Wednesday, June 23, 2021

June 23 - Helen Humes (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for June 23rd are found here: Carl Reinecke (2019) and Stuart Sutcliffe (2020)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

   

Helen Humes (23 June 1913 – 9 September 1981) was an American jazz and blues singer.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of Humes I Speak

She returned to the United States in 1967 to take care of her ailing mother.  At this point Humes viewed her singing career as a part of her past. She took a job at a local ammunition plant. From 1967 to 1973, she did not work as a singer, but was persuaded her to perform at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1973. This performance led to a revival of her career in music.

Humes said of her career, "I'm not trying to be a star! I want to work and be happy and just go along and have my friends – and that's my career." ---adapted from Wikipedia


Helen Humes, whose busy career

   Kept her center stage

Decided she would disappear

   In quiet middle age.


She took a job from 9 to 5,

   No vain ambitions drove her;

No more touring dive to dive,

   Her singing days were over!


Many years went by and when

  She still remained admired,

They asked her if she’d sing again --

   And so she un-retired.


Envoi


A second harvest from the plant

   Might seem a dubious thing,

But Fate may intervene and grant

   A late autumnal spring.

 

 

If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing.  [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Takes: Great Art Repurposed.] 

 

 

 

 

 

No comments:

Post a Comment