Helen Oakley Dance
Encyclopedia
Helen Margaret Oakley Dance, née Oakley (February 15, 1913 — May 27, 2001) was a jazz journalist, producer, historian, and musician. She is perhaps best known for production and for her biography of T-Bone Walker
. She was married to critic Stanley Dance
for over 50 years.
Born into a wealthy Canadian family in Toronto
, Ontario
, she capped-off her "coming out" as a debutante
by attending a Duke Ellington
concert . A jazz enthusiast from an early age, she made efforts to become a singer, however had more success as a journalist and producer. Her first act of note in jazz history was in introducing Teddy Wilson
to the Benny Goodman
Orchestra. She later made other efforts to help interracial music collaboration, and was the host of significant parties and concerts for the jazz world.
She also produced much of Duke Ellington
's small band work in the late 1930s. When issued, these records were usually credited to Ellington's sidemen Cootie Williams
, Barney Bigard
, Rex Stewart
or Johnny Hodges
, in order to differentiate them from the big band sound associated with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Notable among these recordings are Bigard's original hit version of "Caravan"
, and jazz classics such as Hodges' "Jeep's Blues" and Williams' "Dooji Wooji" (all written or co-written by Ellington).
Following the death of her brother during the Second World War she joined the Women's Army Corps
and later did secret operations with the Office of Strategic Services
. These primarily involved the Mediterranean region, particularly North Africa
and Italy
. After the war she returned to the jazz world. She also relocated to England
for a time on marrying Stanley Dance. In 1959, the couple moved to the United States
.
In the 1960s, Dance became active in the Civil rights movement
and was a founder of Catholic Interracial Council in Connecticut
. She also wrote for a diocesan publication that concerned racial and social justice. Her civil rights work also involved human rights organizations unrelated to Catholicism.
In 1987, she wrote Stormy Monday: The T-Bone Walker Story, arguably among the best regarded biographies of a blues musician. The book was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2001.
Dance died in Escondido, California
at the age of 88. Her interment was located in Mission San Luis Rey Cemetery
.
She was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 2004.
T-Bone Walker
Aaron Thibeaux "T-Bone" Walker was a critically acclaimed American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, who was one of the most influential pioneers and innovators of the jump blues and electric blues sound. He is the first musician recorded playing blues with the...
. She was married to critic Stanley Dance
Stanley Dance
Stanley Dance was a jazz writer and oral historian of the swing era.He began writing about the jazz scene for the French magazine Jazz Hot in 1935...
for over 50 years.
Born into a wealthy Canadian family in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, she capped-off her "coming out" as a debutante
Debutante
A débutante is a young lady from an aristocratic or upper class family who has reached the age of maturity, and as a new adult, is introduced to society at a formal "début" presentation. It should not be confused with a Debs...
by attending a Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
concert . A jazz enthusiast from an early age, she made efforts to become a singer, however had more success as a journalist and producer. Her first act of note in jazz history was in introducing Teddy Wilson
Teddy Wilson
Theodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson was an American jazz pianist whose sophisticated and elegant style was featured on the records of many of the biggest names in jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.-Biography:Wilson was born in Austin, Texas in...
to the Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
Orchestra. She later made other efforts to help interracial music collaboration, and was the host of significant parties and concerts for the jazz world.
She also produced much of Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
's small band work in the late 1930s. When issued, these records were usually credited to Ellington's sidemen Cootie Williams
Cootie Williams
Charles Melvin "Cootie" Williams was an American jazz, jump blues, and rhythm and blues trumpeter.-Biography:...
, Barney Bigard
Barney Bigard
Albany Leon Bigard, aka Barney Bigard, was an American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist, though primarily known for the clarinet....
, Rex Stewart
Rex Stewart
Rex Stewart was an American jazz cornetist best known for his work with the Duke Ellington orchestra....
or Johnny Hodges
Johnny Hodges
John Cornelius "Johnny" Hodges was an American alto saxophonist, best known for his solo work with Duke Ellington's big band. He played lead alto in the saxophone section for many years, except the period between 1932–1946 when Otto Hardwick generally played first chair...
, in order to differentiate them from the big band sound associated with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Notable among these recordings are Bigard's original hit version of "Caravan"
Caravan (song)
"Caravan" is a jazz standard composed by Juan Tizol and first performed by Duke Ellington in 1937. Irving Mills wrote the lyrics, but he sometimes is not credited on the many instrumental versions. Its exotic sound interested exotica musicians; Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman both covered it. Woody...
, and jazz classics such as Hodges' "Jeep's Blues" and Williams' "Dooji Wooji" (all written or co-written by Ellington).
Following the death of her brother during the Second World War she joined the Women's Army Corps
Women's Army Corps
The Women's Army Corps was the women's branch of the US Army. It was created as an auxiliary unit, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps on 15 May 1942 by Public Law 554, and converted to full status as the WAC in 1943...
and later did secret operations with the Office of Strategic Services
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
. These primarily involved the Mediterranean region, particularly North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. After the war she returned to the jazz world. She also relocated to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for a time on marrying Stanley Dance. In 1959, the couple moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In the 1960s, Dance became active in the Civil rights movement
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
and was a founder of Catholic Interracial Council in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. She also wrote for a diocesan publication that concerned racial and social justice. Her civil rights work also involved human rights organizations unrelated to Catholicism.
In 1987, she wrote Stormy Monday: The T-Bone Walker Story, arguably among the best regarded biographies of a blues musician. The book was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2001.
Dance died in Escondido, California
Escondido, California
Escondido is a city occupying a shallow valley ringed by rocky hills, just north of the city of San Diego, California. Founded in 1888, it is one of the oldest cities in San Diego County. The city had a population of 143,911 at the 2010 census. Its municipal government set itself an operating...
at the age of 88. Her interment was located in Mission San Luis Rey Cemetery
Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, also known as Mission San Luis Rey or San Luis Rey Mission Church, was founded on June 13, 1798 in coastal Las Californias, in the present day U.S. city of Oceanside in California. The local Quechnajuichom Native American tribe became known as the Luiseño 'Mission...
.
She was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 2004.