Shirley with Onzy Matthews, tribute to The Duke

Joe Mcfatter
Joe Mcfatter
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Published 2014-02-02
This channel is dedicated to the late Shirley McFatter, crowned at her passing as Dallas' Queen of Jazz. While she worked with many internationally known jazz musicians in local Dallas venues, she chose to perform mainly in live gigs around Dallas Fort Worth.
She gained a huge following locally, both in clubs, concerts and as a stage actress, and was a 'force of nature' in promoting jazz and educating youth to America's Classical music, JAZZ!
All Comments (7)
  • @joemcfatter1170
    The Duke Ellington tribute, hosted by Shirley. She is heard playing at the intro, before introducing the great Onzy Matthews, who played and wrote/arranged for the Duke Ellington orchestra. (Please read up on Onzy if you aren't familiar with his life works. I fondly he taking Shirley and I to his favorite barbeque joint in Fort Worth during rehearsals for this concert. You will hear he and Shirley closing this program with Come Sunday. Shirley grew up in Porter Temple CME in South Dallas, playing and directing the youth choir as a teenager herself. This song comes so naturally to her. Enjoy.
  • @joemcfatter1170
    Shirley studied piano from age 3, and continued at UT Austin. We bought an old upright grand Steinway which was kept in our music room where she practiced and many great artists came and played while rehearsing or visiting.