Introduction
Marion Abernathy (1918—1977) was an American rhythm & blues singer.
At the peak of her career, she was one of the stars of Los Angeles' African-American jazz music scene, sharing the glory with Wynonie Harris, Jo Jo Adams, T-Bone Walker and Mabel Scott.
Nicknamed "The Blues Woman", Abernathy is best known for her 1945 hit "Voo-It! Voo-It!", which she recorded in her early career on Juke Box Records. Between 1945 and 1949, she was involved in nine jazz/r&b recording sessions. In later years, she recorded for various small labels, with her last one being a single on Tassell Records in 1961.
Life and career
Marion Abernathy was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1918.
She was discovered in the mid-1940s by bandleader Johnny Otis at The Barrelhouse Club in Santa Ana.
In 1944, Abernathy, under the stage name "The Blues Woman", recorded "Voo-It! Voo-It!" on Art Rupe's newly formed R&B label Juke Box Records. The song was backed by Buddy Banks Sextet, which included bassist Ernest Shepard, drummer Monk McFay, guitarist William "Frosty" Pyles, pianist Eddie Beal, and trombonist Allen Durham. The song was Juke Box's second release and became a regional hit in 1945. Juke Box was renamed Specialty Records in 1946.
The same year, Abernathy also recorded "Stormy Mood" on Bel-Tone Records with Charles Mingus (bass), Marshall Royal (clarinet), Lee Young (drums), Gene Phillips(guitar), Bob Mosley (piano), Lucky Thompson (tenor saxophone), and Karl George (trumpet). Her other releases from 1945/1946 were "Goin' For The Okey-Doke" and "Roses Of Picardy" on Melodisc Records, backed by Buddy Banks Sextet.
In 1947, Abernathy worked with King Records and released a few singles:
- "You Ain't Got Nothin' For Me" and "Stormy Mood" with saxophonist Paul Bascomb's orchestra (King Records #4179)
- "Junior Blues" and "Scroogli-Oli-Re-Bos" (King Records #4188)
- "Honey, Honey, Honey" and "Undecided" (King Records #4205)
- "Ee-tid-ee-dee" and "It's Lonesome Without You" (King Records #4294) with Maurice James Simon (baritone saxophone), Marshall Royal (clarinet, alto saxophone), Charlie Drayton (double bass), Chico Hamilton (drums), Gerald Wiggins (piano), Bumps Myers (tenor saxophone), Henry Coker (trombone), and Joe Newman (trumpet).
Abernathy disappeared from the music business after her last single for Tassell Records in 1961.
Compilation albums
Eight of Abernathy's recordings were featured on Blue Boar Records' 1998 compilation album Shoutin' The Blues. Other musicians on this 24-track CD are Big Maybelle, Wynonie Harris, and "Hot Lips" Page.
In 2001, her recordings from 1947 to 1949 were released as The Chronological Marion Abernathy 1947-1949 on the French jazz label Classics. She was backed by Vincent Bairbey (alto saxophone, baritone saxophone); Marshall Royal (alto saxophone, clarinet); Maurice Simon (baritone saxophone); Carl "Flat Top" Wilson and Charlie Drayton (bass); Chico Hamilton and Clarence Donaldson (drums); Gerald Wiggins and Joe Knight (piano); Bumps Myers, Hal Singer, Paul Bascomb, Tom Archia (tenor saxophone); Henry Coker and Joe Britten (trombone); and "Hot Lips" Page, and Joe Newman (trumpet).
Video: Love Me Or Please Let Me Be (1949)
Death
Marion Abernathy passed away in 1977, at age 57.
References
Tom Lord: The Jazz Discography