Friday, November 24, 2006

But Heaven Rest Us, I'm Not Asbestos!



The peerless Ella Fitgerald, with pianist Tommy Flanagan, Frank de la Rosa (bass), and Ed Thigpen (drums), perform "I Won't Dance," live at the Montreux Jazz Festival, 1969.

The lyrics for the tune were first written by Oscar Hammerstein II and Otto Harbach (composer Jerome Kern) for the London musical "Three Sisters", which premiered in 1934. Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh changed the lyrics of the song, keeping only the title that Oscar Hammerstein II originated, for the film "Roberta," in 1935.

Dorothy Fields, 1905-1974

Relative Esoterica has great stuff on Dorothy Fields.

Dorothy Fields info at All About Jewish Theater and The Songwriters Hall of Fame.



1 comment:

Trombonology said...

"... rest us ... asbestos"
Pure genius!