Dakota Staton's services at Abyssinian Baptist Church Monday, April 16, 2007

 

Dakota Staton's services at Abyssinian Baptist Church Monday, April 16, 2007

 

Dearest Friends,

Fred Staton called to say that Dakota's services will be as follows:

Monday, April 16, 2007, at the Abyssinian Baptist Church, 132 Odell
Clark Place (138 St, bet 7th Ave & Malcolm X Blvd), NY, NY 10030, rhe
Rev Dr Calvin O Butts, officiating, assisted by the Rev. Dale R Lind,
Saint Peter's Church, John Joyce, funeral directors.

Viewing: 3 to 7 p.m.
Funeral services Immediately following viewing, at 7 p.m.

  Following the services, the internment will take place at Woodlawn
Crematory.

I remind those artists who knew Dakota well or performed with her, and
wish to take part in the musical portion of the services are urged to
IMMEDIATELY get in touch with Fred Staton


I hope you'll all try to be at Dakota's services. Let's give this
gallant woman a terrific send-off!

*     *    *    *    *

Thoughts about Dakota:

My beloved Dakota Staton died Tuesday, April 10, at the Isabella
Nursing Home. It was a long hard 7 years for her but she carried gamely
on, always conversing with those who spoke to  her.

I can remember when the strong, lusty, vibrant woman who loved life and
singing, had her birthday party at Cobi's Place in June of 2000. She
loved this party; she talked about it all the time. At the tiime, she
was booked for three major concerts in August & September.

I can remember when in July, she was found unconscious in her
apartment, suffering from a triple aneurysm. When she awoke, she
couldn't remember anything between the party and the day they found
her.

I can remember when she was moved to the Isabella Nursing Home in
September 2000.

I can remember her saying, why is it so dark in the room, when it was
sunny and bright. i can remember her losing her sight due to glaucoma.

I can remember when we started the once a month concerts at the
Isabella with Frank Owens, Earl May and Jackie Williams (it was Earl's
idea) with Fred Staton on saxophone and Special GuestDakota singing a
song or two when she felt up to it. At least 5 to 10 of Dakota's singer
friends, both emerging and famous, came every month, all that way,
never getting paid a cent, to sing one song for Dakota. How they loved
Dakota! And how Dakota loved them!

Gradually, Frank and his trio had to drop out, they were so busy and so
booked, so Fred assumed  leadership of the quartet, with his musician
friends, and Dakota's singers continued to take part.
These concerts were still going on, but the Isabella had reduced our
dates to one every several months. Dakota loved these concerts; she
enjoyed every one. When they brought her in a few minutes late and she
could hear them, she would declare to the person pushing her chair:
"That's my brother, Fred, playing!"

I weep for our loss. I will miss her, both as a person and as one of
the great singers of all time. Blind for seven years, wracked with pain
from arthritis, and gradually losing contact with us, I'm sure that as
she passed, she gave a great sigh of relief.

love,
cob

Dakota Staton gained a strong reputation as a soulful jazz singer early in her career, and, although she has never broken through to become a truly major name, she has retained her popularity for several decades. Staton studied voice at the Filion School of Music in Pittsburgh. Her performance at a jam session in Harlem led to her signing with Capitol in 1954, and winning Down Beat's New Star award the following year. Staton's 1957 recording of "The Late Late Show" became her biggest hit. Although she never duplicated that song's commercial success, Staton recorded steadily for Capitol through 1961 (including an album with George Shearing) and made worthwhile recordings for United Artists (1963-64), Groove Merchant (1973-1974), and in the 1990s for Muse. Her timeless style remains largely unchanged from decades ago. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Dakota Staton was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and studied music at Pittsburgh’s Filion School of Music. She was soon chosen to be a vocalist with the Joe Wespray Orchestra, then the top band in the Pittsburgh area. After spending two years with Wespray she traveled to Detroit, working in various clubs there. Staton then followed the nightclub circuit which led her to Canada, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Cleveland, and eventually New York. It was while singing in a Harlem nightclub called the Baby Grand that Capitol Records producer Dave Cavanaugh discovered Staton and signed her to the label. After several singles Staton attracted the attention of Down Beat magazine, winning the magazine's high profile "Most Promising New Comer Award" in 1955. In the late 1950s she rose rapidly in popularity due to some fine swinging vocals on her first full length Capitol Records LP as backed by Jonah Jones on trumpet in 1957. The title track of this release turned out to be her biggest all time hit; The Late, Late Show. It was during this session that Staton also recorded her superb vocal rendering of what had previously been an instrumental hit for Count Basie called Broadway. Following on the heels of The Late, Late Show was a superb outing with the George Shearing Quintet called "In The Night," also recorded in 1957. Her next date called "Dynamic," recorded the following year, further helped launch her meteoric rise to near the top of the female mainstream jazz vocalist category. With tunes on this release like Anything Goes and Too Close For Comfort, recorded with Harry Sweets Edison and a rhythm section, it seemed as if Staton would soon be in the category of a select few like Fitzgerald, Vaughan, and Washington. In1959 several more great vocals as backed by the Sid Feller Orchestra were recorded and appeared on the release "More Than The Most." Unfortunately, even though she recorded steadily on Capitol Records through the spring of 1962, nothing achieved as much acclaim as her first few releases. Later in her career Staton's styling showed more of a heavier, blues and gospel influence. From 1962 to 1992 she recorded for a variety of labels including United Artists, Verve, Columbia, Groove Merchant and Muse. Critic Leonard Feather, in the late 1950's, called Dakota Staton “a dynamic song stylist recalling at times elements of Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughan.” Some of her most poplar recordings can be found on three CD’s still in print; The Late Late Show, In The Night (usually found under George Shearing's name), and Spotlight on Dakota Staton [Great Ladies of Song.]

Dakota Staton (vcl) acc by large unknown band
New York, November 24, 1954
What do you know about love ?    Cap T1170
No mama, no papa        3059
For the rest of my life       -
Note: Capitol T1170 titled "Crazy he calls me".

 

Dakota Staton

Soulful jazz singer with a unique style and husky tone

In the late 1950s Staton's popularity ranked as high as that of contemporaries

Sarah Vaughan and Dinah Washington

The Dakota Staton Discography

Dakota Staton acc by Howard Biggs' Orchestra:
Dakota Staton (vcl) with unknown acc
New York, April 14, 1955
How does it feel ?    Cap T1170
I never dreamt       -
Can't live without them anymore       -
A little you        3138
Don't leave me now       -
Abracadabra        3181

Dakota Staton acc by Nelson Riddle's Orchestra:
Dakota Staton (vcl) prob. featuring Harry "Sweets" Edison (tp)
Los Angeles, November 20, 1955
Morning, noon or night    Cap T1170
A dangerous age        3293
It feels so nice       -
Week for the man        3361
How high the moon (1)       -    , T1170
Note: (1) Only acc by tp, p, g, b and d