I was born in Newark N.J. on July 10, 1919. From what I can recall and what my mother has told me, I started singing at the age of two - the neighbors begged my mother to teach me another song, besides "yes we have no bananas". I was always curious, why and how things worked, when I would receive gifts (dolls, toys...etc) I'd pull them apart. I wanted to swim, play ball and basically, I was athletic. Mom, related this story to me:
When I was about two years old I saw some "kids" building a bon-fire in a vacant lot. It was cold outside, so I had on a hat and coat and a "new" muff (to keep my hands warm). I ran over to them, unclasping my mother's hand and said "It's dangerous to build such a big fire", so I started stomping on it and my fur muff caught on fire. I screamed and wouldn't let go of it. Mom came to my rescue and pulled it from me. To this day I'm so afraid of fire, I never smoked.
When I started school (Catholic) I always wanted to be different, the "Sisters" said, "when we read, she writes, when we write, she reads". I got spanked quite frequently with a ruler, by the Sisters. They discovered I could sing, so each morning I sang "the national anthem" before classes, at age seven.
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One day, as I was walking home from school, I saw a dying horse, lying in the gutter, bleeding! In those days (horse & buggy days) if you owned a car you were rich. Curious as I was, I got closer to see, and some boy took a large stick and put it in the blood, to "stir it up" and kicked blood all over me! I ran home crying and screaming, poor Mom, thought I was in trouble again. I was always "up to something!" One day, Mom wanted to clean the drain in the kitchen, she used a can of lye (no drano in those days) and she left the "empty can" in the sink. I climbed up and filled it with water and said, "look Mom, I got an ice cream soda", (it was foaming). I was very fortunate, my stomach hurt, however there wasn't enough lye to do damage.
When I was eight years old, we moved to 14 Glorievx St. Irvington, N.J. Imagine, my name was LeGlise and we lived on a French street! My grandfather was well known in Newark as he was, Alderman and he also owned a bowling alley and saloon). In those days, women were not allowed in bars, when my grandfather "passed away" we inherited all kinds of "candy, gum and booze". A beautiful "black - bar" which was like a big china closet, also an upright piano and pool table which we put in our basement which we called our "rec room". We had a "grand" piano upstairs.
I always acted tough as a child and had many fights and arguments with other kids. I guess it was a "defense mechanism." My feelings were easily hurt and I would "clam-up" and be moody and ask my mother if I was "adopted".
My mother and father were the best! Mom had the greatest sense of humor and was very talented. She had a beautiful voice and played piano and Dad was a concert violinist and taught violin and played piano. But he also worked for the Prudential Insurance Company. I studied voice and piano and my sister and I had an act called, "The LeGlise Sisters". We tap danced and sang at various affairs with Mom and Dad, (Elks Club, Knights of Columbus, Masons, Moose Lodge...etc), Dad also did his magic tricks! He was a very active man, he played golf, tennis, fished and also played piano for "The American Business men's Club (A.B.C.)". I was very close to him!
When I started high school, at 14 and 1/2 years old, I had an inferiority complex! I weighed 139 pounds, had pimples and wore glasses! But I soon out grew these problems at the age of 16. We started singing with big bands in N.J. (my sister and I). She was three years older than I and she was very "bossy".
She'd correct everything I did! My make-up, clothes, hair style. She had the good shape and height - 5' 4". I was only 5' but I wore high heels to look taller.
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At age 16 I started singing at, "Frank Dailey's Meadowbrook, in Cedar Grove N.J.". A very popular place to dance to Big Bands. I became "Staff Vocalist" with Cliff Dailey. One night, "Tommy Dorsey" and his orchestra featuring, "Frank Sinatra and the Pied Pipers" opened for a few weeks!
I sat in on a rehearsal, when Ruth Lowe, submitted a song she wrote, "I'll Never Smile Again." I knew it was a hit the minute I heard it. Frank Sinatra sang it and he did a wonderful job. It became a hit and it still is!
One night, I met a fan of Dorsey's named George Durgom. He wanted to be my manager. I auditioned to join the Pied Pipers but Connie Haines got the job! She had a great voice which blended with them. They left and went to California and the rest is history! George Durgom became band boy, for Tommy Dorsey and changed his name to "Bullets" Durgom and became manager for many stars including Jackie Gleason, Natalie Wood, Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller and others.
I met George Durgom years later in Palm Springs, Calif. when Roy and I worked at a country club. I met Lucie and Desi Arnaz, Alice Faye and Phil Harris. I recognized George and said, "Remember me Bullet's? I am Marianne Lee." (My professional name). He said, "What the hell did you do, you got fat!" (I had five children since the last time he saw me).
When I was about 18 years old I booked out of New York City with an agent. He said, he had a "real great job" in Albany. (The capitol of N.Y.) and really built it up to me, saying, "I'd meet influential people" and I might stay there indefinitely - my mother was always my biggest helper and "booster".
She got my wardrobe together; about eight evening gowns, and day clothes, which she ironed for me and I was all set for a "great engagement" and my first time away from home.
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I had to leave from Irvington N.J., get on a bus, then take the "tubes" to New York City, change to an uptown subway to 47th St. Then take a Greyhound bus to Albany. All this traveling took about eight hours! My clothes were packed in a foot-locker (which was very heavy to carry), I also carried a cosmetic case and purse. When I arrived at the bus station in New York City, I told the bus driver where I wanted to go and asked if he knew about the club I was booked at.
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He looked at me and asked, 'are you sure you want to sing there?" This kind of frightened me and I asked "why, what's wrong with the place"? He said "the club is O.K, but you don't look like the type of girl to sing in a night club with the entertainers they have." and said, "if you run into any trouble or problems, my name is Art Levine and I'll leave tomorrow morning for New York City at 6:00 a.m. I laughed and thought what a nice man he was, however, I won't have any problems - WRONG!
When I approached the club, I was surprised to see it was very large and had a coffee shop section, with a long bar and sitting there were about six women dressed in really tight evening gowns. I asked where I was supposed to sing and I was escorted to a large dressing room and shown the stage and met four musicians, whom I gave my music to and rehearsed four songs (I had enough music for twenty songs!) Then, they told me the "Boarding House" was a block away. When I arrived there, I met this woman, who looked like a "madame" (like in the movies) I was escorted up a flight of narrow stairs and into a small room with a small closet - no bath or sink. She said I'd have to go across the hall to wash or shower. The whole place was dimly lighted and small signs or reminders "turn off lights", "Don't use too much water",... etc.
After I showered, and changed into my gown I walked to the club, with "great expectations" I met the owner, who was about thirty and good looking and was overly nice to me. Everything went fine the first show and the musicians were great! Then the owner came over to me and asked if I would like to sit with some of his friends. I told him that I didn't drink, so he said," OK. order champagne, we put gingerale and just a bit of wine, in a small glass". There also was a dancer on the show, and she informed me, "that's what we have to do, between shows, drink with customers till they leave! Sometimes till 5:00 a.m. That's all I had to hear! Then it dawned on me that the in evening gowns were "B" girls. I went to the owner and asked if I could "borrow" $20.00. He said "you're not going to leave are you?" I said, "no, I need to buy a new girdle" whereupon he said, "I'll come to your room, as soon as I leave here", THAT WAS IT! I went back to the room at 5:00 a.m. got my clothes together and quietly walked down the stairs (squeaking all the way) I heard music playing and people laughing and all kinds of noises, then it "dawned" on me again! I was in a "house of ill repute", or "brothel" that's why those women were sitting around in the restaurant and bar waiting for "customers".
I had to walk three blocks to catch the bus, back to New York City. I was exhausted, carrying the foot-locker, cosmetic case, and purse in high heels. When the bus driver pulled up at 6:00 a.m. he said, "I knew you'd be here, come on in and the trip's on me." I'll never forget him! Thanks to him, he made me aware how easily I could have gotten into a "mess".
When I arrived back in New York City, I went straight to my booking agent and was he surprised to see me! He said the owner had called him and was mad! My mom and dad were shocked and happy to see me, when I told them my story.
The next booking, the agent got me was in Wash. D.C. (But that's another story.) My whole life changed for the better!
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During the "War Years" I sang at the Ambassador Hotel in Washington, D.C. I was there when someone came into the Hi Hat Lounge and hollered; "They Just Bombed Perl Harbor And President Roosevelt Just Declared War On Japan!" This was Dec. 7th 1941. There was quite a bit of confusion when, all the congressmen, senators and military men that were there having their afternoon, "cocktail hour" staggered out to get back to their offices.
One night a man came in and I was introduced to him, he said, he was, Oliver Wendell Holmes (Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court). We hit it off great. He was about 60 or 65 years old. When I told him I had to walk back home, about three blocks away, and we had a "blackout". He offered to walk with me, as it was dark and after midnight. I said good night at the door.
I had a room, in a rooming house on the first floor which had a long hall to the back of the house next to the bathroom. I opened my door with my key and didn't put a light on, as there was a dim light on in the hallway. I started to take off my earrings, when all of a sudden, the bathroom door opened! A man wearing a hat and jacket, came out and I said, "oh, I didn't know anyone was in there"! He did not say a word and ran past me, then it occurred to me he was a burglar! I could have been robbed or raped and no-one would have known as my room was at the end of the hall! Then I started shaking all over and felt pretty stupid.
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One afternoon, at the Ambassador Hotel I met a young man, who said he was from Macon, Georgia, (I had been seeing a fellow named, Ozzie, who had just moved there) and I asked him if he had met Ozzie, to which he replied, "why yes, he works for Reynold's Metals Corp.", we talked quite a while, and he wanted me to go out to dinner with him, also lunch and after seeing him off and on for a week, he claimed he was in love with me and when he got back to Macon, Ga., he kept calling me long distance and begged me to come to Georgia. Well, as destiny would have it, I met another man (Delmar Swords) and he heard me sing and said, "your just what we need in Atlanta". So he got me a singing engagement at the very swanky Biltmore Hotel. I also had a room there. When I arrived in Atlanta I
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called, "Clem" (from Macon) and he was happy that I was close by, about 100 miles away. He said he would try to come up to see me around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. He had a rubber tire factory, also a few gas stations and was on the rationing board in Wash. D.C. So he was a busy man! After so many disappointments, breaking dates and calling to say he's so busy, he finally admitted that he was married and was trying to get a divorce. She threatened him and I was heartsick to think this could happen to me! I believed in him.
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Meantime, I was singing solo at The Owl Room, The Biltmore Hotel and two radio stations. I had my own radio program "Sleepy Hollow" I was doing very well and didn't hear from Clem again.
One night, a friend of our bass player, Red Wootten, introduced me to his friend, Roy Lanham who had gotten on a bus in Cinn., Ohio and came to get work there. I thought he was "cute" only 19 years old. I was 22, almost 23, this was in 1942, I tried to arrange a double date with him and my girlfriend. He was very shy - I had no idea how he felt about me! I really enjoyed talking to him he had the cutest Kentucky accent and talked like a "Hillbilly". I always teased him and he'd say, "PLEASE DON'T MOCK ME"! One thing, I noticed, he drank quite a bit and I would lecture him saying, it wasn't good for him. I was so busy, I had to keep a clear mind so I only drank occasionally with friends.
After he was there a month or two he worked FIVE part-time jobs at the same time, radio, night clubs, concert with jazz groups and country. He got to be well known as a singer (harmony) and guitar player, also bass. (He didn't get much rest), I realized that we had a lot in common, as far as music goes. He was ambitious and so was I. However, we realized we were falling in love! After we had known each other five months he kissed me and so help me, I heard bells ringing. I never experienced this before.
He talked me into going to Corbin, Kentucky, his home town, to meet his mother and father and other family members. Well, I was in for a shock! He talked to people on the train and "howdy'ed to a news "butch" (they sell newspapers, candy and fruit), Roy said he was his cousin! and I was all dressed up, Hat, gloves and my best dress expecting to meet people that dressed like "New Yorkers!". In those days people wore their best clothes while traveling. We rode in someone's broken down old car; over the unpaved back-roads, when we finally got there, I met his "poppy" and "mommy" as he called them. I was pleasantly surprised, they were so wonderful to me, and boy did we eat! She milked her own cows, killed chickens and dug up new potatoes and also made biscuits and gravy, I had to use the "out house," as they didn't have a bathroom. I took a bath in an iron bathtub. It was quite an experience.
We went to church, his dad was a part-time preacher and was a fireman on the C&N railroad. Little did I know then, that I would come back and visit for the next 45 years. I actually adored Roy's mom and dad.
They took me to see "Miss Posey" who lived "around the bend". When we got there Roy's mom said "Miss Posey, this is Roy, my son and his girl friend." She said, "Is he the one that went off in music?" She said to me: "Come closer honey, I can't see too well! Oh my, "You're fat and nice." (I weighed about 110 pounds). That was supposed to be a compliment.
I noticed they had coal piled up on the would be lawn. Her son came out dressed up in his cover-alls with a plaid shirt and a tie. She invited us into the house. There were no porch steps so we had to step on a brick and literally "jump up" onto the porch.
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We went into the kitchen and the wall was covered with newspapers and Sunday funnies. There was no running water, no phone. There was an outside toilet, Roy noticed a guitar sitting in the corner, he picked it up and played a few songs. Then Miss Posey's son played a few songs, Merle Travis style (by ear)! Neither one can read music. This talent is a gift from God - I don't care how long a person studies, "natural talent" will outshine every time. Roy's mom had a wonderful sense of humor, so I always liked to tell her jokes - I said "Mommy did you hear about the man, who swam to Catalina Island in 24 hours and came back in 20 seconds? She said, "Lord have mercy, how'd he do that?" Well Mommy: "His jockstrap was caught to the pier."
With that, she didn't crack a smile or laugh - I tried to explain that Catalina Island, was in California and a jockstrap was a man's supporter"! She said, "Honey I know that, but what's a pier?" Mommy was always anxious to know how Roy was making out financially, I guess she was concerned about him, "eating regularly". Roy told her he was going to Europe with Roy Rogers, whereupon she said, "I guess you'll make out pretty good working with him, won't you?" He answered, "I guess so". She went into another room and about five minutes later said, "Roy how much are you gonna make?" We laughed and said, "as yet, they haven't set a price."
After we left "Miss Posey" we went to a real country church. Roy's father was preaching. I sat with "mommy" and Roy's sister Bessie and her children. We sang gospel songs and hymn's (which is a far cry from the blues songs and modern jazz songs that I sang. (I also sang French Spanish and German.) I was really enjoying the service, when they introduced a man who gave his "testimony." I couldn't believe the way he was dressed! He was wearing a blue shirt, red suspenders and a green tie. I looked at his face, which was red and "puffy". I then noticed he hadn't any teeth - I drew my own conclusions, that he had been an alcoholic and was "Saved" and now he was, "Praising The Lord!" He kept pointing out in the audience and saying You're going to hell!" - then he pointed to me and said "You better get saved, You're going to hell". I got upset and asked Roy why is he pointing to me, What have I done? Bessie, Roy's sister had to take me outside, I was so upset! I wasn't used to hearing a speaker like that in church.
I thought Roy would like to go to my church (Catholic) so after an engagement on Saturday night we decided to go have breakfast and go to the 6:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday. I was dressed in an evening gown - everything was calm and quiet, the children were walking down the aisle singing softly, when Roy said "Honey I'm nervous and upset! Get me out of here" I tried to shut him up, as everybody started staring at us. He wouldn't stop, (he was a little drunk") So we left. He did it for pure meanness! To get back at me.
