http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxrWLsnLtaU

1.  Here is a clip of a little performance featuring me called "Song Bird of Jazz."Two songs were played, "Afraid of You" and "We Love It." Done in 1929.





 2.  Years ago a photographer took this photo of me, dressed in the revolutionary flapper style dress with shoulders exposed, lower neck line, and ankles visible along with my short, bobbed hair. He called me the bee's knees. Back before this new style, woman could only wear dresses and skirts that hung down to the floor, and longer hair. This new style that came along made a major impact on the way that woman dressed.



 

 3.  Victor Records was the first record company I started out with in 1916, up to 1919. I left in 1920 ans stayed with Columbia Records up until 1922. Finally I had found Brunswick Records, where I made my records up to 1930. I went back to Columbia Records in London later in 1931- 1934. The picture above is the one that Victor Records puts on all of there records. I thought it would be important to mention Victor Records, considering that's where I started.


 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4Qccz2qsHY

 4.  "St. Louis Blues." The first year that I was with Columbia Records, we produced this song. It was the year 1920, when my career really started to pick up, and I became more popular amung the public.



 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTtGw8hX-Vc

 5.  I sang "Did You Mean It" in 1927 in the Broadway performance of "A Night In Spain." Around this time I had been doing multiple shows, like "Your Truly." However, I did go through some hardships around this time. I got a divorce with my second husband, Rush Bissell Hughes, when he was arrested for attacking another in a performance I was in. I got custody of my second child Rush Jr.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbMjatuycOE

6.  In 1917, I wrote "When I Hear That Jazz Band Play." In was considered one of the first jazz songs to have been recorded and sung by a woman that included the word "jazz" in the title.



  

7. As I've talked about before, Stop!Look!Listen! was one of my first performances when I was discovered. Therefore, making it an important part of my journey on my career.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShQXIfFDYvY

8.  One of the many songs I produced while working for Columbia Records in 1921, WW1. This song is titled "Some Sunny Day." 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHCmKR8iLdc

9.  I grew up in the United States, and lived in places like Virginia. This song, from Victor Records, was made during the first few years of WW1. While the rest of the world was fighting, I thought this song would be nice for the people. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUsaMpObN7Q

10.  "Jazz Baby" is another song I wrote when I was with Victor Records. I truly feel that this song relates to me, after all, I really did grow up loving sweet jazz. It's amazing that I got the chance to make a career out of something I love.

Interview with Marion Harris

As a singer from World War I, I can tell you that I have experienced a lot, and I get many questions such as the ones listed bellow about what life was like during World War I and the struggles I faced. Here, I decided to sit down and answer some questions that are given to me a lot. 


Q1: Where did you live through your life?

 A:  I lived in many different places throughout my life. I was born in the U.S. in the state of Indiana, where I spent my first few years as a child, but I moved around a bit once I was older. I lived in New York for a while, and even England. But... at one point during World War I my family was bombed out of our home there, and we had to move back to the states.

Q2: Were there any events in your early life that got you interested in the arts?

 A: None that really come to mind. I always loved singing and performing. However, I must say that if I had never met Vernon Castle, I honestly don't know where I'd have ended up! Mr. Castle was a dancer around my time, and he was the one who discovered me and introduced me to stage life. I moved to New York then, and started my career.

Q3: Did you have any mentors in your life that helped you develop the interests and talents you have now?

 A: As I mentioned before in my last answer, if it wasn't for Mr. Castle, I don't know if I would have even had a career in music. I certainly owe him a lot. Other than him, I don't really have I lot a people I would like to mention here. 

Q4: What was the world of the arts like around the time period that your blog revolves around?

 A: It was very different in many ways. There were less female artists than there are today, and the styles of art were very different. Music today is certainly not what it used to be. But that doesn't mean everything from then and now are polar opposites. Throughout history, music has always been a way to express ones self, and let all energy out into something beautiful. In that way, music is, for the most part, relatable. We write music about passion, hopes, dreams, sorrows, love, pain, struggle, and more. People use music as a sort of outlet. Without one of those we'd all go crazy, right? Styles of art change throughout history. It's only natural. But everyone experiences these deep emotions, and so it is only natural that people look to music as a way to feel understood, and sooth the suppressed energy and emotion. I have experienced lose. I know pain, because I felt it when I lost my first husband. I felt it when I was forced to move back to the U.S. when my home in England was destroyed. But I have also experienced joy and happiness. My children bring me joy, and being on stage and performing is a wonderful source of it as well. It doesn't matter who or where you are, everyone knows these feelings.
So yes, the arts have changed. However, the fact that you will have both ups and downs in life doesn't. It's just a part of life. Therefore music will always be relatable and a good way to relax. It's a wonderful feeling to know that you are not the only one in the world who has these feelings that need to be expressed. I feel that music has, and will continue to remind us that for centuries.

Q5: How did major cultural, economic and political situations of the time impact you and your art?

 A: Women were put down a lot around my time. As a female, you weren't really expected to do much more than stay home and watch the kids while you cooked. But I knew that I wanted to do something more. Still, things were never easy for me. Being a girl definitely affected my career and my life. The war also created a big set back for others and me alike. 

Q6: What were some major accomplishments you made, and methods you used for your art?

 A: I was one of the first women to be featured in a recorded jazz song. That itself, I feel, was a big accomplishment for me. 

Q7: What were the key opportunities you had that led to turning points in your life and art?

 A: Oh boy, where do I start? Meeting Mr. Castle was definitely a major turning point, as I have mentioned, but so where my performances. Every song I put out, every stage a stood on, all those things determined turning points in my life. There were a couple of times I had to switch recording studios because they refused to record a song of mine. If I had never switched, those songs might not even exist.
But I also faced many turning points with my family and home life. My children and ex-husbands all had huge impacts on my life. Not to mention that during the war, everyone always had bad luck breathing down their necks. I lost many things to fire and fights. 

Q8: What were some roadblocks you had to overcome in order to be an artist?

 A: I had many issues associating with both my career and my family. Finding reliable recording studios to stick with was difficult, and I found myself having to switch many times. But I couldn't let anything like that stop me. Even when my first husband died of natural causes. Even when I had to take care of two children on my own for a while because my second husband was arrested. Even when I had to flee England and head back to New York with my family after the bombing. I had to keep fighting for what I wanted though all the illnesses, losses, and struggles that associated with my life. The roadblocks never stop coming, but it is entirely up to you whether you will keep pushing, or turn back. Sometimes all you need is just a new angle.

Q9: What personal stories best illustrate how you became successful in the arts?

 A: As a woman living during World War I, people acted like everything I did couldn't live up to a mans abilities. But still, I was at least given a chance, and once I had that chance I took it and ran with it. I got my success from fighting for it. 

Q10: In what ways did your work impact and influence the world of art?

 A: Sadly, I fear that many have forgotten the name of Marion Harris. However, I hope I can still send hope out there for woman who struggle because of their gender. I hope that when people find out who I am, and see how I was one of the first women to have ever been featured in a recorded jazz song, it will give them hope that they too can do great things, no matter what others think of them. Your abilities are only limited by you. Don't ever fool yourself into thinking that you are not good enough to make a difference and do what you love.




www.jazzage1920s.com/marionharris/marionharris.php
http://geezmusicclub.wordpress.com/2014/01/20/mario-harris-queen-of-the-blues/