Renowned Jazz Singer Anita O'Day Dies

[NVMojo]

another great one dies ...

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Anita O'Day, whose sassy renditions of "Honeysuckle Rose," "Sweet Georgia Brown" and other song standards that made her one of the most respected jazz vocalists of the 1940s and '50s, has died. She was 87.

O'Day died in her sleep early Thursday morning at a convalescent hospital in Los Angeles where she was recovering from a bout with pneumonia, said her manager Robbie Cavolina.

"On Tuesday night, she said to me, get me out of here," Cavolina said. "But it didn't happen."

Once known as the "Jezebel of Jazz" for her reckless, drug-induced lifestyle, O'Day lived to sing and she did so from her teen years until this year when she released "Indestructible!"

"All I ever wanted to do is perform," she said in a June 1999 interview with The Associated Press. "When I'm singing, I'm happy. I'm doing what I can do and this is my contribution to life."

Cavolina recently completed a feature film about O'Day and accompanied her to shows and on tours.

more...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OBIT_ODAY?SITE=NVLAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[classof56]

1. Posted previously and I responded. Anita was one of my favorites.

Still love to listen to her albums. Plus--we share the same first name! Nice to see that so many jazz fans remember her so well. She was great!

[NVMojo]

4. I guess I owe you an apology for reposting?

[classof56]

6. Oh, no, no apology needed at all!

I was just glad to see another post about Anita, gave me another chance to remark on how much I have always loved her music and your and the other post made me feel good knowing that so many others do, as well. I used to watch her sing at a club in Denver in the early 60s and those are some of my favorite memories. In fact, I'm listening even as I type to "This is Anita", her album I bought on CD a few years ago, songs recorded in the 50s. Right now she's favoring me with "Honeysuckle Rose". God, the woman could sing!

Blessings to you down there in beautiful Nevada!

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Was she a contemporary of singer, Alberta Hunter? n/t

[xchrom]

3. oh no! no! no! no!

she was wonderful -- this is so sad.

damn it!

god speed sweet one -- and peace be with you.

[goclark]

5. Great, great talent RIP nt

[lonestarnot]

7. Ahhhh. Her gift can't be replaced. RIP