Maya Angelou Sings Miss Calypso At Mister Kelly’s
- By Johnny Farrales
- •
- 26 Sep, 2016
- •
An Uncaged Bird With Bongo Drums Sizzles On A Cold Night
December. 1956. It’s icy winter outside on Chicago’s famed Rush Street, but at the “it” club, Mr. Kelly’s, the windows are fogging up with a packed bar and a sizzling number: “The Heat is On.” It sure is! A pretty girl named Maya is making a name for herself, rocking the house with a lively Trinidad-style calypso performance.
There’s a reporter here from Variety—he’ll point out that hers is a “unique creation” in the jazz world, where all the other new innovative stuff has more of a cool sound. He likes how Maya’s almost reciting this song rather than singing—like she’s just carrying on an intimate conversation accented by drums.
The album is Miss Calypso. It includes provocative titles like”Oo-Dla-Ba-Doo”, “Mambo in Africa”, “Scandal in the Family.” She wrote them herself in the height of the Calypso craze started by Harry Belafonte. But don’t forget that this young lady, Maya, is a black woman in 1956--she’s not following a craze, not just singing a song. She’s reciting a poem. She’s breaking the color barrier as an artist in Chicago. And most importantly, she is in the process of finding that legendary original voice, that will make her personal story a great American epic of triumph over adversity.
Like Branch Rickey, who brought Jackie Robinson into Major League Baseball, Oscar and George made this move because they were smart businessmen. To them, talent was talent, and black customers’ money was as green as whites’. Interestingly, and also parallel to what happened in the baseball leagues, once they integrated the North Side, the South Side club scene started to die. Change happens for better or worse...
Angelou had been touring around the country with her Calypso act all year like a soldier in the march of progress. She’d signed with Liberty Records in September. She recorded the album in November. And here she was on our stage in December. Her singing voice wasn’t quite virtuoso enough to make her a headliner. She shared the billing that night with Jackie Cain and Roy Kral, a be-bop husband and wife team. For an up-and-comer like her though, whose record wasn’t even out yet, performing at Chicago’s “it” venue was a coup.
But much more importantly than all that, at 28 years old, sitting there playing the bongo drums, singing a song that sounded like a conversation, she was really in the process of finding her voice; what she needed to say and how she would say it so people would listen. She was exercising her originality and practicing that unusually calm and powerful stage presence that would make her poetry all the more thrilling.
Angelou was also promoting Afro-Caribbean culture with that Calypso act, all part of the emergence of the Civil Rights movement. She was an activist throughout her life, as were others who performed at the club: Dick Gregory, Richard Pryor, Mort Sahl, even Bill Cosby--these artists were political, and on the avant garde of social change while having great appeal to the mainstream.
As an alum of Mr. Kelly’s, Angelou certainly gave my dad George and uncle Oscar a lot to be proud of. Music was just one stop on the way to her destiny as one of the nation’s greatest writers. She was also, in the course of her career, a journalist, a bestselling author, nominated for a Pulitzer and a Tony, and winner of multiple Grammy Awards. Many people thought of her as our national poet laureate many years running. She earned even rarer recognition in becoming one of only five poets to have recited poems at a presidential inauguration when she performed her poem “On the Pulse of the Morning” for Bill Clinton’s swearing in in 1993. Later, Barack Obama awarded her the presidential Medal of Freedom. More recently, Corey Booker invoked her poem “Dust” in a fiery speech to thunderous applause at the Democratic National Convention that nominated Hillary Clinton for President.
I was sad to read that Maya passed away in 2014 at the age of 86. She leaves behind a momentous body of work, including those Calypso beats, that will powerfully impact generations to come. I found out that a touching documentary about her, And Still I Rise, directed by Rita Coburn and Bob Hercules, has been winning awards on the festival circuit. I bet it will be a contender for an Oscar this year! Angelou narrates the story herself. There are interviews of her professional contemporaries and, at her recommendation the close family and friends who knew her best as a person. The film takes us through a real American epic, from her childhood in the Depression-era South through her fifty years of international fame.
My dad George Marienthal didn’t brag a lot about his brushes with greatness, but he and Oscar were power-tastemakers whose support for talented artists like Angelou significantly bolstered their chances of success. I had the opportunity to speak to Director Bob Hercules, and he has expressed interest in working on a documentary on Mister Kelly’s. While we are a long way from funding, the conversation spurred me to start this blog and take a historical journey through my father’s past. In the process, incredible revolutionary performances like Miss Calypso keep coming to light.
I’m glad to have this opportunity to say, on behalf of the Marienthal Family, that we are beyond proud to have been supporters of Maya Angelou at an early stage of her career, and we are sad that we’ve lost her, but her amazing story will be sure to inspire others. Perhaps there’s a young woman out there toying around with words and bongo drums right now who will follow in her footsteps...
Here’s the site for the documentary! We would love to read your comments on and reactions to the film about this extraordinary artist. Anybody else want to see it at the Oscars?
When he was young, David Marienthal wanted nothing to do with the family business, even though his family's business was as hip and successful as a family business could be.
His father, George, and uncle, Oscar, ran three of the most renowned nightclubs in the country. For almost the entire third quarter of the 20th century, Mister Kelly's, the London House and the Happy Medium hosted a parade of a musical and comedic talent that would define American entertainment at the time and influence coming generations.
"I'd been going to the clubs since I was a young boy, getting all dressed up," says Marienthal, who was born in 1951. "And there was some talk of us (he and younger brothers Philip and James) of one day getting in the business. But as a teenager I had long hair, torn jeans and …. Well, that just wasn't going to happen."
So off he went to college here and there, eventually getting a degree and working as an architect and builder in Sante Fe, N.M.; coming back here to open and run for 17 years the successful Blue Mesa restaurant on Halsted Street with brother Philip; studying and getting a teacher certificate at the School of the Art Institute; moving to California to teach and paint. In 2010 he was back, doing arts consulting and managing some real estate.
But three years ago, he did, in a fashion, return to the family business, devoting his time, energy and resources to researching, interviewing and gathering materials about his father and uncle's clubs for what he hopes will be a book or a documentary or both. Or more.
There is already a Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/misterkellyschicago ) and websites ( www.happymediumventures.com and www.misterkellyschicago.com ) and, says Marienthal, "we are posting two or three things a day on other social media sites (such as Twitter and Instagram) and the response has been not only gratifying but amazing, mostly from the 18-35 year old crowd."
This is how he puts a possible TV series — already with a script being pitched to producers — on his website:
Join us to support the legacy of Mister Kelly's and the documentary film being produced by David Marienthal with WTTW Chicago Public Media, directed by Philip Koch.
This two-act concert features Kimberly Gordon, Sophie Grimm, Lynne Jordan, Frieda Lee, LaShera Moore, Daryl Nitz, Jeannie Tanner, and Ellen Winters. Musical direction by Andrew Blendermann, with Joe Policastro on bass, Phil Gratteau on drums. Special guest performance by a Chicago high school student protege from ChiArts.
Happy Medium Ventures and Daryl Nitz Entertainment present:
Ella Live at Mister Kelly's: a benefit performance and preview for the documentary film, “Mister Kelly’s: Wasn’t It a Time?”
Monday, January 29, 2018
City Winery Chicago at 1200 W. Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60607
$25-$40
For tickets go to Ella at Mister Kelly’s
Ella Live at Mr. Kelly's
On August 10, 1958, Ella Fitzgerald recorded her “Live at Mister Kelly’s” LP. In 2007 the concert was remastered and re-released in its entirety, including the early and late sets. This Ella centennial celebration concert presents the entire concert, without song duplication, of both sets. Featuring such songs as "Nice Work If You Can Get It," "The Lady Is a Tramp," "Summertime," "Witchcraft," "Come Rain or Come Shine," "Stardust," and many more from the classic American songbook of Gershwin, Rodgers & Hart, Porter, and others. Featuring Sophie Grimm, Lynne Jordan, Frieda Lee, Liz Mandeville, LaShera Moore, Daryl Nitz, Alina Taber, and Ellen Winters. Musical direction by Andrew Blendermann, with Joe Policastro on bass, Phil Gratteau on drums.
Mister Kelly’s: Wasn’t It a Time
Mister Kelly’s Once called a “supernova in the local and national night life firmament,” the legendary Mister Kelly’s illuminated legendary Chicago’s Rush Street, and the entire country, by launching talent like Barbra Streisand, Woody Allen, Bette Midler, Herbie Hancock, and Richard Pryor. It’s visionary owners George and Oscar Marienthal smashed color and gender barriers to put fresh, irreverent voices on stage and transform entertainment, as America knew it in the 50s, 60s, and ’70s.
Now, with the club long gone, and its star talent reaching its golden years, George’s son David, goes on a quest to collect the memories of the clubs before they are lost. Celebrity interviews now include Bob Newhart, the Smothers Brothers, Dick Gregory, Lainie Kazan, Dick Cavett, Shecky Greene and Ramsey Lewis. Interviews with dozens of local musicians, staff, family, and patrons provide a delightful balance with engaging stories, rich with vintage detail. Discussions are underway to interview Woody Allen, Lilly Tomlin, Bette Midler, Barbara Streisand, Steve Martin and others.
The film will portray through interviews, live footage, photos, music, and song, the most beloved and famous talent of our time at the decisive moments when they showed up, dug deep, and broke in. How do you change the world with a laugh and a song? Find out in a film that documents the rise and fall of one of American entertainment's great proving grounds.
Check out the hot sizzle reel and read Rick Kogan’s story in the Chicago Tribune and the links below for more about this exciting new film.
• Chicago Tribune Story: http://trib.in/2pZT07H
• Website: http://www.misterkellyschicago.com
• Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/misterkellyschicago
Happy Medium Ventures is the leading curator and steward of legendary Chicago nightlife venues, London House, Mister Kelly’s, the Happy Medium, and the Rush Street scene, from 1946-1970’s; the epicenter of Chicago’s entertainment scene. Today, Happy Medium Ventures is reviving this bygone era for a new generation of fans through an unprecedented collection of photos, recordings, press clipping. First-person interviews include key players in the Rush Street scene — from celebrity performers at London House, Mister Kelly’s and other Rush Street venues, to the employees behind the scenes, patrons of the nightspots, family and friends. Happy Medium Ventures aims to capture the fun and excitement through a documentary film, a new TV series, vibrant social media and other original content about this captivating chapter of Chicago history.
Daryl Nitz Entertainment is an event-concert production company specializing in shows that celebrate cultural anniversaries and historical recreations. Operating since 2004, with such show as “Judy at Carnegie,” “Voices of Chicago,” “Ladies Sing the Blues: a centennial birthday concert for Billie Holiday,” “It Was a Very Good Year: a centennial birthday concert for Frank Sinatra,” “Above Us Only Sky: John Lennon at 75,” “That’s Amore: a Dean Martin centennial celebration” and many more.
The
Mister Kelly’s team is overwhelmed by the incredibly talented and generous
people that we have met, while creating our archive of the Marienthal Brother’s
legendary nightlife empire. From colorful Rush St. regulars to famous
performers, and everyone in-between, it has been a thrill. One of the most exciting encounters has been
working with the renowned photographer, Art Shay. At the age of 95, Art is truly a legend in
his own time.
Shay began his career as a writer and journalist, but after showing a great eye for capturing images, soon transitioned into a career as a photographer. Based out of Chicago, he became one the nation premier photographers, working for major publications such as Life, Time, and Sport Illustrated. Art Shay photographed everything, from historic moments (1968 Democratic Convention) and iconic personalities (Muhammad Ali, The Rat Pack, President Kennedy), to street photography that captured the everyday life of average Americans. In the process he became one of the most celebrated artists of his medium and a Chicago legend.
In light of this, we were honored when Mr. Shay was kind enough to donate one of his brilliant works to our project recently. The print is a wonderful slice of Chicago’s Rush Street from the 1960s. The photo was taken outside of The Happy Medium and features actor Tom Williams dressed as a child, holding a toy boat.
Why is a grown man dressed as a child? Why a toy boat? Well, this can be explained. Tom Williams was part of was a comic review, produced by the Marienthal Brothers, called Put it In Writing . In the political satire, Williams plays America’s youngest president (an obvious nod to the newly elected JFK), who still has some childlike features. Put it in Writing would become the biggest play to originate at The Happy Medium and, after a long run in Chicago, it eventually made its way to New York for an off-Broadway production.
We are humbled to receive this generous gift from such a preeminent artist. The photo is a brilliant image of mid-century Chicago history, from one of the men who documented it best. The photo will be cherished and used in our mission to record this unique piece of Chicago and American history. We wish to give a heartfelt thank you to our friend Art Shay, who contributed this beautiful photo to the Mister Kelly’s archive.
Guest Blogger Sam Fazio is a popular Chicago vocalist. He writes about Chicago’s own Mel Tormé, who appeared at Mister Kelly’s many times over the years.
A Kid from the South Side
Born Melvin Howard Tormé in 1925 on the south side to Jewish Russian immigrants, he started singing at a very young age of four with the Coon-Sanders Orchestra, performing at Chicago's Blackhawk restaurant. He continued his early career on radio series, playing drums and writing songs—all before high school graduation.
KEEP IN TOUCH
Sign up for our newsletter
