Ethel Llewellyn Ennis (November 28, 1932 – February 17, 2019) was an American jazz musician whose career spanned seven decades. Ennis spent the majority of her life in her hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, where she was affectionately known as the "First Lady of Jazz".
Baltimore jazz institution Ethel Ennis was born November 28, 1932. Beginning her vocal career while a pianist in a high school jazz group, she quickly went on to sing with everyone from Louis Armstrong to Duke Ellington to Count Basie. Ennis' debut LP, Lullabies for Losers, appeared on Jubilee in 1955, with the follow-up, Change of Scenery, issued two years later on Capitol. Around the same time, she toured Europe with Benny Goodman, but finding the grind of the road too intense, she returned home to Baltimore, and -- much to the detriment of her rising fame -- rarely played outside of the Charm City area in the decades to come. After 1958's Have You Forgotten?, Ennis did not resurface until six years later, landing at RCA for This Is Ethel Ennis; three more LPs -- Once Again, Eyes for You, and My Kind of Waltztime.
Ennis died following a stroke on February 17, 2019; she was 86 years old.
1. How About Me
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ReplyDeleteA great singer. She remained unknown outside the US. A pity!
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