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."
"Shine on, Harvest Moon" is a popular early-1900s song credited to the married vaudeville team Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth. It was one of a series of Moon-related Tin Pan Alley songs of the era. The song was debuted by Bayes and Norworth in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1908 to great acclaim. It became a pop standard, and continues to be performed and recorded even in the 21st century.
During the vaudeville era, songs were often sold outright, and the purchaser would be credited as the songwriter. John Kenrick's Who's Who In Musicals credits the song's actual writers as Edward Madden and Gus Edwards. However, David Ewen's All the Years of American Popular Music credits Dave Stamper, who contributed songs to 21 editions of the Ziegfeld Follies and was Bayes' pianist from 1903 to 1908. Vaudeville comic Eddie Cantor also credited Stamper in his 1934 book Ziegfeld - The Great Glorifier.
Shine On, Harvest Moon is a 1938 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring Roy Rogers and Mary Hart. Written by Jack Natteford, the film is about a son and daughter in the opposing families of a feuding range war who surreptitiously become romantically involved. The supporting cast includes Scott Wiseman and William Farnum.
In popular culture
The film was parodied in the 2016 film "Hail, Caesar!"
"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,