Kathryn Elizabeth Wimp[1] known professionally as Kay Davis (December 5, 1920 – January 27, 2012 in
Apopka, Florida) was an American
jazz singer who performed with the
Duke Ellington orchestra.
Davis was born in
Evanston, Illinois, and attended
Evanston Township High School. She studied voice and piano at
Northwestern University, where she received her bachelor's degree in 1942, and her master's degree in 1943.[1][2] Her grandfather, William H. Twiggs, was a civic leader for whom a park in Evanston is named.[1]
In 1944, she joined
Duke Ellington's orchestra, where she sang alongside
Joya Sherrill and
Al Hibbler. She is best known for her wordless vocals in pieces such as "Transbluency" and "On a Turquoise Cloud." She also sang pieces with lyrics. She is the only person Ellington allowed to reprise
Adelaide Hall's wordless vocal on "
Creole Love Call." Davis and
Billy Strayhorn gave the first performance of Strayhorn's "
Lush Life" on November 13, 1948, at
Carnegie Hall. With Ellington's orchestra, she appeared in the film shorts Symphony in Swing (1949) and Salute to Duke Ellington (1950), both for
Universal-International.[citation needed]
Davis toured England with Ellington and
Ray Nance in 1948, and in Europe with the full orchestra in 1950. After leaving Ellington's orchestra in 1950, she married Edward Wimp in 1952. They had one son, Edward L. Wimp.[citation needed] They retired to Florida.[1]
Discography
Duke Ellington, Black, Brown, and Beige (Bluebird, 1988)