Marilyn Duke

Marilyn Duke learned to sing in a choir at her church, likely the Macedonia Baptist Church in Jackson, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. Though, according to a 1995 interview (the year she died) in the Atlanta Constitution, at an early age, she preferred the gospel music of a nearby black church.

In 1933, under the product brand pseudonym of "Miss Seiberling," Duke performed on broadcast radio WGST, Wednesdays, 7:15 pm. The radio name was that of the Seiberling Rubber Company, a national tire manufacturer distributed by the Brooks-Shatterly Company, Inc., of Atlanta. In 1934, Duke, under her birth name, Manfrey Duke, sang regularly on WSB radio in Atlanta.

After winning a radio audition contest around 1934, Duke headed to New York City, where, from December 30, 1934, to 1936 (and later), she sang regularly on NBC radio and the Mutual Broadcasting Company. She was billed as a blues singer and contralto. Her radio broadcasts included performances with the orchestras of Leon Brusiloff (1898–1973) and his brother Nathan Brusiloff (1904–1951) and Paul Whiteman. In 1935, her broadcast performances were sometimes with the Charioteers, a male choral quartet. Beginning December 30, 1934, Duke sang on WOR two or three times a week – typically Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 5:15 pm. She sang 15-minute segments, usually. The WOR broadcasts were carried on the Mutual Network.

From Mid to late-1930s, Duke, as vocalist, was the star attraction for Manny Gates (né Emanuel Getzholtz; 1894–1957) Orchestra in Miami She joined Jolly Coburn's (né Frank Harry Coburn; 1900–1964) Orchestra, a society band, around July 1937 after playing a piano stint at a Boston nightclub. Duke also sang with the Shep Fields Orchestra in 1937 (in Philadelphia).

On New Year's Eve 1940, at age twenty-four – {{Age in years, months, weeks and days |month1=01 |day1=12 |year1=1940 |month2=12 |day2=31 |year2=1940}} after the death of her father – Duke debuted with the Vaughn Monroe Orchestra at the Statler Hotel Boston, eight months after Monroe founded the orchestra. Her father died January 8, 1940, of injuries as a pedestrian struck by a truck. Monroe formed his orchestra April 1940 in Miami at the urging and sponsorship of band agent Willard Alexander (1908–1984) and New England–based band leader Jack Marshard (né Jacob Marshard; 1910–1948), who saw an opportunity when offered two simultaneous bookings. Marshard became his manager. Marylin Duke was Monroe's first female vocalist. She had been working as a pianist-singer at a Boston nightclub; but because an infected finger interrupted her playing, she auditioned for Vaughn Monroe and was promptly signed. Her notoriety rose rapidly during her tenure with Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra as a featured singer.

She left the Monroe Orchestra around June 1943 to join the WAAC, but instead, continued performing, which included a two-month stint with Tommy Dorsey. That same year (1943), Duke also sang with Will Osborne and His Orchestra. Filling the void, Monroe hired Phyllis Lynne July 31, 1943, in Los Angeles, to replace Duke. Monroe gave Lynne her East Coast debut on September 14, 1943, in New York City at the Paramount.

Around June 1944, Duke began a 10-week solo engagement at the Frolic Club (aka, the Frolic Theatre Restaurant), in Revere, Massachusetts, at 155 Revere Beach Boulevard. But, apparently before finishing, she was back with Vaughn Monroe by mid-July 1944, replacing Del Parker. In September 1944, she married Peter O'Brien, a Boston amusement park owner.

She then permanently left the orchestra around January 1945. Yet, on April 14, 1945, Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra featured Duke, with Bobby Ricky, in Dayton, Ohio, at the Lakeside Park Ballroom.

A large part of Vaughn Monroe's repertoire featured the singing of Monroe, himself, as well as Marilyn Duke, Ziggy Talent, The Murphy Sisters, and The Moonmaids.

In December 1945, she was performing at the Music Box in Boston.

• 1942: Billboard's "Collegiate Choice of Female Vocalists," Duke received votes for first and second choice.
• April 12, 1942: A swing magazine presented Marilyn Duke with an award during Vaughn Monroe's final performance, after a long engagement, at the Commodore Hotel in New York
• The February 1942 issue of Big Song Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 2 ({{oclc|19509187}}), Vaughn Monroe, Marilyn Duke, and Sammy Kaye were on the cover.
• In January 1945, Duke's rendition of "The Trolley Song," became a top-ten hit. That song, and the one on the flip side, "The Very Thought of You," were recorded Sunday, November 12, 1944, at Victor's studio in New York, 18 hours after the 27-month Petrillo Ban had been lifted. The session represented Victor's first since the ban. Both songs were pressed and on sale only 24 hours later. Victor Victor distributed 160,000 copies throughout the country before the week was out.

{{refbegin}}

{{ordered list|start=1

|"Foolin' Myself" (fox trot)

Recorded June 24, 1937, New York City

Jack Lawrence (w&m)

Peter Tinturin (1910–2007) (w&m)

({{YouTube|dUmV77E0-qg|audio}})

Jolly Coburn and His Orchestra

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Side A (matrix 11114): Bluebird B-7041-A

}}

{{refend}}

{{refbegin}}

{{ordered list|start=2

|"Foolin' Myself" (fox trot)

Recorded June 24, 1937, New York City

Jack Lawrence (w&m)

Peter Tinturin (1910–2007) (w&m)

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Side ? (matrix 11114): Regal Zonophone MR 2598

}}

{{refend}}

Source:

{{refbegin|30em}}

{{ordered list|start=3

|"There'll Be Some Changes Made"

Recorded January 13, 1941

William Benton Overstreet (1888–1935) (music)

Billy Higgins (né William Weldon Higgins; 1888–1937) (words)

({{YouTube|QB63YWLFrmA|audio}})

Marylin Duke (vocalist)

Bobby Nichols (né Robert J. Nichols; 1924–1975) (trumpet solo)

Side A (matrix 060317{{=}}1): Bluebird B-11025-A

{{oclc|80421652}}

|"My One Romance"

Recorded January 13, 1941

Olga Paul (words)

Tschaikowsky (music)

Helmy Kresa (arranger)

Marylin Duke (vocalist)

Side A (matrix 060318{{=}}1): Bluebird B-11045-A

{{oclc|244292622|84490225}}

|"Requestfully Yours"

Recorded February 17, 1941

Kay Werner (Kay Werner Kent) (w&m)

Sue Werner (Sue Werner McCarthy) (w&m)

({{YouTube|kEkB52KS00Q|audio}})

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Frank Levine (alto sax solo)

Nichols (trumpet solo)

Side B (matrix 60650{{=}}1): Bluebird B-11070-B

{{oclc|82407821}}

|"Just Plain Folks" (fox trot)

Recorded February 17, 1941, New York City

Tiny Hill (w&m)

Mary Ray (w&m)

Harold Dillon (w&m)

Marilyn Duke (vocals)

Side A (matrix 060652{{=}}1): Bluebird B-11085-A

{{oclc|84124275}}

|"Thumbs Up" (fox trot)

Recorded February 17, 1941, New York City

Johnny Watson (w&m)

Marilyn Duke (vocals)

Side A (matrix 060654{{=}}1): Bluebird B-11103-A

{{oclc|244442524}}

|"G'Bye Now" (fox trot)

Recorded March 31, 1941

From the musical:

: Hellz-a-Poppin

John S. Olsen (w&m)

Clifford Johnson (w&m)

Jay Levison (pseudonym of Jay Livingston) (w&m)

Ray Evans (w&m)

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Side A (matrix 062793{{=}}1): Bluebird B-11114-A

{{oclc|62468093}}

|"Music Makers"

Recorded March 31, 1941

Don Raye, Harry James

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Side B (matrix 062791{{=}}1): Bluebird B-11114-B

{{oclc|83466554}}

|"Yours" ("Quieréme Mucho")

Recorded April 21, 1941, New York City

Jack Sher (English words)

Agustin Rodriguez (Spanish words)

Gonzalo Roig (music)

({{YouTube|OntN1BJZJg4|audio}})

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Side B: (matrix 063796{{=}}1): Bluebird B-11146-B

{{oclc|83668038}}

|"Aurora"

Recorded April 21, 1941, New York City

Roberto Roberti

Mário Lago (pt)

English lyrics by Harold Adamson

Spanish lyrics by Pedro Berriós

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

The Bostonians (vocalists)

Side A: (matrix 063795{{=}}1): Bluebird B-11160-A

|"The Monkey on a String"

Recorded April 21, 1941, New York City

({{YouTube|X-OxZNTdI2g|audio}})

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Side B: (matrix 063794{{=}}2): Bluebird B-11160-B

|"Love Me As I Am"

Recorded May 19, 1941

From the Paramount film:

: Caught in the Draft

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Side B (matrix 065630{{=}}2): Bluebird B-11173-B

{{oclc|78131897}}

|"Daddy" (fox trot)

Recorded May 19, 1941

Robert W. Troup, Jr. (w&m)

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Side A (matrix 065626{{=}}1): Bluebird B-11189-A

{{oclc|80737103}}

|"The Worm Who Loved The Little 'Tater-Bug'" (fox Trot)

Recorded June 16, 1941

Len Charles Conn (w&m)

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Side B (matrix 066109{{=}}1): Bluebird B-11207-B

{{oclc|81442242}}

|"Love Me A Little" (fox trot)

Recorded June 30, 1941

Herbie Holmes (w&m)

Howard Smith (w&m)

Ellen Orr (pseudonym of Harry DeCosta) (w&m)

({{YouTube|dnNe1SeabT4|audio}})

Marilyn Duke (vocal refrain)

Side A (066433{{=}}1): Bluebird B-11221-A

{{oclc|259959977|83120490}}

|"One, Two, Three O'Lairy"

Recorded August 15, 1941

Don Reid (w&m)

Max Chamiton (w&m)

(Oh! My! Whoa! Mary!) (fox trot)

({{YouTube|0zICa5mV2Og|audio}})

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Vaughn Monroe (vocalist)

Arnold Ross (1921–2000) (piano solo)

Side A (067581{{=}}1): Bluebird B-11283-A

{{oclc|261400802}}

|"The Window Washer Man"

Recorded September 2, 1941

Hugo Malanga (words)

Marion Barry (music)

({{YouTube|E5BxrThU7Ew|audio}})

Ziggy Talent

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Side B (matrix 067734{{=}}1): Bluebird B-11303-B

{{oclc|725171423}}

|"I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good"

Recorded September 2, 1941

From the 1941 musical revue:

: Jump For Joy

Paul Webster (words)

Duke Ellington (music)

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Side A (matrix 067732{{=}}1): Bluebird B-11310-A

{{oclc|62472084|83383595|83495336}}

|"I Don't Want To Walk Without You"

Recorded November 24, 1941

From the 1942 film:

: Sweater Girl

Frank Loesser (words)

Jule Styne (music)

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Side A (matrix 068349{{=}}1): Bluebird B-11399-A

{{oclc|30434697|876052838|81829120}} and {{oclc|77990320}}

|"Tica Ti-Tica Ta" (fox trot)

Recorded November 24, 1941

Louis Prima (w&m)

({{YouTube|NDP54LMXzCU|audio}})

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Ziggy Talent (vocalist)

Chorus (vocals)

Side B (matrix 068348{{=}}1): Bluebird B-11433-B

{{oclc|77611884}}

|"Pretty Little Busybody"

Recorded December 18, 1941

Al Lewis (w&m)

Larry Stock (w&m)

Vincent Rose (w&m)

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Jack Fay (bassist and vocalist)

Side B (matrix 068679{{=}}1): Bluebird B-11422-B

{{oclc|78456361}}

|"Honey Dear" (fox trot)

Recorded January 15, 1942, New York City

Floyd Hunt, Lester Melrose (w&m)

({{YouTube|_Omka4fyYA8|audio}})

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Bobby Nichols (né Robert J. Nichols; 1924–1975) (trumpet solo)

Side B (matrix 068886{{=}}1): Bluebird B-11454-B

{{oclc|79121196}}

|"Somebody Nobody Loves" (fox trot)

Recorded January 15, 1942, New York City

Gus Kahn (w&m)

George Hamilton (w&m)

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Side A (matrix 068885{{=}}1): Bluebird B-11445-A

{{oclc|255971938|78182412}}

|"My Little Cousin" (fox trot)

Recorded February 24, 1942

Yiddish version:

: Abe Schwartz (music)

: Hyman Prizant (1892–1947) (words)

American swing version:

: Herbert ("Happy") Lewis

: Sam Braverman (1898–1960)

: Cy Coben

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Side A (matrix 071959{{=}}1): Bluebird B-11488-A

{{oclc|77820128}}

}}

{{refend}}

{{refbegin}}

Bluebird Records is a sub-label of RCA Victor. During the WWII years (and the recording ban), Victor reissued hundreds of jazz records from its Bluebird library. After World War II, the Bluebird label was retired and its artists were re-issued on the RCA Victor label.

{{refend}}

{{refbegin|30em}}

{{ordered list|start=26

|"Requestfully Yours"

Recorded February 17, 1941

Kay Werner (Kay Werner Kent) (w&m)

Sue Werner (Sue Werner McCarthy) (w&m)

({{YouTube|kEkB52KS00Q|audio}})

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Side B: Victor 20-2825-B

{{oclc|83385963}}

|"G'Bye Now" (fox trot)

Recorded March 31, 1941

From the musical:

: Hellz-a-Poppin

John S. Olsen (w&m)

Clifford Johnson (w&m)

Jay Levison (pseudonym of Jay Livingston) (w&m)

Ray Evans (w&m)

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Re-issue

Side B (matrix 062793{{=}}1): Victor 20-2644-B

{{oclc|14980059|79337900}}

|"Yours" ("Quieréme Mucho") (fox trot)

Recorded April 21, 1941, New York City

Jack Sher (English words)

Agustin Rodriguez (Spanish words)

Gonzalo Roig (music)

({{YouTube|OntN1BJZJg4|audio}})

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Side A: Victor 20-2984-A

{{oclc|174525696}}

|"Doodle La Do Da" (fox trot)

Recorded September 30, 1941

John D. Watson (w&m)

Marilyn Duke and chorus (vocals)

Side B (matrix 071430{{=}}2): Victor 27892-B

{{oclc|900226181}}

|"All I Need Is You" (fox trot)

Recorded April 7, 1942

Peter De Rose (w&m)

Benny Davis (w&m)

Mitchell Parish (w&m)

Vaughn Monroe (trumpet); George "Spots" Esposito, Irving Goodman, Jack Hansen (trumpets); Ray Conniff, Art Dedrick, Ray Heath (trombones); Andrew Bagni (né Andrew Joseph Bagni; 1907–1984), Roy Anderson (alto saxes), Frank Levine, Johnny Turnbull, Ziggy Talent (tenor saxes); Arnold Ross (piano, arranger); Carmen Mastren (guitar), Jack Fay (bass); Harry Yaeger (drums), Marilyn Duke, Four Vees (vocals); Jimmy Mundy (arranger)

Side A (matrix 073816{{=}}1): Victor 27910-A

{{oclc|900226262|80793993}}

|"You Were Never Lovelier"

Recorded July 17, 1942

From the 1942 film:

: You Were Never Lovelier

Johnny Mercer (words)

Jerome Kern (music)

Marilyn Duke, Four Lee Sisters (vocals)

(matrix: 075433{{=}}1): Victor 27958

{{oclc|900226334}}

}}

{{refend}}

{{refbegin|30em}}

{{ordered list|start=32

|"Happy-Go-Lucky" (1943)

Used in the 1943 film:

: Happy Go Lucky

Frank Loesser (words)

Jimmy McHugh (words)

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Side B: Victor 20-1524-B

{{oclc|839934304}}

|"How Blue The Night"

Recorded around 1944

Harold Adamson (words)

Jimmy McHugh (music)

(female vocalist uncredited)

(likely Marilyn Duke)

|"The Very Thought of You"

Recorded November 12, 1944

Victor Studios, New York City

Released November 13, 1944

From the 1944 film:

: The Very Thought of You

Ray Noble (w&m)

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Side A: Victor 20-1605-A

{{oclc|62472718}}

|"The Trolley Song" (fox trot) (1944)

Recorded November 12, 1944

Victor Studios, New York City

From the 1944 M-G-M film:

: Meet Me in St. Louis

Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane (w&m)

({{YouTube|CyO6YQGxeX4|audio}})

Vaughn Monroe and Marilyn Duke (vocal duet)

Side B: Victor 20-1605-B

{{oclc|62472718}}

}}

{{refend}}

{{refbegin|50em}}

{{ordered list

| WOR's Dedication of the Fifty Kilowatt Transmitter, in Newark

March 4, 1935, 8:00 pm

A variety program from Carnegie Hall, as WOR, increases its power output to fifty-thousand watts

Bert Lahr, Borrah Minevitch and the Harmonica Rascals, Deems Taylor (host), Eddie Dowling, Edward Bowes, Ethel Merman, Fannie Hurst, Gabriel Heatter, Harry Hershfield, Jack Pearl, Jan Peerce, Jean Goldkette, Lanny Ross, Pat Padgett (1898–1990), Pick Malone (né Andrew Pickens Maloney; 1893–1962), Ray Bolger, Sugar Kane (11-year-old "Sweetheart of the air"), the Charioteers, the Pickens Sisters, Victor Moore, Wee Willie Robine (William Robyn; 1894–1996), Tiny Ruffner (1899–1983), Harry Salter (1898–1984) (conductor), Harlan Eugene Reid, Gene Buck (President of ASCAP), Jack R. Poppele (1898–1986) (Chief Engineer of WOR), The WOR Orchestra, Fie Dudley, William Gaxton, Frances Williams, Mischa Violin (1899–1984), Monsignor LaVelle (né Michael Joseph Lavelle; 1856–1939), Jack Arthur (né Arthur E. Campbell; 1900–1980), The Hometown Boys, Alfred McCosker (1886–1959) (president of WOR), Eddie Brown (1895–1974) (violinist), Elsie Janis, Goeta Jungberg, George Schackley (WOR, musical director), Ben Bernie, The WOR Piano Quintet, John Gambling (does a satire of his gym-class program), Sandra Svenska, Joseph Weber (president of the American Federation of Musicians), The Moonbeams, Marilyn Duke, The Song Weavers, Jan Peerce

| Broadcast

Coca Cola Spotlight Bands

Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra

Longacre Theatre, New York City

January 13, 1942, 10:15 to 10:30 {{smallcaps|pm}}

WOR: Mutual Broadcasting System

Track 3: "Tica Ti-Tica Ta"

: Louis Prima (w&m)

: Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

: Gil Newsome (né Gilbert L. Newsome; 1916–1965) (announcer)

{{oclc|733771043|407835965}}

| Broadcast: Commodore Hotel, New York

Opening Night: Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra

September 28, 1944

Star Line SLC61105 (released 1987)

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Track 3: "Ten Days With Baby"

: From the 1944 film, Sweet and Low-Down

: Mack Gordon (words)

: James V. Monaco (music)

Track 5: "I'm Makin Believe"

: From the 1944 film, Sweet and Low-Down

: Mack Gordon (words)

: James V. Monaco (music)

{{oclc|21730065}}

| "Every Day of My Life" (1943–1944)

: Harry James (w&m)

: Billy Hays (né William Silas Hays; 1898–1972) (w&m)

: Morty Berk (né Marx Berkowitz; 1896–1955) (w&m)

"Ten Days With Baby"

: From the 1944 film, Sweet and Low-Down

: Mack Gordon (words)

: James V. Monaco (music)

Recorded at Liederkranz Hall, New York, July 10, 1944

Marilyn Duke (vocalist)

Lang-Worth transcription

Circle CCD116

{{oclc|37209934}}

}}

{{refend}}

• April 14, 1943: Coca-Cola Victory Parade of Spotlight Bands (over 168 stations on the Blue Network), broadcast from MacArthur Stadium, Syracuse; Duke and Dick Shanahan (drummer) were featured guests with Will Osborne and His Hollywood Band.

{{refbegin}}

{{ordered list|start=1

| "Darling I'm Dreaming of You"

Marilyn Duke (w&m)

E unpublished 175318

Miami Beach, Florida: Jack Reynolds

1st copy August 29, 1938

}}

{{refend}}

; Parents

Manfrey Lecta Duke was born to William Franklin Duke, Jr. (1874–1940), and Gussie Mae Vaughn (maiden; 1895–1961) — William Duke's second of two wives. Gussie, after the death of William Franklin Vaughn, married John Richardson. Manfrey Duke had 2 brothers and 1 sister. She also had 2 half-sisters and 1 half-brother from her father's first marriage to Margaret L ("Maggie") Scarbrough (maiden; 1874–1910).

; Husbands

:; Peter O'Brien

: Sometime around the fall of 1944, Marylin Duke married Peter O'Brien, who – according to a syndicated press announcement of their marriage – was a Boston amusement park magnate. They adopted two sons, Michael and Patrick. Their marriage ended in divorce.

:; Benjamin Cushing Bowker

: Marylin Duke was known as Manfred L. Bowker when she died August 7, 1995, in Clayton County, Georgia. She had been residing in Fayetteville, Fayette County, Georgia. She was the widow of Benjamin Cushing Bowker (1912–1968), a native of Quincy, Massachusetts, who died in an auto accident in Jackson County, Georgia. At the time of his death, they were residents of Dorchester, Massachusetts. Bowker was a 1933 alumnus of Harvard and 1934 alumnus of Boston Teachers College; early in his career, Bowker had been a journalist from Boston. He later worked in corporate public relations. Darren Bowker (born 1974), a grandson of Benjamin Bowker and Joan C. Valentas (1913–1979), Benjamin's first wife, is a winemaker with Serenity Vineyards in Penn Yan, in the Finger Lakes region of New York.

; Death

Duke suffered a stroke in 1990 and was treated at Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta. Her maternal 1st cousin, Marilyn Jean Howell (née Vaughn), cared for her until her death August 7, 1995. Duke is buried in Crest Lawn Memorial Park, Atlanta, in the family plot of her maternal Aunt Clara Belle Tarrant (née Vaughn; 1899–1982)

• Marilyn Duke and Matty Principal at the Moulin Rouge Hotel, Las Vegas, June 5, 1955 (12 days after the hotel's official grand opening)

: Original source: Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas, Jay Florian Mitchell (1900–1984) Photo Collection

: Collection: The African American Experience in Las Vegas, UNLV Libraries

• Four V's (aka Four Vees), male quartet culled from the band
• 1942-194?: Four Lee Sisters (formerly known as Le Ahn Sisters), Jean, Miriam, Virginia, and Maree:

• 1942–194?: Ziggy Talent (1912–1997)

• Vaughn Monroe became the host for a radio show sponsored by Camel Cigarettes. Beginning July 1942, Monroe and his Orchestra aired 30 minutes, Monday's, at 8:30, Eastern time, on CBS Radio from the Rhodes Ballroom, Providence, Rhode Island. According to Marilyn Jean Howell (née Vaughn) — Marilyn Duke's maternal 1st cousin who cared for her during the last five years of her life – Duke was a chain smoker of Camel Cigarettes.

{{refbegin}}

• [https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Vaughn_Monroe_/conversations/messages/771+&cd=12&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us Yahoo discussion group]
• Daniel C. Gabel (born 1988) is a trombonist and founder/leader of The Abletones (a big band specializing in 1930s and 1940s music). He is a jazz history scholar, particularly the big band era. He holds two bachelor's degrees from UMass (Political Science and, from the UMass Commonwealth Honors College, Jazz History). In 2014, he earned a master's degree from the New England Conservatory of Music; his thesis was on Vaughn Monroe; he is the president and CEO of The American Big Band Preservation Society, Inc. ({{URL|http://www.americanbigband.org}}), a Massachusetts 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity; as of 2016, in Worcester, Gabel is director of music at his alma mater (class of 2007), Holy Name Central Catholic Jr./Sr. High School and director of jazz programs, Worcester Youth Orchestras
• The Online Discographical Project, Camron Shane Settlemier (domain registrant), Albany, Oregon ({{URL|78discography.com}})

1. [http://www.78discography.com/BB11000.htm "Bluebird numerical listings 11000–11500"]
2. "Victor 20000–20500" (Victor Matrix Nos.)

• [http://necmusic.edu/archives/vaughn-monroe The Vaughn Monroe Collection], Special Collections, New England Conservatory Library; {{oclc|733957564}}

{{refend}}

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha|30em|refs=

The Frolic Theatre and Restaurant operated as a bar until the Harry Della Russo (1907–1973) and Cella (James, 1892–1962; and Michael, 1895–{{space|2}}) families acquired it in the 1930s, turning it into a world-class entertainment complex. ([https://books.google.com/books?id=rTUZaHGyZ4YC&pg=PA96 Revere] by William J. Craig, Arcadia Publishing, 2004; {{oclc|57495324}})

Mannie Gates (né Emanuel Getzholtz; 1894–1957) led an orchestra in Miami

Sam Braverman (né Sam William Braverman; 1898–1960) was a Russian-born American musician-songwriter and tenor from Rochester, New York; in the mid- to late 1920s, he sang on WHAM radio, and, from 1919 to 1959, he was associated with Neisner Bros., Inc., namely as head buyer of sheet music and records ([https://books.google.com/books?id=xh8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA11&lpg=PA11&dq=Braverman "Braverman Dies at 61,"], Billboard, April 18, 1960)

Harry DeCosta (né Harry Milton DeCosta; 1885–1964) (ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, 1980; {{oclc|12259500}})

Jack B. Reynolds (born 1904) was a pianist at a hotel in Miami Beach owned by James Henry Brennan (1878–1960) (ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, 1980; {{oclc|12259500}})

Don Reid (né Donald Reid; born 1915) (ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, 1980; {{oclc|12259500}})

Johnny Watson (né John Kluczko; 1912–1977) (ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, 1980; {{oclc|12259500}})

Joseph Henabery directed a short film about "Jolly Coburn"

Jolly Coburn (né Frank Harry Coburn; 1900–1964) grew up in Binghamton, New York; and, upon graduating from Binghamton High School in 1919, received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy (admission date was June 13, 1919 — Midshipman class of 1923). But he resigned January 13, 1920. ([https://books.google.com/books?id=BU1JAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA198 Annual Register of the United States Naval Academy; 1919–1920]) He flourished as a danceband leader in the mid- to late-1930s; Coburn sometimes used the pseudonyms "Frank Ferris" and "Wally Bishop"

Ziggy Talent (né Zigmund James Talent; 1912–1997) was a saxophonist and featured vocalist; he was from Boston

[https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/bitstream/handle/10288/139/fh19441206.pdf "Record Snatches and Catches,"] by Bobby Steely, The Flat Hat, Vol. 34, No. 10, December 6. 1945, pg. 3

Eddy Brown (1895–1974) had been a child prodigy violinist who, as a child, studied with Leopold Auer

Arnold Ross (ne Arnold Rosenberg; 1921–2000) was a prolific jazz pianist, organist, and arranger, and studio musician (ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, 1980; {{oclc|12259500}})

Brooks-Shatterly Company, Inc., was an Atlanta distributor of Seiberling Tires, automobile accessories, and hardware; the company name reflected its two key executives, Everett Clinton Shatterly (1893–1959), president, and Harry H. Brooks (né Henry Harrison Brooks; 1894–1954), secretary-treasurer

Leon Brusiloff (1898–1973), a violinist, is not the same person as Leon Brusilow (1897–1968), father of violinist, conductor, and music educator Anshel Brusilow; likewise, Nathan Brusiloff (1904–1951) — Leon Brusiloff's brother, also a violinist – is not the same person as Anshel Brusilow's brother, Nathan Brusilow (1920–2004), the late notable classical clarinetist from Philadelphia

Del Parker (née Ida Pikus; 1921–2000), also known in her youth as Adele Ethel Pikus, and known while singing with Jimmy Dorsey as Dee Parker, had been a singer with Ed Wynn and Jimmy Dorsey; she became known as Auntie Dee, on The Auntie Dee Show, a TV show from the 1950s; she sang a year with Vaughn Monroe and two years with Jimmy Dorsey; for her professional career, she changed her surname to Parker; Parker married Phillip M. Brestoff (1909–1967) in Chicago on June 3, 1943; he was the leader of a dance orchestra that she had been singing with; Brestoff later became a radio station executive; they moved to Hollywood in 1956; In 1968, after Brestoff's death, Dee married Guy Cherney (1917–1989)

During the swing era, most big bands featured a female and male vocalist; generally one singer primarily sang straight renditions of ballads, while the other was more of a rhythm singer, someone who swung tunes and, as was the case with Marylin Duke, sang the blues ([https://books.google.com/books?id=Xs_8j7s8xdoC&pg=PA172&lpg=PA172&dq=%22rhythm+singer Bebop], by Scott Yanow, Miller Freeman, Inc., 2000, pg. 172; {{oclc|47008488}})

The Vaughn Monroe Appreciation Society was founded in 2001; its website is maintained by Louis J. Kohnen, Jr., of East Rochester, New York, and Claire Schwartz of Dearborn, Michigan

Willard Alexander (né Willard Herman Alexander; 1908–1984) left MCA in 1937 to start a band booking division at the William Morris Agency, and ran it until 1947, when he left to form his own agency, Willard Alexander, Inc., based in New York City; he was known for having been an influential exponent of big band jazz during its heyday, and long after, until his death

Marylin Duke was known as the tallest female singer in the business. Published accounts state that she was 5'9". But her maternal 1st cousin, Marilyn Howell, who cared for her during her final 5 years of life, stated that she was 6 feet tall. For reference, Howell, herself, is 5'10"; Howell also said that Duke was a heavy smoker and had problems, before her stroke, with alcohol; Marilyn smoked Camel Cigarettes, the brand that Vaughn Monroe promoted beginning 1946

Phyllis Lynne (born 1919, Alameda, California) was a featured vocalist with Russ Morgan (1941–1943), Chico Marx (pre-cinema entertainment at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles (1943); Vaughn Monroe (1943–1944), Frankie Carle (1944–1945), and Bob Crosby (1945–1946); in line with her having done screen tests in Hollywood, Lynne left Crosby late 1946 to accept a role in the musical comedy Toplitzky of Notre Dame (George Marion, Jr., book and lyrics; Sammy Fain, music) which had pre-Broadway tryout performances (beginning October 31, 1946) in Boston at the Shubert Theatre and (beginning December 2, 1946) in Philadelphia at the Forrest Theatre, then went to the New Century Theatre on Broadway, where it ran for 60 performances over 7 weeks; at some point, Lynne also was a featured vocalist with Tex Williams {{nowrap|...}} and also Freddy Martin; Lynne quit show business to raise dalmatians, but found that her hobby was so expensive that she returned to singing, joining Carl Cotner (né Carl Benjamin Cotner; 1916–1986), Gene Autry's musical director, as vocalist with his band; also in 1950, Lynne sang on ABC from San Francisco in a show called Melody Promenade, with Phil Bavero (né Philip Martin Bavero; 1908–1985) and His Orchestra; Lynne got her first job in 1939 on the West Coast as soloist with Paul Pendarvis (né Paul Plumley Pendarvis; 1907–1987) (de) — before that, Lynne was in a trio called "The Boys and a Blonde;" Lynne was blonde, blue-eyed, and 5 ft. {{sfrac|2}} in. tall; Lynne received her primary and secondary education at Sarah Dix Hamlin School (founded 1863) in San Francisco (through mid-11th grade) and graduated from Beverly Hills High School around 1937; she attended UCLA for 1 year

Dick "Stinky" Rogers (aka Dick Robertson; 1912–1970), not to be confused with Richard Rodgers, was a lyricist, vocalist, comedian, band leader, and pianist. He had been a pianist and vocalist with Will Osborne; Osborne gave up his band to go to Hollywood in the latter part of 1940, Rogers took over as leader and continued its high musical quality through 1945, thanks in part to fine arrangements by Jerry Bittick (né Gerald R. Bittick); Stan Getz, at age 15, made his professional debut with Dick Rogers at the Roseland Ballroom in December 1942, and shortly after getting his AFM Local 802 union card on January 14, 1943, a truant officer yanked him off the job; meanwhile also in 1942, Osborne formed a new big band, and, in 1946, recorded for the Black & White Records, featuring vocalist Eileen Wilson, then disbanded after his last return to the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago in 1948; Rogers, as lyricist, and Earle Hagen, as composer, wrote "Harlem Nocturne," which, as an instrumental, became a jazz standard

}}

{{reflist|refs=

[http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2023/Elmira%20%20NY%20Star%20Gazette/Elmira%20NY%20Star%20Gazette%201945/Elmira%20NY%20Star%20Gazette%201945%20a%20%28429%29.pdf "The Voice of Broadway"] (syndicated column), by Dorothy Kilgallen, Elmira Star-Gazette, January 30, 1945

[http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2023/Jamestown%20NY%20Post%20Journal/Jamestown%20NY%20Post%20Journal%201944/Jamestown%20NY%20Post%20Journal%201944%20-%204463.pdf "Walter Winchell in New New York"] (syndicated column), by Walter Winchell, Jamestown Post-Journal, September 30, 1944

[https://books.google.com/books?id=un9rWzvn8lgC&pg=PA174 American Big Bands], by William Franklin Lee, Hal Leonard (2005), pps. 174–175; {{oclc|62090862}}

"Crashing Networks Is Tough Even If You Have A Manager," by Norman Siegel, Pittsburgh Press, November 18, 1934, Society Section, pg. 5

[http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2023/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer%201937/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer%201937%20-%205142.pdf "Camera Angles on Film Folk,"] by Mildred Martin, The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 18, 1937, pg. 11

[http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2023/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer%201944/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer%201944%20a%20-%203388.pdf "Recorded Music,"] The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 26, 1944

[http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2023/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer%201955/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer%201955%20a%20-%205092.pdf "Morty Berkowitz"] (obituary & paid death notice), The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 6, 1955, pg. 32, cols. 3 & 4

[http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2011/Medina%20NY%20Tribune/Medina%20NY%20Tribune%201941-1945%20%20Grayscale/Medina%20NY%20Tribune%201941-1945%20%20Grayscale%20-%200412.pdf "Society in Area Towns — Right Out of the Air,"] by Earle Ferris, New-York Tribune, July 16, 1942, pg. 5

[http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2011/New%20York%20Evening%20Post/New%20York%20NY%20Evening%20Post%201943%20Grayscale/New%20York%20NY%20Evening%20Post%201943%20a%20Grayscale%20-%203317.pdf "Music Makers,"] by Daniel Richman, New York Post, June 15, 1943, pg. 22

[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Radio-Mirror/41/Mirror-1941-Sep.pdf "Facing the Music,"] by Ken Alden, Radio and Television Mirror, September 1941, pps. 9 & 71

[https://archive.org/stream/radio00macf#page/n215/mode/2up/search/%22marilyn+duke%22 "Short, Short Story,"] Radio-Mirror, Vol. 8, No. 2, May 1937, pg. 74

[https://archive.org/stream/movie-and-radio-guide-1941-02-21#page/n35/mode/2up/search/%22marilyn+duke%22 "On The Bandwagon,"] by Maurice Granger, Movie and Radio Guide, Vol. 10, No. 19, February 15–21, 1941, pg. 36

[http://www.otrr.org/FILES/Magz_pdf/Nostalgia%20Newsletter/NostalgiaNewsLet_V09_(01)DecJan83.pdf "The Melody Lingers on for NFL Veep,"] by Michael Haggerty, Nostalgia Newsletter (Chuck Schaden, publisher, Morton Grove, Illinois), Vol. 9, No. 1, December–January 1982–1983; pg. 10; {{oclc|57593436}}

[http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2023/Jamestown%20NY%20Post%20Journal/Jamestown%20NY%20Post%20Journal%201944/Jamestown%20NY%20Post%20Journal%201944%20-%203323.pdf "Current Recording News,"] Jamestown Post-Journal, July 22, 1944, pg. 5

"Those Wild Radio Waves: WSB," Atlanta Daily World April 7, 1934, pg. 6 (retrieved June 16, 2016, via ProQuest Historical Newspapers)

"On The Radio Waves Today: Manfrey Duke, Southern Songbird, Will Sing Over WGST Tonight," by Samuel E. Clarke, Atlanta Constitution, June 7, 1936, pg. 7K (retrieved June 16, 2016, via ProQuest Historical Newspapers)

"Singer Features Brooks-Shatterly Weekly Broadcast," Atlanta Constitution, October 1, 1933, pg. 17A (retrieved June 16, 2016, via ProQuest Historical Newspapers)

"B. C. Bowker Services Tuesday in Boston," The Boston Globe, March 25, 1968, pg. 29 (retrieved June 16, 2016, via ProQuest Historical Newspapers)

"Jamming with the Big Guys Singer Loved It All, Well, Maybe Not The 'Apple Tree, by Michael Weiss, Atlanta Constitution, January 12, 1995 (retrieved June 16, 2016; ProQuest document ID: 293111489)

[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gabutts2/obits/D-1.html "Mr. W.F. Duke Laid to Rest at Macedonia,"] Jackson Progress-Argus, July 18, 1930 (retrieved June 22, 2016, via {{URL|http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com}})

[http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2018/Greenfield%20MA%20Recorder/Greenfield%20MA%20Recorder%20Gazette%201954/Greenfield%20MA%20Recorder%20Gazette%201954%20-%201531.pdf "Tours Important to Musicians Who Want to Please the Public,"] by Joey Sasso, Greenfield Recorder-Gazette, April 10, 1954

"Vaughn Monroe," [https://books.google.com/books?id=0uUvAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA1267&lpg=PA1267&dq=%22vaughn+monroe The American Dance Band Discography 1917–1942] (Vol. 2 of 2), by Brian Rust, Arlington House Publishers (1975), pps. 1264–1267; {{oclc|1818389}}

[http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%204/Amsterdam%20NY%20Daily%20Democrat%20and%20Recorder/Amsterdam%20NY%20Daily%20Democrat%20and%20Recorder%201944%20Jun-Oct%20Grayscale/Amsterdam%20NY%20Daily%20Democrat%20and%20Recorder%201944%20Jun-Oct%20Grayscale%20-%201149.pdf "Lights of New York"] (Bell Syndicate column), by L.L. Stevenson (né Louis Lacy Stevenson; 1879–1953) (longtime New York correspondent for The Detroit News), Amsterdam Evening Recorder and Daily Democrat, October 14, 1944, pg. 4, col. 5

[http://petekellysblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/forgotten-heroes-of-big-band-era-early.html "Forgotten Heroes of the Big Band Era: The early Vaughn Monroe Orchestra,"] by Dave Whitney, Pete Kelly's Blog (a blog maintained by Dave Whitney), June 12, 2010 (retrieved July 18, 2016)

Pop Hits Singles & Albums 1940–1954 (2nd ed.), Joel Whitburn (ed.), Record Research (2002); {{oclc|51670120}}

[http://tsort.info/music/pk975c.htm "Song Artist 67 – Vaughn Monroe,"] Steve Hawtin (né Steven John Hawtin; born 1960), et al. (eds.), {{URL|http://tsort.info/music/pk975c.htm}}, Basingstoke, England: Mesh Digital Limited (website registrant) (generated July 17, 2016; data version 2.5.0029. Retrieved July 21, 2016)

"Couple, Recently Wed, to Make Home in Iran," Sandusky Register (Ohio), August 3, 1946, pg. 3 (retrieved July 27, 2016, via {{URL|www.newspapers.com}}; fee required)

"Virginia Weigel Holcombe" (obituary), Chicago Sun-Times, January 24, 1986, {{oclc|26166499}}

Maree Lee's birth certificate is digitally indexed as "Marge L. Alm" born April 11, 1924, in Delaware County, Ohio ({{URL|www.ancestry.com}}. Retrieved July 28, 2016, subscription required)

[https://books.google.com/books?id=aTvFAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA13&lpg=PA13&dq=%22dick+rogers%22+%22will+osborne Serge Chaloff: A Musical Biography and Discography], by Vladimir Simosko, Scarecrow Press (1998), pg. 13; {{oclc|38557354}}

[http://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/1984/july/moonmaids-keeping-the-big-band-sound-alive/ "Moonmaids: Keeping the Big-Band Sound Alive,"] D Magazine, July 1984

[http://www.vaughnmonroesociety.org/band/FVlee.htm "Lee Sisters," by Maree Lee Eger, June 2002, posted on the Vaughn Monroe Appreciation Society website], maintained by Louis J. Kohnen, Jr. (of East Rochester, New York) and Claire Schwartz (of Dearborn, Michigan) (retrieved May 30, 2013)

}}

; (1940–2010 archived online by Google Books)

{{reflist|group=Billboard|30em|refs=

[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/40s/1942/Billboard%201942-04-25.pdf "On The Air; Vaughn Monroe,"] April 25, 1942, pg. 25

[https://books.google.com/books?id=LwwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA12 "Collegiate Choice of Female Vocalists,"] May 2, 1942, pg. 21

[https://books.google.com/books?id=RgwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT12 "In And Around Philly,"] June 3, 1944, pg. 13

[https://books.google.com/books?id=tAwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT24&lpg=PT24&dq=%22duke "Paramount, New York"] (review), by Paul Secon, August 19, 1944, pg. 25, cols. 1 & 2

[https://books.google.com/books?id=sBoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT62 "Trolley Song No. 1,"] November 18, 1944, pg. 63

"Disking Race: Victor Pushes, Col'mbia Easy" — "Post-Ban Disks Already Spinning," November 25, 1944, pps. [https://books.google.com/books?id=lBoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT62 13] & [https://books.google.com/books?id=lBoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT62 63]

}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Duke, Marylin}}

Category:1916 births

Category:1995 deaths

Category:People from Jackson, Georgia

Category:20th-century American women singers

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Category:American contraltos

Category:Swing singers

Category:American torch singers

Category:Traditional pop music singers

Category:Bluebird Records artists

Category:RCA Victor artists

Category:20th-century American singers