Norman Mapp

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J. Norman Mapp (born 1928 in Queens ; † 1988 in New York City ) was an American jazz musician ( vocals , composition ).

Live and act

Mapp grew up in the Corona / East Elmhurst area of ​​Queens and began his music career as a singer with the US Army Band during World War II in Europe. In the late 1950s, Mapp concentrated on composing; u. a. he wrote songs that were recorded by Mickey & Sylvia ("Rock and Stroll Room"), Beverly Kenney ("Your Love Is My Love") and Dakota Staton ("In the Night"). Gigi Gryce recorded his "Blues in Bloom" for the album Rat Race Blues (1960). Other of his songs were "Stay Away", "I Worry 'Bout You" and "Duck Before You Drown", which Dinah Washington recorded.

The singer also became his mentor after hearing him sing in a Harlem nightclub. She encouraged him to continue writing songs, performing as a singer and helped him start his career. In 1960 he recorded two records for the Jaro label, including the Brook Benton hit "Fools Rush In" by Johnny Mercer and Rube Bloom . In 1961, the only album Mapp recorded was released, Jazz Ain't Nothin 'but Soul . The album was recorded for Epic Records in March 1961 ; Clark Terry , Seldon Powell , Tommy Flanagan , George Duvivier and Peck Morrison and Dave Bailey played in the backing band .

In 1966 Mapp recorded the single "Big Spender" for Capitol Records . In the 1980s he still appeared with the pianist Bross Townsend and with the Harlem Jazz and Blues Band, to be heard in the recordings of "Married This Morning" (1981/86). In 1988 Tommy Flanagan, Carrie Smith and Buddy Tate performed at a benefit concert for the benefit of the sick singer.

According to Marc Myers, Norman Mapp was one of the best male jazz singers of the 1960s, surpassed only by Johnny Hartman .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b c Marc Myers: Norman Mapp: Nothin 'But Soul. JazzWax, May 19, 2020, accessed May 19, 2020 .
  2. ^ Billboard December 26, 1960
  3. ^ The New Yorker, Volume 63, Issues 15-23, pp. 7
  4. ↑ Tom Lord : The Jazz Discography (online, accessed May 19, 2020)
  5. ^ Note in The New Yorker FR Publishing Corporation, 1988
personal data
SURNAME Mapp, Norman
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz musician (vocals)
DATE OF BIRTH 1928
PLACE OF BIRTH Queens
DATE OF DEATH 1988
Place of death New York City