Ellington, Duke. (1899-1974) & Arlen, Harold. (1905–1986) & Waters, Ethel. (1896 - 1977) & Bates, Clayton "Peg Leg". (1907–1998)
"Happy as the Day is Long" - Signed by Arlen, Ellington, Waters, Nicholas Bros, and Bates
New York: Mills Music. 1933. First edition. "Cotton Club / presents / Ethel Waters / George Dewey Washington / in / Cotton Club / Parade / 22nd Edition / with / Duke Ellington / And his Famous Orchestra." Graphically striking sheet music cover featuring a smoking woman and two top-hatted men in layered profiles, designed by Sydney Leff, hand signed in black ink "Sincerely / Harold Arlen" and Best Wishes / Duke Ellington," as well as at the head "Success Always / Elisa," "Best Always to you "Pegs" [Peg Leg Bates], "Sincerely / George Dewey Washington," "Ethel Waters," and "Nicholas Bros" [Fayard Nicholas, of the famous dancing team The Nicholas Brothers]. Single sheet (front cover only), stamped "COMPLIMENTARY," horizontal and vertical creases with small separations at extremities, small puncture to center of sheet, right edge worn and with tears, nevertheless a very rare and desirable signed souvenir from this historic production. 9.2 x 12.2 inches [23 x 31 cm].Ellington and his orchestra began a four-year residency at the Cotton Club in 1927 and continued making guest appearances throughout the 1930s. "Cotton Club Parade-Twenty-second Edition (April 6, 1933) was, by all accounts, the most successful of the series, thanks in great measure to Arlen's score, which included "Happy as the Day is Long," "Raisin' the Rent," and the classic "Stormy Weather," introduced in the show by Ethel Waters. This was her first time performing before a white audience, and it gave her career a tremendous boost." (David A. Jasen, "Tin Pan Alley," p. 12)
"The 22nd edition of the Cotton Club Parade with Duke Ellington and his Orchestra, was composed of eighteen scenes, ranging from skits and dance specialties to comedy and songs. In this edition, in which Ethel Waters introduced "Stormy Weather" with George Dewey Washington singing responses to her, joined by the Talbot Choir and a dancing chorus; the Nicholas Brothers (Fayard and Harold) performed a new "Dance Specialty" choreographed by Fayard to the music arranged by Jimmy McHugh. Harold Nicholas' talent for doing impressions of famous personalities was put to use in the "Bill Robinson Stomp" in which he captured Bojangles' whimsical style, which combined time steps, skating, and crossover steps, danced on the balls of the feet. In this the first engagement with the Ellington band, the Nicholas Brothers were very impressed and influenced. Like Ellington, the Brothers as tap dancers synchronized their movement, harmonized their taps, and played rhythms against each other to effect a textural blending of tones. Ellington's formal elegance and fastidiousness in dress and manner was also admired by the Nicholases, who emulated his style. Fayard and Harold's outward show of elegance--their donning of tuxedos, or top hats and tails--was not a direct imitation of Ellington, but it certainly was reinforced by the master's stylishness and superb sense of cool. Also in this edition of the Cotton Club Parade, Harold Nicholas performed "Happy as the Day is Long" which he sang and danced with the Cotton Club Girls. The number began with what to become a standard practice--Harold singing and tap dancing in lavish musical numbers. Around him the Cotton Club Girls would shimmy and grind, cross their long legs in the Susie-Q, and sway their hips in the tack-Annie, stepping rhythmically with style." Sources: Strattemann, Klaus: Duke Ellington: Day by Day, Film by Film. Copenhagen: Jazz Media (1992); Hill, Constance Valis: Brotherhood in Rhythm: The Jazz Tap Dancing of the Nicholas Brothers. New York: Oxford University Press (2000).
The designer of the present cover was the remarkably long-lived commercial artist Sydney Leff (1901-2005), who in the 1920's and 30's designed and drew the covers for nearly 2,000 songs, including standards like "Stormy Weather," "Sweet Georgia Brown,""Sophisticated Lady," ,"Ain't Misbehavin'," "Me and My Shadow," and "Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue." Associated in particular with Irving Berlin, Mr. Leff also illustrated the work of Harold Arlen, Duke Ellington and many others. In 2000, several of his covers, including his elegant illustration for "Underneath the Harlem Moon," by Mack Gordon and Harry Revel, were featured in "New York: Songs of the City," an exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York. (21541)
Signed Document/Item Jazz