Bobby Short: Master of the Great American Song
Bobby Short (September 15, 1924 – March 21, 2005) was an American cabaret singer and pianist who became the definitive interpreter of the Great American Song, performing standards by composers including Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, George and Ira Gershwin, and Duke Ellington. He spent more than 35 years as a featured performer at the Café Carlyle in New York City, establishing himself as an institution in American cabaret.
Early Life and Education
Short was born in Danville, Illinois on September 15, 1924. During his high school years, he performed in the Danville High School dramatic club alongside Dick Van Dyke and Donald O’Connor. At age 11, with his mother’s permission, he left home for Chicago and began performing piano in dance halls and saloons, as well as working as a busker.
Career and Achievements
Short began his adult musical career in clubs during the 1940s. In 1968, he was offered a two-week engagement at the Café Carlyle in New York City to substitute for George Feyer. Accompanied by Beverly Peer on bass and Dick Sheridan on drums, Short transformed the assignment into a permanent position, remaining a featured performer there for more than 35 years. He became known for impromptu all-night performances at his favorite cafes and restaurants throughout New York.
Short’s repertoire encompassed both white and African-American composers of the early 20th century. He championed artists such as Eubie Blake, James P. Johnson, Fats Waller, and Billy Strayhorn, presenting their work as the equal of their white contemporaries. He stated that his favorite songwriters were Ellington, Arlen, and Kern, and was instrumental in spearheading the construction of the Ellington Memorial in New York City. He was also a friend of Tom Jobim and was present during the composer’s final days in New York.
Short published two memoirs documenting his life and career. Black and White Baby appeared in 1971, describing his childhood in the dance halls and saloons of Chicago and New York following his father’s death. Bobby Short: The Life and Times of a Saloon Singer was published in 1995, chronicling his career through the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.
Notable Events and Milestones
Short’s work extended beyond the cabaret stage into film and television. In 1972, he performed the theme song for James Ivory’s film Savages. He appeared in a 1976 Revlon commercial for the perfume “Charlie” and made a cameo appearance on The Love Boat in 1981. In 1985, he sang part of the opening theme for the NBC television show Misfits of Science.
His film appearances included roles in Woody Allen’s Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) and Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993), where Allen used Short’s recording of “I Happen to Like New York” for the opening title. In 1991 and 1994, he guest-starred on In the Heat of the Night, playing blues musician Ches Collins. He appeared in For Love or Money (1993) and Man of the Century (1999), his final film role. In 2001, his voice was featured in the 200th episode of the sitcom Frasier.
In 2000, the Library of Congress designated Short a Living Legend as part of its bicentennial celebration. He announced plans to end his regular appearances at the Café Carlyle by the end of 2004 but continued to tour and travel until his death.
Awards and Honors
Short was inducted as a Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois. In 1983, he was awarded the Order of Lincoln by the governor of Illinois, the state’s highest honor in the area of performing arts.
Additional Resources
Bobby Short’s legacy as a cabaret artist and champion of American popular song is documented in greater detail through his published memoirs, his extensive discography spanning nearly five decades, and various biographical archives. Readers interested in learning more about his life, performances, and contributions to American music can explore these sources and additional materials available through Wikipedia and other biographical databases.
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