|
"Troubles Of My Own"/"Stop Fooling Around"
by Shirley Haven And The Four Jacks
on Federal 12092
released in 1952
|
|
|
"Troubles Of My Own"/"Stop Fooling Around"
by Shirley Haven And The Four Jacks
on Federal 12092
released in 1952
|
|
Above: Photo of Shirley Haven from Ebony Magazine April 1946 edition. Nineteen-year-old Shirley is seen preparing for the stage show "Jump, Jive N' Jam" in Los Angeles. The characters in the script, all known by musical terms such as Syncopation, Discord, Downbeat, Operetta, etc., meet at Rhythm Town. Shirley portrays Miss Operetta. The name of the show was changed to "Rhythm Town" just prior to its premiere in early June 1946.LOS ANGELES TIMES, June 7, 1946: 'RHYTHM TOWN' LIVELY COLORED STAGE OFFERING—A new all-colored show, "Rhythm Town," had its hectic premiere at the Beaux Arts Theater last night.... There are some excellent voices among the singers, the lovely soprano of Shirley Haven coming first, with Sonny Woods' tenor also scoring....
PITTSBURGH COURIER, June 15, 1946: 'RHYTHM TOWN' SCORES HIT IN LOS ANGELES—The unyielding perserverence and determination, despite months of rehearsals, heart-breaking disappointments and postponements by the cast of "Rhythm Town," an operetta of "Jump, Jive And Jam," was finally rewarded here Thursday night when the show opened with a creditable performance at Beaux Arts Theatre.... Winning the plaudits of first nighters in standout fashion were winsome Shirley Haven, "Miss Operetta" who possesses a soprano voice of great possibilities; Sonny Woods,....
|
EBONY MAGAZINE, April 1946: LEADING MAN AND LADY—Sonny Woods and Shirley Haven, just 19, run through some songs for the (Jump, Jive N' Jam) show. Woods was former vocalist with Louis Armstrong, served two years in the army. He comes from Pittsburgh, she from Santa Cruz, Calif. [Santa Clara?]
(Jet Magazine 2/12/53) |
(Fresno Bee 8/31/52) |
(Greenville News 11/13/52) |
THE CASH BOX, September 27, 1952: ....Charles Brown and Shirley Haven (will be) on a one-nighter tour that starts in Longview, Texas, on September 30 and runs through October 23 when they appear in Little Rock, Ark. The tour (then continues) from October 27 to November 18 for an array of dates that will take the package through the southeastern states.JET MAGAZINE, January 29, 1953: The romance between vocalist Shirley Haven of the Charles Brown band and Fats Clark, Charley's manager, is due to end before a parson.
THE SIGNAL (Santa Clara, CA), February 12, 1953: ....The newly-decorated home of Miss Shirley Haven is quite an asset to the (Val Verde) community. By the way, Miss Haven is the featured soloist with the very well known Charles Brown band. This aggregation is on a short vacation, spending some of their time here at the beautiful home of Miss Haven....
THE SIGNAL (Santa Clara, CA), March 10, 1955: ....Many friends in Val Verde and Los Angeles were shocked to learn of the sudden passing of the great musician "Fats" Clark....of a heart attack. Mr. Clark was happily married to Miss Shirley Haven, a great songstress in the music world.
|
PITTSBURGH COURIER, May 15, 1954: TO KOREA—Sponsered by the Hollywood Coordinating Committee and Impresario Lou Irwin, this theatrical trio, from left, Maestro Eddie Gomez, Actress Suzette Harbin and Singer Shirley Haven, was given a good sendoff by Sportsman Irving Berman [third from left] at the International Airport in Los Angeles before departing for Korea to entertain American GIs. Joe Adams will emcee for the troupe of ten performers.CALIFORNIA EAGLE, May 27, 1954: ....Joe Adams and his troup (are) returning from a three week tour of Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and Hawaii, bringing a heartwarming touch of America to servicemen stationed throughout the Far East.... Included in the troup are Eddie Beal, Shirley Haven, Eddie Gomez, Suzette Harbin, Gene Phillips, Eddie Davis, Clarence Metcalf and Tommy Butler, all of whom performed in the farflung battlefields, in out of way theatres and in many unheard of spots of the Far East....
|
JET MAGAZINE, July 22, 1954: ....Led by Los Angeles disc jockey, Joe Adams, the troupe, first all-Negro entertainment package to tour Korea, received the greatest reception—according to attendance figures—of any junket since the one famed comedian Bob Hope headed a few years ago....
|
|
|
|
Above: Shirley Haven acted in at least six movies (1948-1959). The above still shots are from her first credited movie "No Time For Romance," an all-black cast, romantic musical filmed in color and released in 1948. Interestingly, Shirley did not sing in this picture. It is the only movie in which Shirley garnered a major role (third billing). In some of her movies she is billed as "Shirle Haven" (missing a "y").The following article from 1948 states that Shirley appeared "in several MGM roles" prior to "No Time For Romance," including the Red Skelton/Marilyn Maxwell 1946 feature "The Show-Off." As IMDB.com does not confirm that, she may have been an "extra" in those movies.
CALIFORNIA EAGLE, September 30, 1948: CHIRPS LIKE A BIRD, LOOKS LIKE LENA!: Lovely and talented Shirley Haven, San Francisco born actress-singer, who was chosen out of a cast of 700 University students to sing at the World's Fair in 1939, has been given a supporting role in the soon-to-be-released all-Negro picture, "No Time For Romance," starring Eunice Wilson. Shirley has been around Hollywood for quite some time, appearing in several MGM roles, and was last seen in "The Show Off."
She has one of the best voices in show business and was advisor of the first King Cole Trio fan club. Miss Haven's picture also adorned the pages of Ebony magazine in 1946 [see near top of this page]. She's lovely to look at and chirps like the nightengale who sang in Berkeley Square!
(NOTE: If she was 19 years old in 1946 as indicated in the Ebony article, she would have been about 12 in 1939.... a little young for a University student. Seems like one or the other might be inaccurate.)
EXTRA AUDIO (Windows Media Player):
[Audio restoration by Dave Saviet.]
At Left: Label for Federal 12079-A, recorded on February 27, 1952 and released in May 1952. Shirley's other record, also backed by The Four Jacks on Federal, was recorded on the previous day. The flip of "Sure Cure..." is by Cora Williams And The Four Jacks.
The Cash Box Review (5/31/52):
SHIRLEY HAVEN AND THE FOUR JACKS - FEDERAL 12079....
Sure Cure For The Blues (B) The chantress does a sock vocal with an exciting, driving beat. Handclapping and a male vocal make this a potent platter.(NOTE: A rating of B was considered "very good.")
The Billboard Review (6/7/52):
SHIRLEY HAVEN-FOUR JACKS - FEDERAL 12079....
Sure Cure For The Blues (68) Shirley Haven and the Jacks sing this bouncy item with spirit, and the ork backs them smoothly. However, tune is routine.(NOTE: A ratings range of 40-69 was considered "satisfactory.")
Listen to "Sure Cure For The Blues" - Shirley Haven And The Four Jacks - Federal 12079-A - 1952.
|
Above: Three-fourths of The Four Jacks.... The Bombers in 1956, clockwise from top, consisted of Bowling Mansfield (first tenor), Cecil Dandy (second tenor), Ellison White (bass), and George Comfort (baritone). Mansfield, White, and Comfort, along with Buell Thomas, had been The Four Jacks on the Federal label in 1952.
|
Above: Label image of Federal 12092 recorded on February 26, 1952 and released in August 1952. Shirley Haven had just the three sides (all included on this webpage) released. There are no unknown gaps in the matrix numbers, so there may not be any unreleased Federal tracks.Mario DeLagarde, who appears as composer on all three of Shirley Haven's sides, was a bass player and prolific writer of songs for Federal (and other labels). He often collaborated with Ravon Darnell.
The Billboard Review (9/6/52):
SHIRLEY HAVEN-FOUR JACKS - FEDERAL 12092....
Stop Fooling Around (68) Shirley Haven, with the help of the Four Jacks, turns in an effective performance of a routine jump item. Performance is better than material.
Troubles Of My Own (60) Disking shows off a lot of vocal tricks on the part of the thrush and the Four Jacks as well. Vocal effects, however, don't cover-up the weakness of the effort.(NOTE: A ratings range of 40-69 was considered "satisfactory.")
The Cash Box Review (10/4/52):
SHIRLEY HAVEN - FEDERAL 12092....
Troubles Of My Own (C+) Shirley Haven, with the assistance of The Four Jacks, sings a slow rhythmic item.
Stop Fooling Around (B) The undersiding is a quick tempo number treated to a driving vocal by the chirp who comes off with an exciting end.(NOTE: A rating of B was considered "very good" and C+ was "good.")
NOTE: Most discographical information provided at this website is from Ferdie Gonzalez' Disco-File.
Listen to this week's selections featuring Shirley Haven And The Four Jacks on Federal 12092 from 1952 using Windows Media Player:
[Audio restoration by Dave Saviet.]
1. Troubles Of My Own
2. Stop Fooling Around
BOTH played in sequence
[To download audio files, right-click on link and then select "Save link (target) as..."]
