Early Teddy Wilson Vocalists

When she started out, Billie Holiday was simply the vocalist for Teddy Wilson’s band. The rise of juke box technology, coinciding with her debut, catapulted her to success for the struggling Brunswick label, ensuring its commercial survival and success, and helping to make Teddy Wilson’s name too. These early numbers (still) deserve a wider audience.

But there are other, less-well-known vocalists who also sang with Wilson then. We know the ‘hits’ we hear now from the first few bars, but if you search YouTube, do you find The Hour of Parting? With the vocalist credited?

Who was Boots Castle, who sang The Hour of Parting with Wilson? A beautiful song written by Spoliansky, who fled Germany for London in 1933.

 

And who was Jean Eldridge, who sang Moonray with Wilson? Was she related to Roy Eldridge, jazz trumpeter?

 

Moonray (1939 Artie Shaw / Madison / Quenzer)

Moonray,
Cast your spell upon my lover;
Under this starlit cover,
Use all your magic charms.

...

Moonray,
Put an end to all my sorrows,
Bless me with sweet tomorrows,
Bring back my love to me.

This version Moon Ray by Teddy Wilson and his Orchestra (including Ben Webster on sax), and arranged by Wilson, with Jean Eldridge singing, is enthralling. She also sang with Ellington (but can I find a picture of her?!?) YouTube has Artie Shaw, who co-wrote the song, with Helen Forrest singing, but Wilson’s version – he taught at the Julliard  in later years – far surpasses it. It was the B side of a 78 Columbia foxtrot.

Moon Ray               on 78 rpm

P.S. Here’s some of Eldridge singing with what became the Ellington band, then under Cootie Williams’ leadership.

Like A Ship In The Night – Cootie Williams & His Rug Cutters

Mississippi Dreamboat – Cootie Williams & His Rug Cutters