Darlings of Rhythm

The Darlings of Rhythm were an African American women 's big band of the swing era.

The Darlings of Rhythm were founded in 1943 in Harlem of the saxophonist Lorraine Brown, who was with the International Sweethearts of Rhythm and wanted to improve working conditions for colored musicians. Like other early band members they came out of the All-Star -Girl Band by Eddie Durham. They played mainly in front of black audiences and toured as their better-known competitors, the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, especially in the southern states as well as in the Midwestern United States. 1944 took over Clarence Love, a former big band leader and now at the Ferguson Agency, the musical director.

In it, among other things, the Tenorsaxophonistin Margaret " Padjo " Backstrom and trumpeter Toby Butler played ( since 1945 ). Since Butler was white, however, this resulted in constant trouble in the southern states because of the Jim Crow laws that required strict racial segregation. Backstrom was an excellent soloist and provided also cutting contests with Vi Burnside of the Sweethearts in Jam Sessions. The alto saxophonist Josephine Boyd previously played in the all-girl band of Eddie Durham, and was also an outstanding soloist. The trumpeter Jean Ray Lee (sometimes Gene Lee ), who was at the foundation here, was previously at the Harlem Playgirls. Drummer Henrietta Fountain played 1937/38, at the Dixie Rhythm Girls and also at the Harlem Playgirls. Trombonist Jessie Turner was also previously in Durham's band.

Other band members were the pianist Ozzie "Bumps Huff ", later married Clarence Love, Lula Roberts and Grace Wilson on sax, Marie Johnson and Thelma Lewis on trumpet, Lillian Jones and Vi Wilson on bass and Aurora Bell on trombone. Singers were Joan Lunceford ( who also conducted as a front woman) and Helen Taborn. 1945 took over Hetty Smith drums.

On one occasion she accompanied Billie Holiday at the Grand Terrace in Chicago. In 1945, she toured on the West Coast, supported by the troops support the USO.

They were a competition with the other colored more well-known all-girl band, the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, and some of the musicians (like Backstrom and Butler) also played at the Sweethearts.

In contrast to the Sweethearts they could not afford sophisticated wardrobe and expensive arrangements, which is why they often improvised ( to Head arrangements ).