Louisiana Cultural Vistas - Spring 2009 - (Page 50) In 1968, Nellie was el ected to the Boar d of Directors o f the Musicians’ Un ion Local 47. Her elect ion marked the first Bo ard seat held by an African-Amer ican woman. broadcast on radio from Hollywood High School. Insisting that his mother was “as good as anyone else” on the list of performers slated to perform at the benefit show, Talmadge persuaded his mother to send a telegram to Frank Bull, Los Angeles disc jockey, who was going to serve as radio announcer for a portion of the broadcast. When Bull received the telegram, he read it aloud during his regular radio show and invited Nellie to perform. Nellie recounted that there were so many people in attendance that she could hardly move. Scheduled to perform last, Nellie was told that there was time enough for only one song. She sang, “The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else.” Listening to the broadcast was Dave Dexter, talent scout for Capitol Records. Impressed with her performance, he contacted Nellie and arranged for her to record some test records for Capitol. Nellie notes that her brother Joe had taken Dexter some of her homemade demos before she sang on the March of Dimes broadcast: Impervious to the ups and downs of a music career, Nellie continued to work for small wages, often earning only $125 a week. In order to keep her job in some places Nellie was required to “kick back” a portion of her wages to club management. Nellie admits to being discouraged during those lean years, but she worked tirelessly for more than ten years to support herself and Talmadge and to create her unique style. Nellie says in the St. Mary interview that the time she spent moving from club to club gave her the opportunity to perfect her style and arrange many of the popular songs for herself. Nellie’s “discovery” or “big break” was a serendipitous radio broadcast in 1947. Nellie credits Talmadge with motivating her to promote herself for the annual March of Dimes benefit show which was to be In 1950, Nellie Lutcher appeared in the United Kingdom on a variety tour, compered by well-known British radio personality Jack Jackson. HURRY ON DOWN 50 LOUISIANA ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES\Spring 2009
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