Stage Name, aka |
Birth Name |
| Anita O'day |
Anita Belle Colton |
| "The Jezebel of Jazz" |
|
Leaving home at age 14 she started dancing in Dance
Marathons at a young age and danced with Frankie Lane. During the marathons she would eventually
start singing (Lady In Red) as entertainment for tips
and finally quit the marathons all together and became a singer
in 1936.
As time went on with her singing as an American
jazz singer ... she would sing Swing, Jazz, and Bop with the likes
of Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa (1941-43,) Roy Eldridge, Stan Kenton
(1944-45,) Woody Herman etc. and went on the road for 32 years
with John Poole. She was also inducted into the Jazz Hall of Fame
in Miami November 21, 1997.
O'Day's long-term problems with heroin and alcohol
addiction and her often erratic behavior related to those problems
earned her the nickname "The Jezebel of Jazz." She finally
kicked the Habit (yay for her) in 1968. Recorded 17 albums with Verve Records
over a two-decade period. |
Burlesque 
