Daily Dose Of Jazz

Betty Roché was born in Wilmington, Delaware on January 9, 1920. She began her career by taking the amateur contest on the famed stages of the Apollo Theatre in Harlem.  Famous for her strong, dramatic way of singing the blues, she sang with the Savoy Sultans in 1941 and then joined Duke Ellington two years later replacing Ivie Anderson just days before his Carnegie concert.

Betty rose to the occasion to critical acclaim performing a section of Black, Brown & Beige. But it was her rendition of Take The “A” Train that gained her greatest fame. She performed it in the 1943 film “Reveille With Beverly” but because of WWII it would be nearly a decade later before she would record the tune.

Roché performed and recorded with pianist Earl ‘Fatha’ Hines, trumpet master Clark Terry and pianist/singer Charles Brown. In the late 50’s and early 60’s she recorded for both Bethlehem and Prestige and her contribution to the jazz scene is larger than most think as she is credited with being a major influence on bebop singers and the public’s ability to deal with the musical adventure.

Vocalist Betty Roché, known for her blues and jazz renderings, died on February 16, 1999.

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