{{Short description|Scottish jazz singer (1924–2011)}} {{Use British English|date=April 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Dinah Kaye | birth_name = Catherine Sophia Cumming | birth_date = {{Birth date|1924|02|02|df=y}} | birth_place = Burma, British India | death_date = {{Death date and age|2011|09|12|1924|02|02|df=y}} | death_place = Edinburgh, Scotland | genre = Jazz | occupation = Singer | years_active = 1943–1965 }} '''Dinah Kaye-Cumming''' (born '''Catherine Sophia Cumming'''; 2 February 1924 – 12 September 2011)<ref>Scotland's People Ref 731 / 192</ref> was a Scottish jazz singer. Born in Burma to Scottish parents, she spent her childhood entering singing competitions in Edinburgh and later moved to London to further her career. Kaye gained interest after performing the song "Jealous Eyes" and toured the Americas in the 1950s, before returning to London to relaunch her career. She represented the United Kingdom at the 1962 Sopot Jazz Festival, as well as touring the globe.
==Biography== Kaye was born Catherine Sophia Cumming in Burma to Scottish parents on 2 February 1924.<ref>Parish register transcripts from the Presidency of Bengal. British India Office Births & Baptisms.</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite news|last=Quinn |first=Michael |title=Dinah Kaye |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/obituaries--archive/obituaries/dinah-kaye/ |work=The Stage |date=31 October 2011 |access-date=19 April 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420143440/https://www.thestage.co.uk/features/obituaries/2011/dinah-kaye/ |archive-date=20 April 2017 }}</ref> She had one brother, John.<ref name="heraldobituary">{{cite news|last=MacKinnon |first=Pam |title=Dinah Kaye |url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A269990421/GPS?sid=wikipedia |work=The Herald |date=4 October 2011 |page=18 |accessdate=19 April 2017 |via=Infotrac Newsstand |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Her family moved back to Scotland when Kaye was five years old and settled in Edinburgh.<ref name=independentobituary>{{cite news|last=MacKinnon |first=Pam |title=Dinah Kaye: Jazz singer who worked with Louis Armstrong |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/dinah-kaye-jazz-singer-who-worked-with-louis-armstrong-2373061.html |work=The Independent |date=19 October 2011 |accessdate=19 April 2017 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225221947/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/dinah-kaye-jazz-singer-who-worked-with-louis-armstrong-2373061.html |archivedate=25 February 2017 }}</ref> Her childhood was spent entering singing competitions and was regularly seen in Edinburgh's jazz clubs,<ref name=":0" /> with local bands,<ref name="heraldobituary" /> to earn money.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Nisse |first=Neville |date=21 June 1962 |title=Will Dinah Kaye Find That Elusive Stardom? |page=4 |work=The Stage |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001180/19620621/036/0004 |url-access=subscription |access-date=26 December 2022 |via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref> Kaye moved to London in 1943 and became the resident singer for Harry Parry and his orchestra. She toured with him for several years, before leaving the band to become a freelance artist, and spent the next two years in the Netherlands.<ref name="independentobituary" /> After returning to London, Kaye resided at Fischer's jazz club,<ref name=":0" /> and regularly performed at the Savoy Club, the Café de Paris, and Coconut Group. She was highly sought after, and sang with famous bands of the era, including those led by Nat Allen, Cyril Stapleton, Tommy Sampson and Terry Lightfoot.<ref name="independentobituary" />
Vocalist Edmundo Ros selected Kaye to record with him for Decca Records and performed the song "Jealous Eyes". The song generated much interest, and Kaye signed with Decca as a solo artist. She recorded her first album for the label, entitled ''Just Another Polka.''<ref name="heraldobituary" /> Singer Billy Daniels became interested in Kaye after listening to her album, signing her and announcing plans to prepare the vocalist for her first appearance in the United States in New York City.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Daniels Inks British Singer, Plans N. Y. Date |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oEIDAAAAMBAJ&dq=Dinah+Kaye&pg=PA62 |journal=Jet |page=62 |volume=4 |number=15 |date=20 August 1953 |accessdate=19 April 2017 |issn=0021-5996 }}</ref> Kaye left the United Kingdom for New York City on 14 September 1953,<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 September 1953 |title=Dinah Kaye Off To New York |page=1 |work=London Evening Standard |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100899271/evening-standard/ |access-date=2 May 2022 |via=Newspapers.com {{open access}}}}</ref> and spent the next four years in the United States, appearing alongside singer Louis Armstrong, with whom she established a friendship. She acted as supporting singer to Tony Bennett, Lena Horne and Kay Starr and travelled extensively across the country and Canada, which saw her become established in the American show business scene.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="independentobituary" />
After her four-year tour, Kaye returned to the United Kingdom and relaunched her career in London.<ref name="heraldobituary" /> She performed in restaurants and night clubs,<ref name="independentobituary" /> although she had problems when she was due to sing "Please Do It Again" in January 1960; the performance was later authorised by the BBC when it became satisfied with her interpretation of its performance for broadcast on a radio programme aimed at teenagers.<ref>{{cite book|last=Pollack |first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Pollack |title=George Gershwin: His Life and Work |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RySwdc151ZoC&dq=Dinah+Kaye&pg=PA264 |year=2007 |pages=264–265 |publisher=University of California Press |location=Oakland, California |isbn=978-0-520-93314-9 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=9 January 1960 |title=BBC frees banned song – for teenagers |page=4 |work=London Evening Standard |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100757865/please-do-it-again-london-evening/ |access-date=30 April 2022 |via=Newspapers.com {{open access}}}}</ref> Clarinettist Acker Bilk organised a party for Kaye in July 1962 before she travelled to Poland in the same month to represent the United Kingdom at the Sopot Jazz Festival. There, she sang new lyrics to the Bilk song "Stranger on the Shore", her personal selection to go alongside a Polish song and one from the United Kingdom. She was awarded a silver medal after the gig was secured for her by her agent.<ref name="independentobituary" /><ref name=":1" /> Kaye toured globally in the 1950s and 1960s, receiving a positive reception where she performed. Her popularity meant Kaye was ranked second behind Cleo Laine in a 1965 ''Melody Maker'' Jazz Poll. She frequently broadcast on the BBC and in the countries she visited.<ref name="independentobituary" />
Kaye died in Edinburgh on 12 September 2011, at the age of 87.<ref name=":0" />
==Discography== * ''The Roaring 20's'' (1963)
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{Discogs artist|1724783-Dinah-Kaye}}
{{Authority Control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaye, Dinah}} Category:1924 births Category:2011 deaths Category:Musicians from Edinburgh Category:Scottish jazz singers Category:Scottish women jazz singers Category:British expatriates in British Burma Category:20th-century Scottish women singers