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.
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."
Three days after the events of the first film, a young boy named Billy Taggart assists his father in erecting scarecrows throughout a corn field, when one of the scarecrows suddenly comes to life and attacks him. As his father, Jack Taggart Sr., and his older brother, Jack Jr., rush to his aid, the scarecrow drags Billy through the field before sprouting wings and flying off, leaving the Taggart family horrified.
The following day (Day 23), a school bus carrying a high school basketball team and cheerleaders suffers a blowout. The chaperones inspect the tire, which they discover has been torn apart by a hand-crafted shuriken made of bone fragments. Back on the Taggart farm, Jack Jr. finds a dagger left by the Creeper. When his father inspects it, it inexplicably flies out of his hand on its own accord.
This song was featured in the 1938 film Going Places starring Dick Powell, Anita Louise and Ronald Reagan. Louis Armstrong appears in the part of Gabriel, the trainer of a race horse named Jeepers Creepers. Jeepers Creepers is a very wild horse and can only be soothed enough to let someone ride him when Gabriel plays the song "Jeepers Creepers" on his trumpet or sings it to him. Gabriel wrote the song specifically for the horse. (The phrase "jeepers creepers", a slang expression and minced oath euphemism for Jesus Christ, predates both the song and film.)
The lyrics of the song are under copyright; the most famous pair of lines is:
"Stormy Weather" was written by Harold Arlen (1905-1986) and Ted Koehler (1894-1973), in 1933. It was first sang by Ethel Waters (1896-1977) at a club, and then recorded by her in the same year. It was later recorded by many other famous artists such as Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday. Enjoy!
published: 12 Jan 2013
Ethel Waters - Jeepers Creepers 1938 Cafe Society
Bluebird B-10025-B Ethel was the first to record this song.
Jeepers Creepers
Music written by
Harry Warren
Lyrics written by
Johnny Mercer
First recording Studio Recording -
Recorded November 9, 1938. Louis Armstrong recorded his version January 18, 1939. His was most famous, but she beat him recording date wise.
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.
Jeepers Creepers is a popular 1938 song and jazz standard. The music was written by Harry Warren and the lyrics by Johnny Mercer, for the movie Going Places. It was premiered by Louis Armstrong and has sinc...
published: 11 Jun 2011
"Some of These Days" Ethel Waters
The original Diva singing "Some of These Days".
Recorded in 1927
published: 21 Mar 2010
Ethel Waters - Underneath the Harlem Moon (1933)
Ethel Waters performing Underneath the Harlem Moon (1933)
"Stormy Weather" was written by Harold Arlen (1905-1986) and Ted Koehler (1894-1973), in 1933. It was first sang by Ethel Waters (1896-1977) at a club, and then...
"Stormy Weather" was written by Harold Arlen (1905-1986) and Ted Koehler (1894-1973), in 1933. It was first sang by Ethel Waters (1896-1977) at a club, and then recorded by her in the same year. It was later recorded by many other famous artists such as Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday. Enjoy!
"Stormy Weather" was written by Harold Arlen (1905-1986) and Ted Koehler (1894-1973), in 1933. It was first sang by Ethel Waters (1896-1977) at a club, and then recorded by her in the same year. It was later recorded by many other famous artists such as Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday. Enjoy!
Bluebird B-10025-B Ethel was the first to record this song.
Jeepers Creepers
Music written by
Harry Warren
Lyrics written by
Johnny Mercer
First recording...
Bluebird B-10025-B Ethel was the first to record this song.
Jeepers Creepers
Music written by
Harry Warren
Lyrics written by
Johnny Mercer
First recording Studio Recording -
Recorded November 9, 1938. Louis Armstrong recorded his version January 18, 1939. His was most famous, but she beat him recording date wise.
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.
Jeepers Creepers is a popular 1938 song and jazz standard. The music was written by Harry Warren and the lyrics by Johnny Mercer, for the movie Going Places. It was premiered by Louis Armstrong and has since been covered by dozens of other artists. Ethel recorded it first, studio wise.
Jeepers Creepers Lyrics
Ethel Waters -
I don't care what the weather man says,
When the weatherman says it's raining,
You'll never hear me complaining, I'm certain
the sun will shine, I don't care how the weather
vane points,
When the weather vane points to gloomy,
It's gotta be sunny to me, when your eyes look
into mine;
Jeepers Creepers! Where'd ya get those peepers?
Jeepers Creepers! Where'd ya get those eyes?
Gosh all git up! How'd they get so lit up?
Gosh all git up! How'd they get that size?
Golly gee! When you turn those heaters on,
Woe is me!
Got to get my cheaters on, Jeepers Creepers!
Where'd ya get those peepers? On! Those weepers!
How they hypnotize!
Wher'd ya get those eyes?
Bluebird B-10025-B Ethel was the first to record this song.
Jeepers Creepers
Music written by
Harry Warren
Lyrics written by
Johnny Mercer
First recording Studio Recording -
Recorded November 9, 1938. Louis Armstrong recorded his version January 18, 1939. His was most famous, but she beat him recording date wise.
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.
Jeepers Creepers is a popular 1938 song and jazz standard. The music was written by Harry Warren and the lyrics by Johnny Mercer, for the movie Going Places. It was premiered by Louis Armstrong and has since been covered by dozens of other artists. Ethel recorded it first, studio wise.
Jeepers Creepers Lyrics
Ethel Waters -
I don't care what the weather man says,
When the weatherman says it's raining,
You'll never hear me complaining, I'm certain
the sun will shine, I don't care how the weather
vane points,
When the weather vane points to gloomy,
It's gotta be sunny to me, when your eyes look
into mine;
Jeepers Creepers! Where'd ya get those peepers?
Jeepers Creepers! Where'd ya get those eyes?
Gosh all git up! How'd they get so lit up?
Gosh all git up! How'd they get that size?
Golly gee! When you turn those heaters on,
Woe is me!
Got to get my cheaters on, Jeepers Creepers!
Where'd ya get those peepers? On! Those weepers!
How they hypnotize!
Wher'd ya get those eyes?
"Stormy Weather" was written by Harold Arlen (1905-1986) and Ted Koehler (1894-1973), in 1933. It was first sang by Ethel Waters (1896-1977) at a club, and then recorded by her in the same year. It was later recorded by many other famous artists such as Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday. Enjoy!
Bluebird B-10025-B Ethel was the first to record this song.
Jeepers Creepers
Music written by
Harry Warren
Lyrics written by
Johnny Mercer
First recording Studio Recording -
Recorded November 9, 1938. Louis Armstrong recorded his version January 18, 1939. His was most famous, but she beat him recording date wise.
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.
Jeepers Creepers is a popular 1938 song and jazz standard. The music was written by Harry Warren and the lyrics by Johnny Mercer, for the movie Going Places. It was premiered by Louis Armstrong and has since been covered by dozens of other artists. Ethel recorded it first, studio wise.
Jeepers Creepers Lyrics
Ethel Waters -
I don't care what the weather man says,
When the weatherman says it's raining,
You'll never hear me complaining, I'm certain
the sun will shine, I don't care how the weather
vane points,
When the weather vane points to gloomy,
It's gotta be sunny to me, when your eyes look
into mine;
Jeepers Creepers! Where'd ya get those peepers?
Jeepers Creepers! Where'd ya get those eyes?
Gosh all git up! How'd they get so lit up?
Gosh all git up! How'd they get that size?
Golly gee! When you turn those heaters on,
Woe is me!
Got to get my cheaters on, Jeepers Creepers!
Where'd ya get those peepers? On! Those weepers!
How they hypnotize!
Wher'd ya get those eyes?
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.
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."
I 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,