(Originally broadcast October 15, 2003)
Marie Doherty was born May 25th, 1914 in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. Her parents were young and enjoyed popular music and ballroom dancing, so Marie was exposed to a variety of music as a child. She began tinkering on the piano at the age of four, and soon began picking out tunes by ear. She started formal lessons when she was nine. Marie's abilities developed quickly, and had given a classical recital at Boston's Jordan Hall by the time she was 13.
Marie took several classes at the New England Conservatory of Music while she was still in high school, and was playing professionally by 15, with gigs in restaurants and on several radio shows in the Boston area. Working in radio led to a job at NBC Radio, which brought the 18-year-old to New York for the first time.
Upon moving to New York, Marie began playing piano in nightclubs. She found steady employment at Kean's Steak House, which was owned by the infamous gangster Dutch Shultz. This gig was her introduction to the jazz scene, and she'd often find herself at the Cotton Club and The Savoy Ballroom hearing Cab Callaway, Duke Ellington, and Ella Fitzgerald. One evening, she accompanied some of the wait-staff at Kean's on a trip at a late night joint in Harlem called Tillie's Kitchen. Fats Waller was there that night, and some friends encouraged Marie to play for the stride legend. He was impressed and began giving her lessons when he was in town.
Marie continued playing at some of New York's most famous jazz spots, including the Swing Club, The Venetian and the Roseland Ballroom where she led a 13-piece big band. The group was broken up when its various were drafted. Then Marie moved out to Cape Cod, where she worked for much of the rest of her life. She also met her future husband there -- a Boston native and trumpet player named Bill Marcus.
The couple worked summers in Cape Cod and Miami in the winter, until Bill's death in 1965. Marie stayed active in the music scene, and in the 1970's, she formed the Cape Cod Jazz Society -- a network of jazz musicians on the Cape. She eventually become known as Cape Cod's "First lady of Jazz."
Marie Marcus passed away on October 13th, 2003 at the age of 89.
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Set List for Marie Marcus on Piano Jazz:Waller Medley
Ain't Misbehavin (Waller, Brooks, Razaf)
Keepin Out of Mischief Now (Waller, Razaf)
Squeeze Me (Waller, Razaf)After You've Gone (Layton, Creamer)
Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans (Alter, DeLange)
St. Louis Blues (Handy)
Struttin With Some Barbecue (Armstrong)
Walkin' in Savannah (Casher)
Louisiana (Johnson, Schaffer)
Why Did I Choose You (Leonard, Martin)
That's A Plenty (Gilbert, Pollack)
Marie took several classes at the New England Conservatory of Music while she was still in high school, and was playing professionally by 15, with gigs in restaurants and on several radio shows in the Boston area. Working in radio led to a job at NBC Radio, which brought the 18-year-old to New York for the first time.
Upon moving to New York, Marie began playing piano in nightclubs. She found steady employment at Kean's Steak House, which was owned by the infamous gangster Dutch Shultz. This gig was her introduction to the jazz scene, and she'd often find herself at the Cotton Club and The Savoy Ballroom hearing Cab Callaway, Duke Ellington, and Ella Fitzgerald. One evening, she accompanied some of the wait-staff at Kean's on a trip at a late night joint in Harlem called Tillie's Kitchen. Fats Waller was there that night, and some friends encouraged Marie to play for the stride legend. He was impressed and began giving her lessons when he was in town.
Marie continued playing at some of New York's most famous jazz spots, including the Swing Club, The Venetian and the Roseland Ballroom where she led a 13-piece big band. The group was broken up when its various were drafted. Then Marie moved out to Cape Cod, where she worked for much of the rest of her life. She also met her future husband there -- a Boston native and trumpet player named Bill Marcus.
The couple worked summers in Cape Cod and Miami in the winter, until Bill's death in 1965. Marie stayed active in the music scene, and in the 1970's, she formed the Cape Cod Jazz Society -- a network of jazz musicians on the Cape. She eventually become known as Cape Cod's "First lady of Jazz."
Marie Marcus passed away on October 13th, 2003 at the age of 89.
Check out this week's Piano Jazz Shorts: the Piano Jazz podcast.
Subscribe!
Set List for Marie Marcus on Piano Jazz:
Ain't Misbehavin (Waller, Brooks, Razaf)
Keepin Out of Mischief Now (Waller, Razaf)
Squeeze Me (Waller, Razaf)