Maxine Sullivan

Born on 13 May 1911 in Homestead, Pennsylvania, Maxine Sullivan was a 19 year-old high school graduate when was working as a maid by day and with her uncle's local band, the Red Hot Peppers, by night. She'd already been through a marriage and had a child when she left for Pittsburgh to sing at the Benjamin Harrison Literary Society, a Prohibition era speakeasy visited by touring talent such as Duke Ellington, Fats Waller and Cab Calloway. She got noticed there by pianist, Gladys Mosier, who encouraged her to come to New York City, which she did in the summer of 1937 to be introduced to pianist, Claude Thornhill, who was directing his orchestra at the Onyx Club on 52nd Street [Wikipedia]. Sullivan was immediately hired, her first recordings soon to ensue with Thornhill on 14 June of 1937 toward 'Stop, You're Breaking My Heart' (Vocalion 3616) and 'Gone with the Wind' (Vocalion 3595). Her next session with Thornhill on 6 August was her first toward issue in her own name, among those titles a swing adaptation of the Scottish folk song, 'Loch Lomond' (Vocalion 3654 / Okeh 3654). Clarinetist, Buster Bailey, was in on those, as well as bassist, John Kirby [Wikipedia]. Kirby and Sullivan were in numerous sessions together with Thornhill, such as on her highly popular 1937 issue of 'Nice Work if You Can Get It' (Vocalion 3848 / Okeh 3848). Sullivan was known for mellow romantic jazz, so her rambunctious 'Stop, You’re Breaking My Heart' below is less representative of her style than 'Gone with the Wind'. Per 'Nice Work If You Can Get It' below was Sullivan's initial recording with trumpeter, Charlie Shavers. Both Bailey and Shavers accompanied Maxine numerously during her early career to as late as 1956 for the album 'Flow Gently, Sweet Rhythm'. Kirby, also a frequent accompanist, was in on that as well. Maxine and Kirby later reunited at Carnegie Hall in 1974.

'Gone with the Wind'   Maxine Sullivan w Claude Thornhill & His Orchestra

Sullivan's 2nd recording

14 June 1937 in NYC   Matrix B21244-1   Vocalion 3595 / Ajaz 202

Trumpet: Manny Klein / Charlie Spivak   Trombone: Jack Lacey

Alto sax: Toots Mondello / Jess Caranell   Tenor sax: Babe Russin

Baritone sax / flute: Eddie Powell

Piano / vibes / arrangement: Claude Thornhill

Bass: Artie Bernstein   Drums: Chauncey Morehouse

Composition: Harry Warren / Mack Gordon

'Loch Lomond'   Maxine Sullivan w Claude Thornhill & His Orchestra

6 August 1937 in NYC   Matrix 21472-1   Vocalion 3654 / Okeh 3654

Trumpet: Frankie Newton   Clarinet: Buster Bailey

Alto sax: Pete Brown   Tenor sax: Babe Russin

Piano / arrangement: Claude Thornhill

Bass: John Kirby   Drums: O'Neil Spencer

Composition: Anonymous 1745

'Nice Work If You Can Get It'   Maxine Sullivan w Claude Thornhill & His Orchestra

22 Oct 1937 in NYC   Matrix 21939-1   Vocalion 3848 / Okeh 3848

Trumpet: Charlie Shavers

Composition: George & Ira Gershwin   1937

Sullivan appeared in the Hollywood film musical, 'Going Places', in 1938 (with Louis Armstrong and then unknown Ronald Reagan) and 'St. Louis Blues' in 1939. She appeared in the Broadway production of 'Swingin' the Dream' for a brief run in latter 1939. Sullivan sang for Kirby when he put together his own orchestra in 1940, their first releases in that capacity on May 1: 'St. Louis Blues' (Columbia 36341) and two takes of 'The Hour of Parting', one released flip to 36341. Having married Kirby in 1938 (divorced in 1941), he (her second husband) and Sullivan frequently together into 1941, reuniting variously to as late as the fifties and seventies. Kirby supported Sullivan on 28 Jan of 1942 toward her high-selling issue of 'My Ideal' on Decca 18555. Sullivan would marry twice more, including pianist, Cliff Jackson, in 1950.

'St. Louis Blues'   Maxine Sullivan   Film

Directed by Raoul Walsh   Released 3 Feb 1939

Composition: W.C. Handy   1914

IMDb   Wikipedia

'The Hour of Parting'   Maxine Sullivan w the John Kirby Orchestra

1 May 1940 in NYC   Matrix 26789-B   Columbia 36341

Trumpet: Charlie Shavers   Clarinet: Buster Bailey

Alto sax: Russell Procope   Piano: Billy Kyle

Bass: John Kirby   Drums: O'Neil Spencer

Music: Mischa Spoliansky   Lyrics: Marcellus Schiffer (German)   Gus Kahn (English)

Sullivan first recorded with Benny Carter in New York City on April 1, 1941, to issue 'Midnight' (Bluebird B11288) and 'What a Difference a Day Made' (Bluebird B11197). Later in 1946 they issued 'I'm the Caring Kind' (Deluxe 1012) and 'Looking for a Boy' (Deluxe 1009) together.

'What a Diff'rence a Day Made'   Maxine Sullivan w the Benny Carter Orchestra

1 April 1941 in NYC   Matrix 063703-1   Bluebird B-11197

Trumpet: Doc Cheatham / Lincoln Mills / Sidney DeParis

Trombone: Vic Dickenson / Jimmy Archey / Joe Britton

Alto sax: Benny Carter (trumpet) / Ernest Purce / Eddie Barefield

Tenor sax: Fred Williams / Ernie Powell

Piano: Sonny White   Guitar: Herb Thomas

Bass: Charlie Drayton   Drums: Al Taylor

Composition: Maria Grever (Spanish)   Lyrics: Stanley Adams (English)

'My Ideal'   Maxine Sullivan

28 Jan 1942 in NYC   Matrix 70247-A   Decca 18555

Composition: Leo Robin / Newell Chase / Richard Whiting

'Some of These Days'   Maxine Sullivan   Soundie film 'Blues and Boogie'   1942

Composition: Shelton Brooks

Mark Cantor   Wikipedia

On July 3, 1944, Sullivan recorded with Jimmie Lunceford during a radio broadcast from Hollywood: 'Molly Malone' and 'Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet'. Sullivan first recorded with Teddy Wilson on December 18, 1944, yielding 'This Heart of Mine' (Tiara TMT7508) and 'Every Time We Say Goodbye' (Musicraft 317). Sullivan laid tracks with Wilson into 1945, a session in January that year yielding another rendition of 'This Heart of Mine' (Musicraft 317).

'This Heart of Mine'   Maxine Sullivan w the Teddy Wilson Quintet

15 Jan 1945 in NYC   Matrix 5234-6   Musicraft 317

Trumpet: Charlie Shavers   Vibes: Red Norvo

Piano: Wilson   Bass: Al Hall   Drums: Specs Powell

Music: Harry Warren   Lyrics: Arthur Freed   For the 1945 film 'Ziegfeld Follies'

Among notable LPs was Sullivan's 1956 release of 'Leonard Feather Presents Maxine Sullivan', issued on CD in 1991 as a 'A Tribute to Andy Razaf'.

'Keepin' Out of Mischief Now'   Maxine Sullivan

30 Aug 1956 in NYC

From the album 'Leonard Feather Presents Maxine Sullivan'   1956

 Issued on CD as 'A Tribute to Andy Razaf' in 1991

Album peronnel:

Trumpet: Charlie Shavers   Clarinet: Buster Bailey

Alto sax: Jerome Richardson

Piano: Dick Hyman   Bass: Wendell Marshall / Milt Hinton

Drums: Osie Johnson

Composition: Fats Waller

Sullivan retired from the music business in 1958 to raise her children while working as a nurse. She reappeared again in 1966, performing at jazz festivals and recording well into the eighties. Along the way she appeared on Broadway again in 1979 for 53 performances of 'My Old Friends'. Tom Lord traces her to as late as 12 March 1987 for a live recording at New York University with Doc Cheatham.

'Darn That Dream'   Maxine Sullivan

From the album 'Close As Pages In a Book' recorded in NYC on 11/13 June 1969

Album personnel:

Clarinet / soprano sax: Bob Wilber

Piano: Bernie Leighton   Bass: George Duvivier   Drums: Gus Johnson

Music: Jimmy Van Heusen   Lyrics: Eddie DeLange

'You Turned the Tables On Me'   Maxine Sullivan   Television

December 1975 at the Manassas Jazz Festival in Virginia

Clarinet: Wally Garner

Piano: Art Hodes   Guitar: Butch Hall

Bass: Gene Mayl   Drums: Bob Thompson

Music: Louis Alter   Lyrics: Sidney D. Mitchell   1936

'Harlem Butterfly'   Maxine Sullivan   Film or video

December 1980 at the Manassas Jazz Festival in Virginia

Tenor sax: Nick Sassone

Piano: Dil Jones   Guitar: Steve Jordan

Bass: Van Perry   Drums: Cliff Leeman

Composition: Johnny Mercer

'Things We Did Last Summer'   Maxine Sullivan

From the album 'Together' recorded in NYC on 17 June 1986   Atlantic 81783-1

Piano: Keith Ingham   Guitar: Chris Flory   Bass: Phil Flanigan

Music: Jule Styne   Lyrics: Sammy Cahn   1946

'Something to Remember You By'   Maxine Sullivan   Television

28 Sep 1986 at the Fujitsu-Concord Jazz Festival in Tokyo

Scott Hamilton Quintet:

Tenor sax: Hamilton

Piano: John Bunch   Guitar: Chris Flory

Bass: Phil Flanigan   Drums: Chuck Riggs

Composition: Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz