DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #31: At A Dixie Roadside Diner

The voice of Ellington

Ivie Anderson (1905-1949) is thought to be the best singer Duke Ellington ever had.

From early on she worked at the Cotton Club, in 1930 she found work with Earl Hines. Duke Ellington heard her the first time while appearing with Hines and hired her in 1931. She stayed for eleven years, before she had to retire due to chronic asthma.

She sang in some of the band's most memorable tunes of the era: ”I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good,” ”It Don't Mean a Thing,” ”Stormy Weather,” and ”Rose of the Rio Grande.” She was also featured in the 1939 Marx Brothers' film A Day at the Races, singing ”All God's Chillun' Got Rhythm.”

After retiring, she ran her own restaurant “Ivie's Chicken Shack” in Los Angeles and continued singing in nightclubs on the West Coast, but her health condition limited her engagements and led to her early death in 1949.

At A Dixie Roadside Diner is a lightly swinging tune with some latin rhythm breaks in it. Ivie sings with a lot of vibrato. The tempo is medium and also great for Balboa dancing. I love this song!

Title: At A Dixie Roadside Diner
Artist: Ivie Anderson w/ Duke Ellington
Recorded: 1940
Album: Ivie & Duke (Vol. 2) – All God's Chillun…
Tempo: 164 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop, Balboa