Ethel Waters

Ethel Waters

Ethel Waters (October 31, 1896 – September 1, 1977) was an American singer and actress. Waters frequently performed jazz, swing, and pop music on the Broadway stage and in concerts. She began her career in the 1920s singing blues. Her notable recordings include "Dinah", "Stormy Weather", "Taking a Chance on Love", "Heat Wave", "Supper Time", "Am I Blue?", "Cabin in the Sky", "I'm Coming Virginia", and her version of "His Eye Is on the Sparrow". Waters was the second African American to be nominated for an Academy Award, the first African American to star on her own television show, and the first African-American woman to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 31, 1896 (Chester County), Died September 1, 1977 (Chatsworth)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, songwriter, lyricist, leader

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 121 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	B-28592	10-in.	9/25/1923	Down South blues	Ross Gorman ; Virginians	Jazz/dance band	songwriter
Victor	BS-95605	10-in.	10/16/1935	Hottentot potentate	Russell Wooding Orchestra ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Victor	BS-95606	10-in.	10/16/1935	Thief in the night	Russell Wooding Orchestra ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Victor	BS-028387	10-in.	11/9/1938	You're mine	Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Victor	BS-028388	10-in.	11/9/1938	Frankie and Johnnie	Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Victor	BS-028389	10-in.	11/9/1938	They say	Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Victor	BS-028390	10-in.	11/9/1938	Jeepers creepers	Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Victor	BS-035355	10-in.	3/27/1939	Lonesome walls	Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Victor	BS-035356	10-in.	3/27/1939	If you ever change your mind	Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Victor	BS-035357	10-in.	3/27/1939	What goes up must come down (And baby, you've been flyin' too high)	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Victor	BS-035358	10-in.	3/27/1939	Y' had it comin' to you	Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Victor	BS-041552	10-in.	8/15/1939	Bread and gravy	Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Victor	BS-041553	10-in.	8/15/1939	Down in my soul	Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Victor	BS-041554	10-in.	8/15/1939	Georgia on my mind	Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Victor	BS-041555	10-in.	8/15/1939	Stop myself from worrying over you	Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, songwriter
Victor	BS-041556	10-in.	8/15/1939	Old man Harlem	Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Victor	BS-041557	10-in.	8/15/1939	Push out (Te-huey, te-huey, te-huey)	Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Victor	BS-042717	10-in.	9/22/1939	Baby, what else can I do	Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Victor	BS-042718	10-in.	9/22/1939	I just got a letter	Edward Mallory Orchestra ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Victor	D7VB-0079	10-in.	1/21/1947	Blues in my heart	Herman Chittison Trio ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass	vocalist
Columbia	81150	10-in.	7/27/1923	Kind lovin' blues	Fletcher Henderson ; Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	lyricist
Columbia	81151	10-in.	7/27/1923	Down South blues	Fletcher Henderson ; Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	lyricist
Columbia	W140564	10-in.	4/29/1925	Brother, you've got me wrong	Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with oboe and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W140565	10-in.	4/29/1925	No one can love me (Like the way you do)	Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with saxophone and cornet	vocalist
Columbia	W140597	10-in.	5/13/1925	Sweet Georgia Brown	Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental ensemble	vocalist

(Results 1-25 of 121 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Waters, Ethel," accessed November 2, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/104683.

Waters, Ethel. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/104683.

"Waters, Ethel." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 November 2024.