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Artist
Ruth Olay
12+ albums
jazzfemale vocalistvocal jazzjazz vocalFemale Voices
about
Initially a piano prodigy, her interest in music developed from exposure to her mother's professional chorus singing work. At age 16 or 17, working as secretary at Twentieth Century Fox, Olay undertook singing lessons with vocal coach Florence Russell (Dorothy Dandridge). While at work, she met one of Duke Ellington's vocalists, Ivie Anderson. Together they attended the venue where Ellington was playing and Olay was persuaded to sing. In 1942, at her mother's re-marriage party she sang and impressed a guest, the wife of songwriter Irving Gordon (Throw Mama From the Train, Unforgettable). Gordon in turn introduced Olay to jazz musician Benny Carter who became her musical mentor.[1] She performed under the moniker Rachel Davis and, due to her dark complexion, passing as a black woman, with Carter in San Diego, and later with Jerry Fielding in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills clubs, all the while holding down a secretarial day job at Twentieth Century Limited, including work for celebrated screenwriter Preston Sturges. At the Cabaret Concert Theatre where she both waitressed and sang, she came to the attention of Bill Hitchcock of Zephyr Records. Olay's first LP on Zephyr in 1956 was promoted as coming from "the blues shouting tradition", "pop style" and "swinging interpretation".[2] While gigging at the Little Club, Olay was approached by Bill Burton, who managed, among others, Jimmy Dorsey and Dick Haymes, and soon got her big break when Burton booked her an emergency gig at th
top songs
albums
Olay! The New Sound Of Ruth Olay
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L.A. Noire - Jazz Inspired By The Video Game
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Easy Living
Vocal & Jazz Classics
Ladies Of Jazz
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It's About Time
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Olay! O.k.!!
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Soul In The Night
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Olay! O.K.!! (Digitally Remastered)
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The Harold Arlen Songbook: That Old Black Magic
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Olay! O.K.!! (Remastered)
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Olay! · The NEW Sound Of Ruth Olay