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Maxine Sullivan (May 13, 1911 – April 7, 1987), born Marietta Williams in Homestead, Pennsylvania, was an American jazz vocalist and performer. As a vocalist, Maxine Sullivan was active for half a century, from the mid-1930s to just before her death in 1987. She is best known for her 1937 recording of a swing version of the Scottish folk song "Loch Lomond". Throughout her career, Sullivan also appeared as a performer on film as well as on stage. A precursor to better-known later vocalists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Sarah Vaughan, Maxine Sullivan is considered one of the best jazz vocalists of the 1930s.〔Will Friedwald, "A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers," 64 (2010).〕 ==Career== Sullivan began her music career singing in her uncle's band, The Red Hot Peppers, in her native Pennsylvania, in which she occasionally played the flugelhorn and the valve trombone, in addition to singing.〔Linda Dahl, "Stormy Weather: The Music and Lives of a Century of Jazzwomen," 133, (1995).〕 In the mid-1930s she was discovered by Gladys Mosier (then working in Ina Ray Hutton's big band). Mosier introduced her to Claude Thornhill, which led to her first recordings made in June 1937. Shortly thereafter, Sullivan became a featured vocalist at the Onyx Club in New York.〔Arnold Shaw, "The Street that Never Slept: New York's Fabled 52nd St." 93 (1971).〕 During this period, she began forming a professional and close personal relationship with bassist John Kirby, who became her second husband in 1938. Early sessions with Kirby in 1937 yielded a hit recording of a swing version of the Scottish folk song "Loch Lomond" featuring Sullivan on vocals.〔Ebony, Vol. 29, No. 9, 138〕 This early success "branded" Sullivan's style, leading her to sing similar swing arrangements of traditional folk tunes mostly arranged by pianist Claude Thornhill, such as "If I Had a Ribbon Bow" and "I Dream of Jeanie".〔Richard Cook, Brian Morton, "The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD", 1516 (2004).〕 Her early popularity also led to a brief appearance in the movie ''Going Places'' with Louis Armstrong. In 1940, Sullivan and Kirby were featured on the radio program ''Flow Gently Sweet Rhythm'', making them the first black jazz stars to have their own weekly radio series. During the 1940s Sullivan then performed with a wide range of bands, including her husband's sextet and groups headed by Teddy Wilson, Benny Carter, and Jimmie Lunceford. Sullivan performed at many of New York's hottest jazz spots such as the Ruban Bleu, the Village Vanguard, the Blue Angel, and the Penthouse.〔 In 1949, Sullivan appeared on the short-lived CBS Television series ''Uptown Jubilee'', and in 1953 starred in the play, ''Take a Giant Step''. In 1956, Sullivan shifted from her earlier style and recorded the album ''A Tribute to Andy Razaf''; originally on the Period record label, the album featured Sullivan's interpretations of a dozen tunes featuring Razaf's lyrics. The album also highlighted the music of Fats Waller, including versions of "Keepin' Out of Mischief Now", "How Can You Face Me?", "My Fate Is in Your Hands", "Honeysuckle Rose", "Ain't Misbehavin'", and "Blue Turning Grey Over You". Sullivan was joined by a sextet that was reminiscent of John Kirby's group of 15 years prior, including trumpeter Charlie Shavers and clarinetist Buster Bailey. From 1958 Sullivan worked as a nurse before resuming her musical career in 1966, performing in jazz festivals alongside her fourth husband Cliff Jackson, who can be heard on the 1966 live recording of Sullivan's performance at the Manassas Jazz Festival. Sullivan continued to perform throughout the 1970s and made a string of recordings during the 1980s, despite being over 70 years old. She was nominated for the 1979 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (won by Carlin Glynn) for her role in ''My Old Friends'', and participated in the film biography ''Maxine Sullivan: Love to Be in Love'', shortly before her death. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Maxine Sullivan」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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