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

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
Columbia	W140598	10-in.	5/13/1925	Too bad Jim	Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental ensemble	vocalist
Columbia	W140790	10-in.	7/28/1925	Go back where you stayed last night	Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, tuba, and piano	vocalist, songwriter
Columbia	W140791	10-in.	7/28/1925	Sympathetic Dan	Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, tuba, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W140792	10-in.	7/28/1925	Down home blues	Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, tuba, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W140863	10-in.	8/25/1925	Loud speakin' papa (You'd better speak easy to me)	Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with bass saxophone, cornet, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W140864	10-in.	8/25/1925	You can't do what my last man did	Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with bass saxophone, cornet, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W140936	10-in.	9/12/1925	Pickaninny blues	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with ukulele and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141163	10-in.	10/20/1925	Sweet man	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Columbia	W141164	10-in.	10/20/1925	Dinah	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Columbia	W141207	10-in.	10/28/1925	No man's mamma	Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with bass saxophone, cornet, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141208	10-in.	10/28/1925	Tell 'em about me	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano	songwriter, vocalist
Columbia	W141209	10-in.	10/28/1925	Maybe not at all	Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with bass saxophone, cornet, and piano	songwriter, vocalist
Columbia	W141429	10-in.	12/23/1925	Shake that thing	Ethel Waters ; Pearl Wright	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141542	10-in.	1/22/1926	I've found a new baby	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141543	10-in.	1/22/1926	Make me a pallet on the floor	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141544	10-in.	1/22/1926	Bring your greenbacks	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141688	10-in.	2/17/1926	After all these years	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141689	10-in.	2/17/1926	Throw dirt in your face	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141690	10-in.	2/17/1926	I'm saving it all for you	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141704	10-in.	2/19/1926	Refrigeratin' papa	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141705	10-in.	2/19/1926	If you can't hold the man you love	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141706	10-in.	2/20/1926	Satisfyin' papa	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	songwriter, vocalist
Columbia	W141707	10-in.	2/20/1926	Sugar	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141708	10-in.	2/20/1926	I wonder what's become of Joe	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141709	10-in.	2/20/1926	You'll want me back	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	songwriter, vocalist
Columbia	W142476	10-in.	7/29/1926	Heebie jeebies	Ethel Waters and her Jazz Band	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano	vocalist, leader
Columbia	W142477	10-in.	7/29/1926	Ev'rybody mess aroun'	Ethel Waters and her Jazz Band	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano	vocalist, leader
Columbia	W142614	10-in.	9/14/1926	He brought joy to my soul	Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer") and vocal ensemble, unaccompanied	vocalist
Columbia	W142615	10-in.	9/14/1926	Take what you want	Ethel Waters ; Pearl Wright	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W142649	10-in.	9/18/1926	I'm coming, Virginia	Ethel Waters Singing Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo ("blues singer") and vocal ensemble	vocalist
Columbia	W142650	10-in.	9/18/1926	We don't need each other any more	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quartet	vocalist
Columbia	W142651	10-in.	9/18/1926	My special friend is back in town	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W142703	10-in.	9/29/1926	It takes a good woman	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W142704	10-in.	9/29/1926	Jersey walk	Ethel Waters ; Pearl Wright	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W144100	10-in.	5/6/1927	Weary feet	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	vocalist
Columbia	W144101	10-in.	5/6/1927	Smile!	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	vocalist
Columbia	W144102	10-in.	5/6/1927	Home	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	vocalist
Columbia	W144103	10-in.	5/6/1927	Take your black bottom outside	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	vocalist
Columbia	W144404	10-in.	6/28/1927	Big Ben	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W144405	10-in.	6/28/1927	Keep an eye on your man	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W144406	10-in.	6/28/1927	I want my sweet daddy now	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W144407	10-in.	6/28/1927	Clorinda	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W144863	10-in.	10/14/1927	One sweet letter from you	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	vocalist
Columbia	W144864	10-in.	10/14/1927	Someday sweetheart	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	vocalist
Columbia	W144867	10-in.	10/14/1927	Some of these days	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	vocalist
Columbia	W144868	10-in.	10/14/1927	It hurts so good	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	vocalist
Columbia	W146871	10-in.	8/21/1928	Lonesome swallow	James P. Johnson ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W146872	10-in.	8/21/1928	Guess who's in town	James P. Johnson ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W146873	10-in.	8/21/1928	My handy man	James P. Johnson ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W146874	10-in.	8/21/1928	Do what you did last night	James P. Johnson ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W146881	10-in.	8/23/1928	West End blues	Ethel Waters ; Clarence Williams	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W146882	10-in.	8/23/1928	Organ grinder blues	Ethel Waters ; Clarence Williams	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W146883	10-in.	8/23/1928	Get up off your knees	Ethel Waters ; Clarence Williams	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W146884	10-in.	8/23/1928	My baby sure knows how to love	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W148531	10-in.	5/14/1929	Birmingham Bertha	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist
Columbia	W148532	10-in.	5/14/1929	Am I blue?	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist
Columbia	W148670	10-in.	6/6/1929	Second handed man	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with piano	songwriter, vocalist
Columbia	W148671	10-in.	6/7/1929	True blue Lou	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Columbia	W148672	10-in.	6/7/1929	Do I know what I'm doing?	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Columbia	W148673	10-in.	6/7/1929	Shoo shoo bogie boo	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Columbia	W148734	10-in.	7/8/1929	Georgia blues	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W148735	10-in.	7/8/1929	I like the way he does it	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W148798	10-in.	7/11/1929	Waiting at the end of the road	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist
Columbia	W148799	10-in.	7/11/1929	Trav'lin' all alone	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist
Columbia	W148804	10-in.	7/11/1929	Long lean lanky mama	Ethel Waters ; Pearl Wright	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W148805	10-in.	7/11/1929	Better keep your eye on your man	Ethel Waters ; Pearl Wright	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W150159	10-in.	4/1/1930	Porgy	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo	vocalist
Columbia	W150160	10-in.	4/1/1930	(What did I do to be so) Black and blue	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo	vocalist
Columbia	W150562	10-in.	6/3/1930	My kind of a man	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo	vocalist
Columbia	W150563	10-in.	6/3/1930	You brought a new kind of love to me	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo	vocalist
Columbia	W150747	10-in.	8/29/1930	You're lucky to me	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Columbia	W150748	10-in.	8/29/1930	Memories of you	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Columbia	W150966	10-in.	11/18/1930	I got rhythm	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist
Columbia	W150967	10-in.	11/18/1930	Three little words	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist
Columbia	W151298	10-in.	2/10/1931	When your lover has gone	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo	vocalist
Columbia	W151299	10-in.	2/10/1931	Please don't talk about me when I'm gone	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo	vocalist
Columbia	W151613	10-in.	6/16/1931	You can't stop me from lovin' you	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo	vocalist
Columbia	W151614	10-in.	6/16/1931	Without that gal!	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo	vocalist
Columbia	W151718	10-in.	8/10/1931	River, stay 'way from my door	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist
Columbia	W151719	10-in.	8/10/1931	Shine on, harvest moon	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist
Columbia	W152521	10-in.	10/10/1933	Heat wave	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Columbia	W152522	10-in.	10/10/1933	Harlem on my mind	Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Columbia	W152566	10-in.	11/27/1933	I just couldn't take it, baby	Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Columbia	W152567	10-in.	11/27/1933	A hundred years from today	Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Ethel Waters	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Brunswick	12689-12691	10-in.	3/11/1924	I ain’t gonna marry, ain’t gonna settle down	Fletcher Henderson's Jazz Five ; Viola McCoy	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance quintet	songwriter
Decca	38349	10-in.	8/20/1934	Miss Otis regrets	Ethel Waters		vocalist
Decca	38350	10-in.	8/20/1934	Dinah	Ethel Waters		vocalist
Decca	38351	10-in.	8/20/1934	When it's sleepy time down South	Ethel Waters		vocalist
Decca	38352	10-in.	8/20/1934	Moonglow	Ethel Waters		vocalist
Decca	38548	10-in.	9/5/1934	Give me a heart to sing to	Ethel Waters		vocalist
Decca	38549	10-in.	9/5/1934	I ain't gonna sin no more	Ethel Waters		vocalist
Decca	38550	10-in.	9/5/1934	Trade mark	Ethel Waters		vocalist
Decca	38551	10-in.	9/5/1934	You're going to leave the old home, Jim-1	Ethel Waters		vocalist
Decca	63130	10-in.	1/5/1938	You're a sweetheart	Ethel Waters		vocalist
Decca	63131	10-in.	1/5/1938	How can I face this worried world alone?	Ethel Waters		vocalist
Decca	63132	10-in.	1/5/1938	I'll get along somehow	Ethel Waters		vocalist

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Waters, Ethel," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104683.

Waters, Ethel. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104683.

"Waters, Ethel." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.