[Dixielandjazz] Women's History Month

[Katie Cavera]

Since March is "Women's History Month" here in the states, for the past few years I've been doing a program during this month dedicated to female songwriters.  I thought I might share a little bit of it with the list because maybe you guys can help me think of more things to add and some of you may be interested in doing something similar with your band.  I'm not going to list every single song - that would take up too much space, but I'll put their names and a few of the 'hits' and that ought to be enough to get the ball rolling!

Lillian Hardin (Armstrong) - Flat Foot, I Can't Say, Tears, Pap Dip, Chimes Blues, Once In A While, I'm Not Rough etc.
Lil is a no brainer, right?  Plenty of interesting stuff to choose from.  Riverwalk Jazz has some nice stuff about her for this month so be sure to check that out: http://www.riverwalkjazz.org/

Dorothy Fields (lyricist) - I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Don't Blame Me, On The Sunny Side Of The Street, Exactly Like You, A Fine Romance, Doin' The New Lowdown, etc.
Another no brainer.  She stared in the 20's with Jimmy McHugh, worked on Hollywood film scores with Jerome Kern, and was still active in the 60's writing Broadway shows ("Sweet Charity" anyone?) She even won a "Best Song" Oscar for "Just The Way You Look Tonight".  

Dana Suesse (music) - You Ought To Be In Pictures, The Night Is Young And Your So Beautiful, My Silent Love
Sometimes called the "Girl Gershwin" Suesse also wrote a lot of jazz infused classical music and played good stride piano. I'm pretty fond of a more obscure song she wrote called "Ho Hum" that Annette Hanshaw recorded.

Nora Bayes (music) - Shine On Harvest Moon
She was a vaudeville star and composed several songs of this ilk but this was her biggest hit. 

Beth Slater Whitson (lyrics) - Let Me Call You Sweetheart, Meet Me Tonight In Dreamland
She was also very prolific and if you're into the turn of the century stuff check out: http://www.bethslaterwhitson.com/ they have a lot of her music available to download because it's public domain!
...hey and as long as we're going back along the timeline...

May Aufderheide (music) - Dusty Rag, The Thriller Rag
I'm sure there were other female composers during the ragtime era, but the two songs above were picked up by New Orleans bands and played by guys like Bunk Johnson during the revival in the 40's. 

Mable Wayne (music) - In A Little Spanish Town, It Happened In Monterey, Ramona
If you saw the film "King Of Jazz" (terrible film - great music) there are a lot of Mable Wayne songs in it.  

Kay Swift (music) - Can't We Be Friends, Fine And Dandy
I'd mention what I know about her but I don't want to gossip - let's just remember that she wrote good songs.

Ann Ronell (both) - Willow Weep For Me
She also co-wrote Disney's first hit, "Who's Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf".

Bernice Petkere (music) - Close Your Eyes, Lullaby Of The Leaves
I find her music really interesting and fun to play.  Even though the above songs were written in the 30's, I still hear modern musicians playing them. 

Doris Fisher (music) - Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall, Put The Blame On Mame, You Always Hurt The One You Love
The story I heard is that she wrote "You Always Hurt The One You Love" because of a bet with her father (he's also a songwriter) and she was attempting to write the corniest song she could.  I don't know if she won or lost the bet...

Carolyn Leigh (lyrics) - Witchcraft, Young At Heart, Firefly, Hey, Look Me Over
Ok, now I'm getting more modern, but these are fun songs to play and sing.  

I have a few more names that fall into kind of a gray area: 

Ma Rainey - Titanic Man Blues, See See Rider, "Ma" Rainey's Black Bottom
I suppose a lot of blues artists from that time wrote and performed their own "stuff" but she's such and interesting and influential person that I always include her.  

Blanche Calloway - Louisiana Liza (lyrics), Catch On (music)
Blanche was Cab's big sister and had a really hot band. Seriously off the charts hot. I really like her stuff a lot and if you don't know her, look her up! 

The Boswell Sisters - Ok they weren't composers, but to my mind they were incredible arrangers and that's a skill in itself. I've written out several of their arrangements to perform and the way they approach a song is like nothing I've ever seen before. It's no wonder all the big boys were clamoring to work with them!

Ok list mates, who am I forgetting?  Who do you like? What are some of your favorite songs? Help me fill the list!
Thanks!
- Katie
http://www.katiecavera.com
http://www.youtube.com/kcavera