Frances Wayne (born Chiarina Francesca Bertocci, August 26, 1924 – February 6, 1978) was an American jazz vocalist. She was best known for her recording of ''Happiness Is Just a Thing Called Joe.
Wayne was born in Boston and graduated from Somerville High
School. She took the name Frances Wayne sometime before 1940, when she started
singing with Sam Donahue’s band. In 1941 she went to New York to work with her
brother, clarinetist and bandleader Nick Jerret. She began to make a name for
herself in New York during 1942 when sang with Jerry Wald’s new outfit at the
Roseland Ballroom in March of that year, and the following month she appeared
with Nick Jerret’s six-piece combo at Jive Canyon. In May, she joined Charlie
Barnet’s orchestra, where she stayed for four months, recording with the band
on one of its classic numbers, “That Old Black Magic.”
A 1942 review in Billboard magazine described her as "a
striking brunette with a true contralto, perfect rhythm, and, most interesting,
a brand-new style...of deep understanding and feeling for the spirit of what
she sings." After leaving Barnet, Wayne hit the nightclub circuit for a
year, sometimes singing with Jerret, before joining Woody Herman’s Herd in late
1943. It’s with Herman that she sealed her fame and is best remembered. She
stayed with the band for more than two years, performing on several of their
most popular numbers.
It was during her stint with Woody Herman’s Orchestra that
she made her most famous record “Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe.” Wayne’s
vocal talents put her in high demand during this period. In July 1945, Herman’s
label, Decca, agreed to lend her to Victor for one disk so that she could
record with Duke Ellington. And in
September of that year, Columbia, who was then marketing Herman’s records, gave her permission to cut solo material on the Musicraft label. It was an unusual decision, and the first time that a singer had been allowed to record solo on another label while still remaining with their band. She cut four songs for Musicraft, backed by the orchestra of Ralph Burns.
September of that year, Columbia, who was then marketing Herman’s records, gave her permission to cut solo material on the Musicraft label. It was an unusual decision, and the first time that a singer had been allowed to record solo on another label while still remaining with their band. She cut four songs for Musicraft, backed by the orchestra of Ralph Burns.
While with Herman, Wayne met trumpet player Neal Hefti. The
two fell in love and married on November 3, 1945, in Boston. Hefti quit the
band in January 1946, and Wayne left the following month after a disagreement
on salary. It was during this time that Wayne was awarded the 1946 Esquire
Award as Best New Female Vocalist.
She hit the nightclub circuit again, and in June 1947 signed a one-year deal with the Exclusive label, where she recorded backed by the orchestras of Buddy Baker, Les Robinson, and Hefti. She also appeared with Shorty Sherock’s orchestra in their 1947 self-titled musical short.
She hit the nightclub circuit again, and in June 1947 signed a one-year deal with the Exclusive label, where she recorded backed by the orchestras of Buddy Baker, Les Robinson, and Hefti. She also appeared with Shorty Sherock’s orchestra in their 1947 self-titled musical short.
In July 1951, Wayne and Hefti signed as a couple to Coral
Records. The label planned to market them as a Mr. and Mrs. band, backed by
studio musicians, with Wayne also recording solo. They recorded together until
1953, when Wayne decided to retire from the music business and have children.
Pat O’Connor replaced her as Hefti’s vocalist.
Wayne didn’t stay retired for long however. She returned to
singing in the mid-1950s and went back on the nightclub circuit before
rejoining her husband as vocalist with his new jazz combo in August 1956. Wayne
also recorded solo on Epic in 1956 and on
Atlantic and Brunswick in 1957.
Atlantic and Brunswick in 1957.
In 1960, the couple moved to California, settling in Encino,
and Wayne retired from singing again to take care of their two children. Hefti
and Wayne were presenters at the 1961 Grammy awards. Wayne, however, never
performed again except for a comeback appearance in November 1974 at Dante’s,
after their children had grown. She planned to continue her singing career at
that time, but it never materialized. During her recording career she made some
100 records including 5 LP’s.
On February 6, 1978, Wayne died in the Massachusetts General
Hospital, Boston at age 58 "after a long bout with cancer."
(A big thank you to Autumn Lancing @ BandChirps for most of
the biographical information.)
1 comment:
For “Frances Wayne & Neal Hefti - Mr & Mrs Music” go here:
https://www.upload.ee/files/10405678/Frances_Wayne___Neil_Hefti_1947-1952_.rar.html
1. Cheatin' On Me 3:00
2. Didja Ever 2:51
3. Corner To Corner 2:45
4. If You Hadn't Gone Away 2:52
5. Kissin' Bug Boogie 2:50
6. Bing Bong Bing 2:22
7. Cabin In The Cotton 2:54
8. Regular Man 2:57
9. Don't Be That Way 2:38
10. Always 2:29
11. Ev'rytime 2:55
12. Lonesome And Blue 2:43
13. Siboney 2:23
14. Jambalaya 2:44
15. Two-Faced Clock 2:51
16. Somebody Loves Me 2:30
17. Mean To Me 2:26
18. Stormy Weather 3:13
19. I Just Couldn't Take It Baby 2:53
20. You're Lucky To Me 3:01
21. Heat Wave 2:20
22. Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe 3:10
23. Miss Otis Regrets 3:06
24. A Hundred Years From Today 2:58
25. Am I Blue? 2:58
26. Coral Reef 2:56
27.Sure Thing 2:40
28. Why Not? 2:30
A very big thank you to Tunesmith for original post.
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Also a very big thank you to Cheerful Earful for the active link for
Frances Wayne (1957) (password: thecheerful)
https://www.mediafire.com/file/82j2wkvrc8ocyyj/FWy.zip/file
1. Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe
2. Ev'rytime
3. I Wouln't Be Where I Am
4. Miss Otis Regrets
5. Am I Blue
6. Stormy Weather
7. Mean To Me
8. Bill
9. Siboney
10. A Hundred Years From Today
11. Heat Wave
12. I Just Couldn't Take It Baby
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