Episode 435. Tina and the Expats

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I first published this episode two and a half years ago in June 2023, in commemoration of the death of the great Tina Turner. As always when I take on such an iconic figure, I try to give a different perspective on the artist in question than one would normally encounter. For this reason, I chose to frame Tina within the context of the many other female pop artists of color who emigrated to Europe and the UK. I have devoted a lot of time, space, and research to the Black opera singers who came here, but there is an equally fascinating story to be told about the pop singers of many eras and genres, who also chose to make Europe their home. Though this episode focuses primarily on Tina and some of the less-explored material throughout her career, I seek to contextualize her by also discussing the many African American singers, from Joséphine Baker to Donna Summer to Nina Simone to Dee Dee Bridgewater, who either spent formative time in Europe or settled there permanently. Along with the aforementioned favorites, I also focus on lesser-known artists such as Beauty Milton, Vickie Henderson, and Betty Dorsey, including a brief introduction to each of four singers who will be featured in their own episodes during Black History Month: Adelaide Hall (coming on Monday!), Elisabeth Welch, Bertice Reading, and Salena Jones (who just recently celebrated her 82nd birthday). Count on Countermelody (and me!) to always bring you something a little different!

RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE

Ike Turner: Tinaroo. Ike and Tina Turner [1963]

Holly Knight, Mike Chapman: The Best. Tina Turner [1989]

Ike Turner: Gonna Find Me a Substitute. Ike and Tina Turner [1963]

Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal: Two Little Flies on a Lump of Sugar. Alberta Hunter, Jack Jackson and His Orchestra [1934]

Cole Porter: Love for Sale. Elisabeth Welch, arranged and conducted by Zack Laurence [1976]

Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Irving Gordon: Prelude to a Kiss. Adelaide Hall [1976]

J.C. Johnson: Bessie Smith Blues. Bertice Reading, Peter Knight and His Orchestra [1955]

Fred Neil: Everybody’s Talkin’. Salena Jones, arranged and conducted by Keith Mansfield [1970]

Claus Doll, Lotar Olias: Der große Bär hat sieben kleine Sterne. Vickie Henderson, Fontana-Tanzorchester und Chor [1959]

Barbara Ruskin, Peter Lahn [né Günther Tilgert]: Es liegt an dir. Beauty Milton [1968]

Ken Leray, Roger Spooner [German lyrics by Jürgen Phil, Ralf Cromy]: Sing, Silverqueen. Betty Dorsey [1975]

Jimmy Kennedy, Michael Carr: South of the Border; Nacio Herb Brown, Arthur Freed: You Are My Lucky Star; Cole Porter; Night and Day. Olive Moorefield, Erwin Halletz mit seinem großen Tanz-Orchester [1955]

Manos Hadzidakis, Billy Towne: Never On Sunday. Felicia Weathers, Harold M. Kirchstein und sein Orchester [1968]

Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni, James Rado [German lyric by Walter Brandin]: Wassermann [Aquarius] (Haare). Donna Gaines [Summer] and Company, musical direction by Steve Gillette [1968]