Anna Mae Winburn
Encyclopedia
Anna Mae Winburn, née Darden (August 13, 1913 - September 30, 1999) was an African American
vocalist and jazz
bandleader
who flourished beginning in the mid 1930s. She is best known for having directed the International Sweethearts of Rhythm
, an all-female big band
that was perhaps one of the few — and one of the most — racially integrated dance-bands of the swing era
.
, and migrated to Indianapolis, Indiana
, at a young age. Her mother's maiden name was "Cornell." She, with two of her sisters, came west from Kokomo, Indiana
.
Anna Mae Winburn and her then husband, James Rose, had a son:
Anna Mae's marriage and children
Anna Mae married Eustace "Duke" Pilgrim (b. 1921 as Eustace Michael Pilgrim; d. 1970) around 1948. Together, they had 4 children. They lived in Elmhurst, NY among many Harlem transplants and jazz greats. Duke Pilgrim had a prior marriage to Alberta Adams.
, Fort Wayne. She worked at various clubs in Indiana
, including the Chateau Lido in Indianapolis
(where she appeared under the pseudonym
Anita Door).
, where she sang and played guitar for a variety of territory band
s, or groups whose touring activities and popularity were geographically limited to several adjoining states, that were led by Red Perkins
. During that time Winburn was a collaborator of Lloyd Hunter
, frequently singing for Lloyd Hunter
's "Serenaders". She also led the Cotton Club Boys
out of Omaha
, a group that at one point included the amazing guitarist Charlie Christian
. When many of the musicians were lost to the World War II
draft
, Winburn joined the International Sweethearts of Rhythm. Soon she went to Oklahoma City
and led bands for a short while. It was there that she led Eddie Durham
's "All-Girl Orchestra", which eventually earned her an invite to join the International Sweethearts of Rhythm.
had been the composer for the International Sweethearts of Rhythm for two years before leaving to join Count Basie
's band. After being recommended by Jimmie Jewel, who owned North Omaha's Dreamland Ballroom, Winburn became the leader of the band in 1941. She was reportedly hired for her attractive figure, with the intention of doing little actual composing or singing.
In a video interview from 1986, Winburn reported of her first meeting, "I said 'What a bunch of cute little girls, but I don't know whether I could get along with that many women or not." Despite rumors of Betty White
being groomed to take her place after her marriage, Winburn was the band's leader until it folded in late 1949.
Winburn formed other incarnations of the International Sweethearts for the next 10 years, often billing her name before the band's. However, those bands never regained the notoriety of the early years.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
vocalist and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
who flourished beginning in the mid 1930s. She is best known for having directed the International Sweethearts of Rhythm
International Sweethearts of Rhythm
The International Sweethearts of Rhythm was the first integrated all women's band in the United States. During the 1940s the band featured some of the best female musicians of the day...
, an all-female big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
that was perhaps one of the few — and one of the most — racially integrated dance-bands of the swing era
Swing Era
The Swing era was the period of time when big band swing music was the most popular music in the United States. Though the music had been around since the late 1920s and early 1930s, being played by black bands led by such artists as Duke Ellington, Jimmie Lunceford, Benny Moten, Ella Fitzgerald,...
.
Family
Anna Mae Winburn was born to a musical family in Port Royal, TennesseePort Royal, Tennessee
Port Royal is a historic unincorporated community on the border of Montgomery and Robertson counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is home to Port Royal State Park. It is located at the confluence of the Red River and Sulphur Fork Creek.-History:...
, and migrated to Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, at a young age. Her mother's maiden name was "Cornell." She, with two of her sisters, came west from Kokomo, Indiana
Kokomo, Indiana
Kokomo is a city in and the county seat of Howard County, Indiana, United States, Indiana's 13th largest city. It is the principal city of the Kokomo, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Howard and Tipton counties....
.
Anna Mae Winburn and her then husband, James Rose, had a son:
- Ulyseese Rose (b. Nov 1931; d Dec 4, 1931, Wilson, NC)
- Anna Mae had two sisters:
- Julia Mae Darden (b. Dec 20, 1920). Judy sang with groups around Minneapolis, and was once married to Frank PerkinsFrank PerkinsFrank Perkins was a British engineer, businessman, creator of the Perkins Diesel Engine, and founder of Perkins Engines Company Limited.-Background and early life:...
, a competent pianist and son of "Red" PerkinsRed PerkinsFrank Shelton "Red" Perkins was a bandleader of one of the oldest Omaha-based territory bands, The Dixie Ramblers. Born in Muchakinock on December 26, 1890, Perkins' band was based in the city's Near North Side. National Orchestra Service booked his gigs...
. Sometime around 1961 Judy married a saxophonist and bandleader Percy Caesar Hughes of Minneapolis. Judy, then known as Julia Mae Hughes, died of lung cancer on January 1, 1975. - Easter Darden; Easter married drummer and vibistVibraphoneThe vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the struck idiophone subfamily of the percussion family....
William "Jeep" Stewart, and after divorcing him, later married James Overton.
Anna Mae's marriage and children
Anna Mae married Eustace "Duke" Pilgrim (b. 1921 as Eustace Michael Pilgrim; d. 1970) around 1948. Together, they had 4 children. They lived in Elmhurst, NY among many Harlem transplants and jazz greats. Duke Pilgrim had a prior marriage to Alberta Adams.
Indiana
Her first known publicized performance was singing with the studio band of Radio WOWOWOWO
Located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, WOWO is an independent news/talk radio station transmitting on 1190 kHz at 50,000 watts during the daylight hours and 9,800 watts during the nighttime hours. An application is on file with the Federal Communications Commission to add a fourth tower to the three...
, Fort Wayne. She worked at various clubs in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, including the Chateau Lido in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
(where she appeared under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Anita Door).
North Omaha
From there she moved to North Omaha, NebraskaNorth Omaha, Nebraska
North Omaha is a community area in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. It is bordered by Cuming and Dodge Streets on the south, Interstate 680 on the north, North 72nd Street on the west and the Missouri River and Carter Lake, Iowa on the east, as defined by the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the Omaha...
, where she sang and played guitar for a variety of territory band
Territory band
Territory bands were dance bands that crisscrossed specific regions of the United States from the 1920s through the 1960s. Beginning in the 1920s, the bands typically had 8 to 12 musicians. These bands typically played one-nighters, 6 or 7 nights a week at venues like VFW halls, Elks Lodges,...
s, or groups whose touring activities and popularity were geographically limited to several adjoining states, that were led by Red Perkins
Red Perkins
Frank Shelton "Red" Perkins was a bandleader of one of the oldest Omaha-based territory bands, The Dixie Ramblers. Born in Muchakinock on December 26, 1890, Perkins' band was based in the city's Near North Side. National Orchestra Service booked his gigs...
. During that time Winburn was a collaborator of Lloyd Hunter
Lloyd Hunter
Lloyd Hunter was a trumpeter and big band leader from North Omaha, Nebraska. He led band across the Midwest from 1923 until his death. Hunter had also worked with Jessie Stone in Kansas City, Missouri.-Biography:...
, frequently singing for Lloyd Hunter
Lloyd Hunter
Lloyd Hunter was a trumpeter and big band leader from North Omaha, Nebraska. He led band across the Midwest from 1923 until his death. Hunter had also worked with Jessie Stone in Kansas City, Missouri.-Biography:...
's "Serenaders". She also led the Cotton Club Boys
Cotton Club Boys
The Cotton Club Boys was a territory band based in North Omaha, Nebraska in the 1930s. It was initially fronted by Anna Mae Winburn.-About:Personnel in the swing band included a variety of players. Trumpets players included Lloyd Hunter, Park King, Willie Long and Raymond Byron. The reed section...
out of Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, a group that at one point included the amazing guitarist Charlie Christian
Charlie Christian
Charles Henry "Charlie" Christian was an American swing and jazz guitarist.Christian was an important early performer on the electric guitar, and is cited as a key figure in the development of bebop and cool jazz. He gained national exposure as a member of the Benny Goodman Sextet and Orchestra...
. When many of the musicians were lost to the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
draft
Selective Training and Service Act of 1940
The Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, also known as the Burke-Wadsworth Act, was passed by the Congress of the United States on September 17, 1940, becoming the first peacetime conscription in United States history when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed it into law two days later...
, Winburn joined the International Sweethearts of Rhythm. Soon she went to Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
and led bands for a short while. It was there that she led Eddie Durham
Eddie Durham
Eddie Durham was an American jazz guitarist, trombonist, composer and musical arranger of the swing music medium born in San Marcos, Texas, probably best known for his work with musicians like Cab Calloway, Willie Bryant, Andy Kirk, Glenn Miller, Jimmie Lunceford and Count Basie, among others...
's "All-Girl Orchestra", which eventually earned her an invite to join the International Sweethearts of Rhythm.
International Sweethearts of Rhythm
Eddie DurhamEddie Durham
Eddie Durham was an American jazz guitarist, trombonist, composer and musical arranger of the swing music medium born in San Marcos, Texas, probably best known for his work with musicians like Cab Calloway, Willie Bryant, Andy Kirk, Glenn Miller, Jimmie Lunceford and Count Basie, among others...
had been the composer for the International Sweethearts of Rhythm for two years before leaving to join Count Basie
Count Basie
William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
's band. After being recommended by Jimmie Jewel, who owned North Omaha's Dreamland Ballroom, Winburn became the leader of the band in 1941. She was reportedly hired for her attractive figure, with the intention of doing little actual composing or singing.
In a video interview from 1986, Winburn reported of her first meeting, "I said 'What a bunch of cute little girls, but I don't know whether I could get along with that many women or not." Despite rumors of Betty White
Betty White
Betty White Ludden , better known as Betty White, is an American actress, comedienne, singer, author, and former game show personality. With a career spanning seven decades since 1939, she is best known to modern audiences for her television roles as Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and...
being groomed to take her place after her marriage, Winburn was the band's leader until it folded in late 1949.
Winburn formed other incarnations of the International Sweethearts for the next 10 years, often billing her name before the band's. However, those bands never regained the notoriety of the early years.
