| Thelma Carpenter | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Thelma Carpenter |
| Born | 15 January 1922 Brooklyn, New York |
| Origin | USA |
| Died | 14 May 1997 (aged 75) New York City, New York |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupations | Singer Actress |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1932-1997 |
| Associated acts | Count
Basie Teddy Wilson Coleman Hawkins Eddie Cantor Pearl Bailey Diana Ross |
Thelma Carpenter (January 15, 1922–May 14, 1997) was a jazz singer and actress, best known as "Miss One", the Good Witch of the North in the movie The Wiz.
Contents |
As a child performer, Carpenter had her own radio show in New York and won an amateur night at the Apollo Theatre. She made her debut as a band vocalist with Teddy Wilson's short-lived orchestra in 1939, recording "Love Grows on the White Oak Tree" and "This is the Moment" for Brunswick Records. She joined Coleman Hawkins' orchestra in 1940, with whom she recorded the RCA Bluebird classic "She's Funny That Way" and became Count Basie's vocalist in 1943, remaining with the band for two years. Carpenter replaced Dinah Shore as vocalist on Eddie Cantor's radio show for the 1945-46 season, marking the first time that a black artist had become a permanent member of an all-white show. She was a top nightclub attraction for most of her career, performing regularly at such chic clubs as Le Ruban Bleu, Spivy's Roof, the Bon Soir and Michael's Pub, as well as Bricktop's in Rome. She also headlined major theaters including the Capitol, Loew's State and the Palace on Broadway.
Broadway appearances include Memphis Bound with Bill Robinson, "Inside USA" with Beatrice Lillie, the 1952 revival of Shuffle Along with Avon Long, Ankles Aweigh with Betty and Jane Kean and the title role in Hello, Dolly! in which she replaced Pearl Bailey more than 100 times.
Carpenter toured nationally in Bob Fosse's production of Pippin and the original company of Bubbling Brown Sugar. She recorded for Majestic, RCA Victor, Columbia and Coral and her answer-record to Elvis Presley, "Yes I'm Lonesome Tonight," reached the Billboard Top 60 in 1961.
In the 1970s, Carpenter began an acting career and starred in the sitcom version of Barefoot in the Park as well as several television movies and comedy shows. She was prominently featured on the 1994 NBC special Stars of the Apollo.
Carpenter died of a heart attack on May 14, 1997.
| Thelma Carpenter | |
|---|---|
| File:Replace this image | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Thelma Carpenter |
| Born | January 15, 1922 Brooklyn, New York |
| Origin | USA |
| Died | May 14, 1997 (aged 75) New York City, New York |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupations | Singer Actress |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1932-1997 |
| Associated acts | Count Basie Teddy Wilson Coleman Hawkins Eddie Cantor Pearl Bailey Diana Ross |
Thelma Carpenter (January 15, 1922 – May 14, 1997) was a jazz singer and actress, best known as "Miss One", the Good Witch of the North in the movie The Wiz.
Contents |
As a child performer, Carpenter had her own radio show in New York and won an amateur night at the Apollo Theatre in 1938 (she would be honored and perform nearly 60 years later on the NBC special "Stars of the Apollo.") She played such clubs as Kelly's Stable and the Famous Door on legendary 52nd St., where she was discovered by John Hammond. She subsequently made her debut as a band vocalist with Teddy Wilson's short-lived orchestra in 1939, recording "Love Grows on the White Oak Tree" and "This is the Moment" for Brunswick Records. She joined Coleman Hawkins' orchestra in 1940, with whom she recorded the RCA Bluebird classic "She's Funny That Way". She followed Helen Humes as Count Basie's vocalist in 1943, remaining with the band for two years, recording the Columbia hit "I Didn't Know About You" as well as many popular V-disc sides including "Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me," "More Than You Know" and "My Ideal." Carpenter replaced Dinah Shore as vocalist on Eddie Cantor's radio show for the 1945-46 season, marking the first time that a black artist had become a permanent member of an all-white show. She was a top nightclub attraction for most of her career, performing regularly at such chic clubs as Le Ruban Bleu, Spivy's Roof, the Bon Soir and Michael's Pub, as well as Bricktop's in Rome. She also headlined major theaters including the Capitol, Loew's State and the Palace on Broadway.
Broadway appearances include Memphis Bound with Bill Robinson, "Inside USA" with Beatrice Lillie, the 1952 revival of Shuffle Along with Avon Long, Ankles Aweigh with Betty and Jane Kean and the title role in Hello, Dolly! in which she replaced Pearl Bailey more than 100 times. It was in "Dolly" that she was seen by a producer from Paramount who signed her to co-star as the mother in the TV version of Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park." She also created the role of Irene Paige in "Bubbling Brown Sugar," appearing in the Philadelphia and Washington engagements, but left prior to the Broadway opening.
Carpenter toured nationally as the showstopping "Berthe" in Bob Fosse's production of Pippin, the same year she filmed her showstopping number "He's The Wizard" for Sidney Lumet's film version of "The Wiz." Fosse and Lumet arranged their schedules so that she could do both projects. She recorded for Majestic, RCA Victor, Columbia and Coral and her answer-record to Elvis Presley, "Yes I'm Lonesome Tonight," reached the Billboard Top 60 in 1961.
In the 1970s, Carpenter began an acting career and starred in the sitcom version of Barefoot in the Park as well as several television movies and comedy shows. She was prominently featured on the 1994 NBC special Stars of the Apollo.
Carpenter died of a heart attack on May 14, 1997.
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