Biography Wikipedia
Wikipedia:
Ethel Llewellyn Ennis (born November 28, 1932, in Baltimore, Maryland) is an American jazz musician. Ethel Ennis began performing on the piano in high school, but her natural vocal abilities soon eclipsed those as a pianist. Embarking on a solo career, she recorded a number of sides for Atlantic Records before the Lp debut, 1955's Lullabies for Losers was released by Jubilee Records. In 1957, Ennis moved to the Capitol Records label for a two-album contract, and A Change of Scenery was released. Soon after the 1958 follow-up Lp Have You Forgotten, Ennis took a six-year hiatus from recording during which she toured Europe with Benny Goodman. Ennis was again invited to the recording studios in 1963, recording four LPs for RCA Records. However, disenchanted with the creative direction of the label and artist management, Ennis left RCA and took another hiatus, this time eight years without a recording contract. During this period she sang the title song for the 1967 feature film Mad Monster Party. The BASF Lp 10 Sides of Ethel Ennis emerged in 1973 and later that year Ennis, a Democrat, was invited to sing at the re-inauguration of Richard Nixon. Ethel's unusual a cappella rendition of the national anthem shocked some, but inspired many others. Earlier on, Ethel had returned to her hometown of Baltimore, and sang outside the area only a handful of times in the next several decades. Then in 1980 to the delight of loyal fans she reappeared, releasing a live album, followed in 1994 by a self-titled studio album, and in 1998 once again recording for a major label with If Women Ruled the World on Savoy Jazz. The most recent Ennis recording was a critically praised 2005 live set, captured in performance at Montpelier in her home state of Maryland.
Partial discography
Atlantic - NYC, December 18, 1956
2299 | A176 | 56C106 A Pair Of Fools - Atco 60862300 | A177 | 56C108 Since You're Mine - Atlantic unissued2301 | A178 | 56C109 Got It In My Blood (To Love You) - Atco 60862302 | A179 | 56C110 Half Way To Heaven - Atlantic unissuedJubilee Lp
Lullabies For Losers – Jubilee (1955) re-issuedEthel Ennis Sings – Jubilee (1963)Jubilee Singles
Jubilee:5236 - Off ShoreCapitol Lp
Change Of Scenery – Capitol (1957) re-issuedHave You Forgotten – Capitol (1958) re-issuedRCA Lp
This Is Ethel Ennis – RCA 2786 (1963) re-issuedOnce Again, Ethel Ennis – RCA 2862 (1964) re-issuedEyes For You – RCA 2984 (1964)My Kind Of Waltztime – RCA 2986 (1965) re-issuedRCA Singles
RCA:478379 - Boy From Ipanema / When will the hurt be over?RCA:478448 - Now I Have Everything / Matchmaker MatchmakerRCA:478592 - About Love / I've Got That FeelingRCA 478733 - We Could Learn Together / Look At MeLater Albums
10 Sides of Ethel Ennis – – BASF 25121 (1973)Live at the Maryland Inn – EnE (1980)Ethel Ennis – Hildner (1994)If Women Ruled The World – Savoy Jazz (1998)Ennis Anyone? Ethel Ennis, Live at Montpelier! – Jazzmount (2005)Other Singles
BASF:15126 - I Believe In Love / I Wonder Who My Daddy IsSPIRAL:1234 - Call Me Young / Who Is It This Time?SPIRAL:1237 - Sing Me A Tune / I Wonder Who My Daddy Is
