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 26-50 of 121 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
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

(Results 26-50 of 121 records)

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.