Happy 4/20, music sloots, and welcome to another edition of Manor Music Monday, today with a little puff-puff or a gummy or two. Why? Because it's 4/20, silly, a holiday started in the early 1970s by a bunch of "burn-out" teens at San Rafael High School, the numbers being code for a time, or 4:20pm, when they'd secretly meet to smoke weed by, or all things, a statue of Louis Pasteur. What does this have to do with music or DJ Li'l Scratch? Absolutely nothing, but then don't expect our furry DJ to make sense today as he's lit like a sparkler. Better still, he'll be busy tonight at "Richard Johnson's," the Manor's after hours club and vape lounge, where you'll hear tunes by a deceptively loony, yet supremely talented jazz songstress.
Why look, it's none other than Marion Montgomery. If you live in the UK, you might know of her, since she was an American-born jazz singer who married a Brit and thereafter became a much-beloved fixture at UK jazz clubs, on stage and on TV. She was known formally as a "jazz minimalist" given her low-pitched vocals, which could lag behind, or leap ahead of, the beat with cunning elasticity. But most of all, she's a great deal of fun. In her 1966 LP, "What's New?", you really get the sense that she's having an absolute ball, no matter the number. Give a listen to the chill, yet buoyant, opener, "Give Me The Simple Life" and you'll see what I mean.
Did you know? Marion was the first person to record the song, "That's Life," not Frank Sinatra. Born in Mississippi, she began her singing career at strip clubs in Atlanta, or rather, music venues with "exotic dancers" like "The Domino Lounge" (under the name "Pepi Runnels," which I guess was more strip club-ish-sounding to someone), then small jazz venues in Chicago. Everything changed when she was discovered by Peggy Lee, who heard her demo, leading to a contract with Capitol Records in 1963. Later, after moving to London and marrying musician Laurie Holloway, she became one of the few American jazz artists to take up permanent residence in the UK.
The UK loved her - and she loved them back, becoming a television singing mainstay as well as an increasingly popular supper club attraction. Her LPs were fast sellers, and she even starred in West End musicals, like "Anything Goes" in 1969. Famously, the original cast LP was recorded, but never released because Marion didn't think she sounded good enough. Lucky for all of us, she eventually allowed it to drop in the early 1980s. Ready for more Marion? Take a puff-puff and let 'er rip:
What are you listening to this week? DJ Li'l Scratch wants to know. Till next time...purr, bitches, purr! 🐾
Photo Credits: The Everett Collection; Capitol Records
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