Dandridge Sisters

The Dandridge Sisters (1934–1940) were a trio containing actress Dorothy Dandridge, Vivian Dandridge and Etta Jones. The Dandridge Sisters disbanded in 1940.

The starting of the Dandridge Sisters

With the forceful tutelage of Martha "Geneva" Williams and their mother Ruby Dandridge, Dorothy and Vivian started singing in public in 1934. After moving to Los Angeles, the Wonder Kids changed their stage name to the Dandridge Sisters with the addition of Etta Jones (born in 1919 and not to be confused with jazz singer Etta Jones born in 1928). Together the trio triumphed in an amateur competition on radio station KNX, Los Angeles, defeating twenty-five white contestants.

Two years later, the Dandridge Sisters were invited by promoter Joe Glazer to perform at New York's famed Cotton Club, a nightclub that featured black talent and catered to white audiences. The act was so successful that they were given a spot in the regular program, performing on the same bill as artists Cab Calloway and W. C. Handy. Another act regularly in the line-up was the dynamic dance duo of Fayard Nicholas & his younger brother Harold Nicholas, the Nicholas Brothers. The Dandridge Sisters were in England under the control of Geneva Williams from June to September 1939 in a show at The London Palladium topped by comedian Jack Durant and the Jack Harris Orchestra. They also did other dates around the UK and in Ireland and while in London they recorded the Charlie Shavers tune "Undecided" in July 1939.

The Dandridge Sisters

The Dandridge Sisters were a hit at the Cotton Club and the critics gave them good reviews. With their success Joe Glazer got them the exciting engagement in England where jazz critic Leonard Feather saw & met them and fell in love with Vivian. The girls again received good reviews but their tour was cut short by the advent of World War II. Prior to their engagement at The Cotton Club The Dandridge Sisters had toured Hawaii with a circus. They had also toured in the USA. While in England Dorothy announced she wanted to go solo and back in the USA after the live dates with the Jimmy Lunceford Band finished in mid 1940, Dorothy broke away from Vivian & Etta and got stage and film acting work. This was the end of The Dandridge Sisters.

Dandridge Sisters' recordings and tour with Jimmie Lunceford

1940, the Dandridge Sisters toured with Big Bandleader Jimmie Lunceford and his orchestra. In June 1940 the Dandridge Sisters recorded four songs with Jimmie Lunceford's band:

• Minnie the Moocher Is Dead
• You Ain't Nowhere
• Ain't Going To Study War No More
• That's Your Red Wagon

Apart from "Undecided" recorded in London these are the only known recordings that were put to vinyl by the group. The Dandridge Sisters disbanded in mid-1940 after Dorothy Dandridge began to pursue a solo career and starred in the film Four Shall Die. Etta Jones is often confused with the jazz singer of same name. She did attend the weddings of Dorothy to Harold Nicholas in 1941 and to Jack Denison in 1959. Vivian Dandridge appeared in a few uncredited movie roles including as an extra in Stormy Weather and the voice of "So White" in the controversial cartoon "Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs". She released an album in 1968 called The Look Of Love which was unsuccessful. She died in obscurity in 1991.

Films

The Dandridge Sisters appeared in the films It Can't Last Forever, Snow Get Into Your Eyes, The Big Broadcast of 1936, A Day at the Races, Irene, and Easy to Take. They were considered a speciality act in these films, and usually performed a song. In the film Going Places, the Dandridge Sisters performed with Louis Armstrong and Maxine Sullivan.