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Pinkie McKenzie, who entertained and recorded in Britain during the WWII years.
She recorded “More Than You Know” with Leslie “Jiver” Hutchinson & his Coloured Orchestra for Decca on 31st July 1944.
To coincide with Stephen Poliakoff’s five-part BBC drama, Dancing on the Edge, who Andy Simons, who compiled the British Library CD Black British Swing, has published his companion book online. Read at the links below…
Black British Jazz Pioneers
Leslie “Hutch” Hutchinson and Ken “Snakehips” Johnson
and Chiwetel Ejiofor looking flipping gorgeous in white tie and tales in BBC drama Dancing on the Edge, 2012.
Dancing on the Edge Trailer - Original British Drama - BBC Two (par BBC)
Angel, Wunmi, Chiwetel and Matthew !
Stephen Poliakoff’s “Dancing on the Edge” trailer.
Coming to BBC TWO in some time in January.
Set in the early 1930s, Dancing on the Edge follows black jazz musicians, the Louis Lester Band, as they find fame amongst the parties and performances of London’s upper class society.
E X C I T E D ! !
Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor too. Yum.
If you’re interested in the story of Black British Jazz check out Ken ‘Snakehips’ Johnston and Leslie “Hutch” Hutchinson. Two Caribbean born entertainers who were the biggest stars of their day. One had a life filled with scandal and the other ended in tragedy - both led exceptional lives.
Ken “Snakehips” Johnson, late 1930s (source: WestEndAtWar.org.uk)
Leslie “Hutch” Hutchinson, c.1928 (source: elvirabarney.wordpress.com)
Further reading:
‘Black British Jazz’ Open University
http://www.open.ac.uk/researchprojects/blackbritishjazz
A collection of articles that tell the story of Ken “Snakehips” Johnston Britain’s first Black swing bandleader.
http://www.swingtime.co.uk/Reviews/kenjohns/kenhome.html
Simmon, Andrew “Black British Swing: England’s Own Jazz of the 1930s And 1940s”
Bresse, Caroline “Hutch”
Nina Mae McKinney sings “Everything I Got Belongs To You” accompanied by the Eubie Blake Band 1932.
More videos of Nina Mae McKinney performing:
Nina Mae McKinney in ‘Revels in Rhythm’ at the Trocadero Restaurant, London 1933.
Nina Mae McKinney singing Swanee Shuffle from the 1929 film “Hallelujah”.
Jet magazine, August 1953
Jet magazine, April 1953
Marvelous Sarah Vaughan, pictured here in 1958, was born on this day in 1924 in Newark, New Jersey.
Maxine Sullivan c.1937
Maxine Sullivan - When Your Lover Has Gone, 1942
(Source: afro-art-chick, via vintagebeauties)
