Renowned jazz singer Anita O'Day died last Thursday in Los Angeles of heart complications following pneumonia. She was 87.
Hailed as the last of the great jazz singers spawned by the swing era, O'Day will be remembered as much for her fierce independence in a male-dominated industry as for her smooth voice and ear for rhythm and improvisation.Born Anita Belle Colton, O'Day shattered the conception of the timid female singer. When she performed, she would work as hard as any band member, both physically and stylistically. She made her big-time debut in 1941 as a member of Gene Krupa's band, famously combining with Krupa and trumpeter Roy Eldridge for the hits, 'Let Me Off Uptown' and 'Boogie Blues'.
Developing bob modernism throughout the 1940s, O'Day constructed her legend throughout the 1950s and 1960s with her recordings with the Verve record label. Her first album, 'Anita', was the first LP ever released by Verve.
Her Verve success allowed her to collaborate with the likes of Billy May, Oscar Peterson Quartet, Buddy Bregman Orchestra, Jimmy Giuffre and Cal Tjader.
O'Day soon became troubled by heroin and alcohol abuse, and she suffered a nervous breakdown in 1967, signalling the end of her career's halcyon days. She released a book in 1981 titled 'High Times, Hard Times', an honest account of the highs and lows of her colourful career.
She continued singing into the 1990s and the new millennium. Her latest album, 'Indestructible! Anita O'Day' was released in April this year.
