the Week-Durium Keep Swinging News letter Keep Swinging Contributions

The Williams Sisters - Hannah's Carriere

The Williams Sisters - The Vaudeville and Broadway Years (English) The Jazz Age (English) Hannah's Career (English) The Life of Dorothy (English) The Williams Sisters - De Periode van de Vaudeville en Broadway optredens (Nederlands) De Jazzjaren (Nederlands) Hannah's Carriere (Nederlands) Het leven van Dorothy (Nederlands)

THE WILLIAMS SISTERS Discografie - Hans Koert

Hannah's Carriere
THE WILLIAMS SISTERS
Bill Schoerner
Vertaling: Hans Koert)

The Williams Sisters, Hannah Williams en Dorothy Williams, was één van die talrijke, nu bijna vergeten zanggroepjes uit de jaren twintig. Bill Schoerner onderzocht het zangduo The Williams Sisters. Het lijkt erop dat eind 1930 het zangduo uit elkaar viel, toen Hannah ging optreden in de Broadway musical "Sweet and Low", geproduceerd door Billy Rose en zijn vrouw Fanny Brice, George Jessel en Frank Barton. Hannah zong het nummer "Cheerful Little Earful" dat haar de rest van haar leven zou blijven achtervolgen. In de derde bijdrage vertelt Bill over het vervolg van de carriere van Hannah; later volgt nog een stukje over hoe het Dorothy verder verging.
Op 26 januari 1931 trouwt Hannah met Roger Wolfe Kahn op het landgoed van Kahn in Cold Springs, Long Island. De vader van Roger, de bankier Otto H. Kahn, vond het ongepast dat zijn zoon zou trouwen met een zangeresje en dus liet hij Billy Rose haar contract voor "Sweet and Low" ontbinden. Ze werd vervangen door haar zus Dorothy.

Het huwelijk duurde maar kort en was niet erg gelukkig. Hannah wilde weer gaan optreden, terwijl haar echtgenoot haar liever thuis zag. Hannah verliet Roger in mei 1932 en verhuisde naar Reno Nevada om te scheiden. De scheiding werd uitgesproken op 4 april 1933. In diezelfde periode werd Hannah in Rino door een fotograaf betrapt met zanger Russ Columbo, en al snel ging het verhaal rond in het roddelcircuit, dat ze een relatie hadden. Jaren later vertelde Jimmy McPartland, dat Russ Columbo wel met haar wilde trouwen, maar Hannah had de boot afgehouden; ze wilde niet opnieuw een huwelijk. In de biografie van Russ Columbo, "You Call It Madness," beschrijft de auteur Lenny Kaye de affaire in een speciaal hieraan gewijd hoofdstuk.

Russ Columbo zag wel iets in Hannah

Op 8 juli 1933 trad Hannah op in een Vitaphone 9-minuten lange film, genaamd, "The Audition" (= de auditie) waarin ze op het nummer "Get Happy." zingt en danst. Dit is het enige filmpje dat er van haar bewaard gebleven is. Hannah komt na 2 minuut 45 seconden in beeld.

Hannah trouwt Jack Dempsey

Hannah Williams en zwaargewichtbokser, Jack Dempsey in 1933

Op 18 juli 1933 trouwt Hannah met de ooit zwaargewicht bokser Jack Dempsey in Elko Nevada. Hannah laat aan de pers weten dat ze genoeg heeft van het toneel en belooft voortaan een goede huisvrouw voor Jack zal zijn. Hannah kreeg twee dochters, Joan in 1934 en Barbara in 1936. Eerst leek het huwelijk alleen maar rozengeur en maneschijn. Jack, die niet meer actief bokste, was in zaken gegaan en bezat een restaurant in New York en een hotel in Los Angeles. Na de geboorte van hn tweede dochter kreeg Hannah weer de kriebels en wilde weer optreden; haar echtgenoot reageerde niet erg enthousiast.

In 1937 werd Hannah geselecteerd voor de Broadway musical "Hooray for What!" gecomponeerd door Harold Arlen en Skip Harburg. Tijdens de repetites liep het allemaal niet lekker tussen de spelers en de leiding. Een aantal spelers en één van de danschoreografen werden ergens anders ingezet en ook Hannah was niet gelukkig met de liedjes en haar rol en dreigde met op te stappen. Harold Arlen schreef voor Hannah het liedje "Buds won't Bud" maar zowel Hannah als het liedje werden al, om onduidelijke redenen, voor de premiere op Broadway geschrapt. Het kan best geweest zijn dat de aanwezigheid van Jack Dempsey op de set voor extra spanningen zorgde. Later deden er verhalen de rondte dat Hannah de show had verlaten voor haar gezin.

In november 1938 was Hannah te gast in de Benny Goodman radio show "Camel Caravan." voor CBS Radio Network. Ze zong het nummer "Stay on the Right Side, Sister." met het Benny Goodman Quartet, waarin Benny de klarinet, Lionel Hampton op vibrafoon, Teddy Wilson op piano en Harry James op ..... tuba te horen zijn. In 1940 wordt Hannah weer genoemd voor een rol in een musical; er er werd gezegd dat ze een rol van Billy Rose aangeboden gekregen had in "Aquacade", evenals optredens in clubs in New York en Boston. Ze was zo gefixeerd op het feit dat ze persé onder haar eigen naam wilde optreden, dat ze Dempsey's naam nooit gebruikte. Op 20 mei 1940 werd de scheiding tussen haar en Dempsey uitgesproken. Hoewel Jack Dempsey nog een verzoeningspoging ondernam stond voor Hannah vast dat ze terug wilde naar het podium. In 1941 waren ze nog even bijelkaar en het leek erop alsof ze tot een compromis waren gekomen. Ze kochten zelfs nog een nieuw huis in Scarsdale, ver weg van Manhattan, in de hoop de stad te kunnen vergeten, maar het kon het huwelijk niet meer redden. In december 1942 moest de rechter een uitspraak doen. De twee beschuldigden elkaar van allerlei schandelijke praktijken. Jack beschuldigde Hannah van ontrouw en zij op haar beurt, betichtte haar man van mishandeling. Het is hier niet mijn taak om hun onenigheden tot op de letter te gaan bespreken ... als je het wilt weten ga dan op zoek naar het verslag van de rechtbank. Helaas voor Hannah, werd Jack in het gelijk gesteld. Tot overmaat van ramp werden haar twee dochters ook nog eens aan Jack toegewezen en, in ogenschouw genomen dat Jack Dempsey een BA-er was, een Bekende Amerikaan, de publieke opinie liet haar ook nog eens genadeloos vallen.
Het lukte Hannah niet om weer succesvol een plekje te veroveren op het podium. Ze kreeg een paar aanbiedingen om te zingen in een paar nachtclubs. In 1946 trok ze weer, voor de kinderen, bij Jack in en hoewel de kranten suggereerden dat er weer een verzoening had plaats gevonden, werd dat door Jack ten stelligste ontkent.
In 1950 trouwt Hannah met acteur Thomas Monaghan, maar scheidt een jaar later. In maart 1953 belandt Hannah in het ziekenhuis vanwege brandwonden opgedaan tijdens een hotelbrand in Los Angeles. Haar conditie was niet verontrustend.
Haar dochters Joan en Barbara trouwden beide in 1954, maar daar was Hannah schijnbaar niet bij aanwezig. Een jaar later, augustus 1955 belandde ze weer in het ziekenhuis, maar het is niet bekend waarom.
In oktober 1956 ontmoette ze haar ex, Jack Dempsey, bij de film "The Jack Dempsey Story" en ze vond het goed dat haar naam in de film genoemd werd en dat haar rol gespeeld zou worden door een knap meisje met een mooie stem: "a very pretty girl with a beautiful singing voice will play Hannah."

Naar aanleiding van de bijdragen, die eerder deze week verschenen, ontving ik aanvullende informatie, me toegezonden door David McCain die nog wat aanvullingen had op het begin van het verhaal over de Williams Sisters. David sprak met Marian McPartland over de telefoon, die ooit getrouwd geweest was met Jimmy McPartland. Marian bracht hem weer ik contact met Sergio Gomez, de zoon uit het derde huwelijk van Dorothy en Sergio. Uit die ontmoeting kreeg ik de informatie dat Hannah was overlden op 11 january 1973 en Dorothy op 2 september 1976. David sprak ook Hannah's dochter, Joan Dempsey McNeal (De dochter uit het huwelijk van Hannah met Jack) begin 1994. David gaf Sergio het telefoonnummer van Joan, aangezien ze al jaren geen contact met met elkaar hadden. Helaas kwam het telefoontje te laat, aangezien Joan overleden was op 13 februari 1994. De andere dochter van Hannah, Barbara Judith Dempsey Leonard, overleed op 4 maart 1993. David heeft sinds die tijd geen contact meer met Sergio Gomez.

The Williams Sisters begonnen hun carriere als kindersterretjes in obscure toneelzaaltjes; later op de grote podia van Broadway. Ze namen ook deel aan die opwindende jaren twintig, The Roaring Twenties, waarin de Hot Jazz zich ontwikkelde en ontmoetten en traden op met jazzlegenden, acteurs en producers van naam. De top van hun populariteit lag rond hun twintigste jaar en, omdat Hannah met vermogende mannen trouwde, die niets in een carriere in de showbizz zagen, zullen we nooit weten wat er van hen geworden hadden kunnen zijn als ze kansen gekregen hadden en zich verder hadden kunnen ontwikkelen. Een verhaal met een haast sprookjesachtig begin, maar zonder happy end.

Bill Schoerner (vertaling: Hans Koert) - keepswinging@live.nl

Bill Schoerner is een Amerikaan uit de staat Arizona. Hij was ingenieur voordat hij met pensioen ging. Hij heeft de afgelopen veertig jaar een verzameling amusements- en dansplaten aangelegd en is altijd nieuwsgierig geweest naar het verhaal achter het label, de muzikanten en hun instrumenten en de componisten en tekstschrijvers. Zijn belangstelling loopt van Gershwin tot Jobim, maar is ook een operafan. Hij is in het bijzonder geïnteresseerd in de populaire Amerikaanse muziek en jazz uit de eerste helft van de Twintigste Eeuw, de tijd van de ragtime, de vaudeville, musicals en de hits uit die tijd.

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The Williams Sisters - Hannah's Career

The Williams Sisters - The Vaudeville and Broadway Years (English) The Jazz Age (English) Hannah's Career (English) The Life of Dorothy (English) The Williams Sisters - De Periode van de Vaudeville en Broadway optredens (Nederlands) De Jazzjaren (Nederlands) Hannah's Carriere (Nederlands) Het leven van Dorothy (Nederlands)

THE WILLIAMS SISTERS Discografie - Hans Koert

Hannah's Career
THE WILLIAMS SISTERS
Bill Schoerner

The Williams Sisters, Hannah Williams and Dorothy Williams, was one of those numerous vocal groups during the 1920s. Bill Schoerner made an in-depth investigation about this Pennsylvanian vocal duo. By late 1930, it seems that the sister act broke up when Hannah was hired for "Sweet and Low" a Broadway musical produced by Billy Rose and featuring his wife, Fanny Brice, George Jessel and Frank Barton. Hannah introduced the song "Cheerful Little Earful" which for the rest of her life was identified with her. In the third contribution titled Hannah's Career Bill tells about the rest of Hannah's life. Later he will reveal Dorothy's career.

On January 26, 1931, Hannah married Roger Wolfe Kahn at the Kahn estate at Cold Springs, Long Island. Roger's father, the banker Otto H. Kahn, would not allow his son to be married to a show girl so Billy Rose terminated her contract with "Sweet and Low" at the request of her new father-in-law. Hannah's sister, Dorothy, replaced her in "Sweet and Low."
The marriage was short and unhappy. Hannah wanted to return to the stage, while her husband insisted that she should stay at home. In May 1932, Hannah left Roger, and moved to Reno Nevada seeking a divorce. The divorce was issued on April 4, 1933. During this time in Reno, Hannah was seen and photographed with singer Russ Columbo, and there were rumors that they might be getting married. Years later, Jimmy McPartland said that Columbo had a romantic interest in Hannah but she didn't want to get married. In the Russ Columbo biography, "You Call It Madness," the author, Lenny Kaye devotes a chapter to Columbo's romance with Hannah.

Russ Columbo had a romantic interest in Hannah

On July 8, 1933, Hannah starred in a Vitaphone 9-minute movie short called, "The Audition" in which she dances and sings the song, "Get Happy." This is the only of her that is known to exist. Hannah enters the scene at about 2:45 into the film.

Hannah Marries Jack Dempsey

Hannah Williams and heavyweight boxer, Jack Dempsey in 1933

On July 18, 1933, Hannah married former heavyweight boxer, Jack Dempsey in Elko Nevada. Hannah announced to the reporters that she was "through with the stage" and that she promised to be a "good wife to Jack." Hannah had two daughters, Joan in 1934 and Barbara in 1936. At first, the marriage seemed ideal. Although Jack had retired from boxing he had become a successful business man owning a restaurant in New York and a Hotel in Los Angeles. After Hannah's second child was born, she became restless and was eager to return to the stage but she only received mild support from her husband.

In 1937, Hannah was selected for the Broadway musical "Hooray for What!" composed by Harold Arlen and Skip Harburg. During rehearsal, there was much unrest with the cast and production team. Several performers and choreographer, Agnes DeMille were replaced. Hannah was not happy with her songs and lines and threatened to quit the show. Harold Arlen wrote the song "Buds won't Bud" for Hannah to sing, but both she and the song were dropped before the show opened on Broadway. It's also possible that Jack Dempsey's presence on the set produced additional tension. Later news reports suggested that Hannah quit the show to return to her family.

In November 8th, 1938, Hannah was a musical guest of the Benny Goodman radio program "Camel Caravan" on CBS Radio Network. She sang "Stay on the Right Side, Sister." with the Goodman Quartet, featuring Benny on the clarinet, Lionel Hampton on vibes, Teddy Wilson at the piano and Harry James on ..... tuba. In 1940 there was a second attempt to return to the musical stage and there were rumors of Hannah receiving offers from Billy Rose in his "Aquacade" musical show, as well as engagements in New York and Boston cabarets. In fact she was so adamant in performing under her own name, one of her contracts stipulated that she not use Dempsey's name. Her marriage was failing and on May 20, 1940, their attorney announced that Hannah and Jack had separated. Jack tried to achieve a reconciliation but friends said Hannah's desire to return to the theatre was the underlying cause of the separation. In 1941 they did reconcile for a short time and it did seem that the couple had resolved their differences. They even bought a new home in Scarsdale, away from Manhattan, to try to enjoy the country life. But this did not save the marriage because in December 1942, Hannah filed for divorce from her husband. As the trial date approached both sides revealed their formal accusations, which were both unfortunate and scandalous. Jack accused Hannah of infidelity and Hannah accused Jack of physical cruelty. It's not my purpose to cover the details of the trial.... the reader can easily get this information elsewhere. Sadly for Hannah, the court sided with Dempsey.
On June 7, 1943, Jack Dempsey was granted a divorce and Hannah's counter-suit was dismissed, and to make it even worse, Jack was granted custody of their two daughters. It should be remembered that Dempsey was an American hero and he was enormously popular, so public opinion also sided with Jack.
Hannah was unsuccessful in restarting her singing and acting career. She did achieve a few singing engagements at night clubs and cabarets. In 1946, she was invited back to Jack's home for a brief visit, and the newspapers hinted there might be a reconciliation. But Jack insisted there was no romantic intentions, but it was for the sake of the children.
In 1950 Hannah married actor Thomas Monaghan, but she was divorced a year later. In March 1953 Hannah was hospitalized from burns suffered from a hotel fire in Los Angeles. Her condition was reported as "not serious." Her daughter, Joan, was married in 1954 and daughter Barbara was married in 1954, but Hannah was not noted as being in attendance. In August 1955, Hannah was hospitalized at the Le Roy Sanitarium in Manhattan for an undisclosed illness. In October of 1956 she met with her ex-husband concerning the film, "The Jack Dempsey Story" and she consented to have her name used in the story and agreed that a "very pretty girl with a beautiful singing voice will play Hannah."

Thanks to these contributions, I have recently received some additional details kindly provided by David McCain who commented on the first chapter of the Williams Sister story. David has spoken with Marian McPartland on the phone who was married to Jimmy McPartland. Marian got him in contact with Sergio Gomez who was Dorothy's son by her third marriage. From that acquaintance, he learned that Hannah died January 11, 1973 and Dorothy died September 2, 1976. David also spoke with Hannah's Daughter, Joan Dempsey McNeal (Hannah and Jack's daughter) in early 1994, and David gave Sergio her (Joan's) phone number since they had been out of contact for many years. Sadly, it was too late as Joan died February 13, 1994. Hannah's other daughter, Barbara Judith Dempsey Leonard, died March 4, 1993. David has since lost contact with Sergio Gomez.

The Williams Sisters entered the scene as child performers on the vaudeville stage, then progressed to the Broadway Stage. They also participated in the early excitement of the Jazz Age in the 1920's and met and performed with some of the biggest jazz legends and actors of the stage and music industry. Sadly, their careers peaked in their early twenties. Even though Hannah married wealthy men, they did not encourage her career in show business, so we may never know what she could have achieved. It's a story with an exciting beginning but an unhappy ending. (to be continued)

Bill Schoerner - keepswinging@live.nl

Bill Schoerner is an American living in Arizona. He was a research engineer but now retired. He has been a collector of vintage records for more than 40 years and has always been interested in the names on the record label, the musicians, the song writers and the instruments. His interests range from Gershwin to Jobim, but he is also a fan of opera. He is particularly interested in the history of American popular music and jazz from the first half of the twentieth century, musical casts, songs, composers and popular recordings.

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