VELMA MIDDLETON

Velma Middleton (September 1, 1917 – February 10, 1961) was an American jazz vocalist and entertainer who sang with Louis Armstrong's big bands and small groups from 1942 until her death

From left: Jack Teagarden, Sandy DeSantis, Velma Middleton, Fraser MacPherson, Cozy Cole, Arvell Shaw, Earl Hines, Barney Bigard at the Palomar Supper Club in Vancouver (March 17, 1951)

Middleton was born in Holdenville, Oklahoma, and moved with her parents to St. Louis, Missouri. She started her career as a chorus girl and dancer and throughout her career performed acrobatic splits on stage.After working as a solo performer, and singing with Connie McLean and his Rhythm Orchestra on a tour of South America, she joined Armstrong's big band in 1942, and appeared with him in soundies.

When Armstrong's orchestra disbanded in 1947, Middleton joined his All-Stars, a smaller group. She was often used for comic relief, such as for duets with Armstrong on "That's My Desire" and "Baby, It's Cold Outside", and she did occasional features. She also recorded eight tracks as a solo singer for Dootone Records in 1948 and 1951. Although she was not widely praised for her voice, described by critic Scott Yanow as "average but reasonably pleasing and good-humored", Armstrong regarded her as an important and integral part of his show.

Middleton performed on June 7, 1953 with Louis Armstrong and his All Stars for the famed ninth Cavalcade of Jazz concert held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles which was produced by Leon Hefflin, Sr. Also featured that day were Don Tosti and His Mexican Jazzmen, Roy Brown and his Orchestra, Shorty Rogers, Earl Bostic, and Nat "King" Cole.

While touring with Armstrong in Sierra Leone, she had a stroke in January 1961, and died the following month in hospital in Freetown.Musician Barney Bigard was critical of Armstrong and his manager Joe Glaser for refusing, after Middleton was taken ill, to arrange her transfer to a country with better health facilities.

Velma Middleton (Saint Louis, 1 de setembre de 1917 – Freetown, 10 de febrer de 1961)Va ser una vocalista i animadora de jazz nord-americana que va cantar amb les grans bandes i grups petits de Louis Armstrong des de 1942 fins a la seva mort.

Middleton va néixer a Holdenville, Oklahoma, i es va traslladar amb els seus pares a St. Louis, Missouri. Va començar la seva carrera com a noia i ballarina de cor i, al llarg de la seva carrera, va realitzar exhibicions acrobàtiques a l'escenari. Després de treballar com a intèrpret en solitari i cantar amb Connie McLean i la seva "Rhythm Orchestra" en una gira per Amèrica del Sud, es va unir a la gran banda d'Armstrong el 1942, i va aparèixer amb ell en els sons.

Quan l'orquestra d'Armstrong es va dissoldre el 1947, Middleton es va unir als seus All-Stars, un grup més reduït. Va ser utilitzada sovint per a un entreteniment còmic, com per a duets amb Armstrong a "That's My Desire" i "Baby, It's Cold Outside", i va fer funcions puntuals. També va gravar vuit temes com a cantant solista de Dootone Records el 1948 i el 1951. Tot i que no va ser àmpliament lloada per la seva veu, va descriure el crític Scott Yanow com "mitjà però raonablement agradable i amb bona humilitat",Armstrong la va considerar. com a part important i integral del seu espectacle.

Middleton va actuar el 7 de juny de 1953 amb Louis Armstrong i els seus "All Stars" pel famós novè concert de "Cavalcade of Jazz" celebrat a Wrigley Field, a Los Angeles, produït per Leon Hefflin, Sr. Roy Brown i la seva orquestra, Shorty Rogers, Earl Bostic i Nat "King" Cole.

Mentre girava amb Armstrong a Sierra Leone, va patir un ictus el gener de 1961,i va morir el mes següent a l'hospital de Freetown. El músic Barney Bigard va ser crític amb Armstrong i el seu responsable Joe Glaser per negar-se, després que Vera Middleton estigués malalta, de concertar el seu trasllat a un país amb millors instal·lacions sanitàries.