Biography
Mae Barnes possessed a straightforward yet rhythmic vocal style that bridged jazz and mainstream pop. Beginning her career at twelve years old, she performed both as a vocalist and a tap dancer. Her stage appearances encompassed productions like Running Wild, Shuffle Along, By the Beautiful Sea, and the Ziegfeld Follies. A vehicular mishap toward the end of the 1930s curtailed her dancing pursuits to a significant degree, prompting her to concentrate exclusively on vocal work. Over seven years, she maintained a regular engagement at the Greenwich Village venue Boite, after which she transitioned to performances at Park Avenue and the Blue Angel. In England, Barnes took part in Jack Hylton's production The Knights of Madness, while also making frequent television appearances, including on The Kitty Foyle Show. Throughout the 1950s, she headlined regularly at Bon Soir, another Greenwich Village spot. Her recording output included a 1953 album on Atlantic and a 1958 release for Vanguard, along with an unreleased 1960 live recording for Atlantic. The Vanguard album featured accompaniment from a mainstream quartet that included trumpeter Buck Clayton, and it later received a CD reissue through DRG/Swing.
Singles
