Annette Hanshaw

Infobox musical artist
Name = Annette Hanshaw


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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Annette Hanshaw
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Born = birth date|1901|10|18|mf=y
Died = death date and age|1985|3|13|1901|10|18|mf=y
Origin = flagicon|USAU.S.
Instrument = Vocals
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Genre = Jazz
Occupation = Singer
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Associated_acts = Ethel Waters
Bessie Smith
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Annette Hanshaw (October 18, 1901 - March 13, 1985) was one of the first great female jazz singers. In the late 1920s she ranked alongside Ethel Waters, Bessie Smith and the Boswell Sisters.

Her singing style was relaxed and suited the new jazz-influenced pop music of the late 1920s. Although she had a low opinion of her own singing, she continues to have fans because of how she combined the voice of an ingenue with the spirit of a flapper.

Hanshaw made her one and only appearance on film [ [http://www.jazzage1920s.com/annettehanshaw/annettehanshaw.php Film clip.] Accessed January 30, 2007] in the 1933 Paramount short "Captain Henry's Radio Show," "a picturization" of the popular Thursday evening radio program "Maxwell House Show Boat," in which she starred from 1932 to 1934.

Hanshaw was known as "The Personality Girl," and her trademark was saying "That's all" in a childish voice at the end of many of her records. [ [http://www.redhotjazz.com/hanshaw.html Annette Hanshaw at the Red Hot Jazz Archive] ] Having grown tired of show business, in the late 1930s Hanshaw retired and settled into married life with her husband, Pathé Records executive Herman "Wally" Rose. Later in life, in a would-be comeback, she recorded two demo records, but they were never released.

Between September 1926 and February 1934, she recorded prolifically. From 1926-1928 she recorded for Pathe (her sides were released on both the Pathe and Perfect labels). Starting in June 1928, she recorded for Columbia; most of these were issued on their dime store labels Harmony, Diva, Clarion and Velvet Tone. A handful were also released on their regular price Columbia and OKeh. Although most were released under her own name, she was renamed Gay Ellis (for sentimental numbers) and Dot Dare or Patsy Young (for her Helen Kane impersonations). Starting in August 1932, she began recording for the ARC with her recordings issued on their Melotone, Perfect, Conqueror, Oriole and Romeo. Her final session, February 3, 1934 was placed on ARC's Vocalion label.

Birthdate

For many years it was believed that Annette had been born in 1910 and began her recording career shortly before her 16th birthday. However, it has recently come to light that she was in fact [ [http://annettehanshaw.tripod.com/birthdate.html Annette's Birthdate.] Accessed January 30, 2007] born nine years earlier, making her 24 at the time of her first commercial recording in September 1926. Her nephew, Frank W. Hanshaw III, has confirmed 1901 as the date on her birth certificate. [ [http://www.jazzage1920s.com/annettehanshaw/bio/bio.php Annette Hanshaw Biography.] Accessed January 30, 2007]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.annettehanshaw.com/ Annette Hanshaw Fan Site]
* [http://www.redhotjazz.com/hanshaw.html Multiple audio streams of Hanshaw's songs] (needs Realplayer)
* [http://www.jazzage1920s.com/annettehanshaw/annettehanshaw.php Annette Hanshaw] This site has a video of a performance and references to having talked to family members.
* [http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/hanshaw_annette/bio.jhtml VH1] This website lists her birth year as 1910 and has her starting her career at 15 and retiring at 24. The liner notes from the CD "Lovable & Sweet: 25 Vintage Hits" on the Asv Living Era label also contain this apparently incorrect information.
* [http://www.ninapaley.com/Sitayana/ "Sita Sings the Blues"] - clips of a 21st century animated portrayal of the ancient Hindu epic, "Ramayana", from Sita's perspective; Annette Hanshaw's songs provide most of the soundtrack