DIVAS DISCOVERED

Divas! Literally translated as ‘deity’ or ‘goddess’, every female artist in this collection has earned this most prized of epithets. Spanning over 80 years, these women have become legendary for their talent, their attitudes, and their presence. In a culture that prizes youth and beauty over depth and experience, the fact that these divas rose to the top is testament to their musical prowess. In an industry that feeds on the next big thing, their longevity and enduring popularity speaks of their passion for the songs and their audiences’ unstinting adoration of them. Since the early 19^th century, entertainment was one of the few professions that was open to women – provided they did not mind being labeled as disreputable for doing so the moment they ‘played for pay’. Many aspiring female singers and musicians had to satisfy their musical aspirations by playing at home for close friends and family. However, all this changed in the 1920s with two developments in the industry. There was increasing popularity of the blues and blues women like Bessie Smith made fortunes from sharing their talent. In addition, there was the advent of recording, which enabled women to step in front of the microphone – if not out onto the public stage initially – and to find a market for their music. All the formidable female vocalists featured in this collection found their audiences in a variety of ways and this provides an historical snapshot of the female vocalists’ routes to stardom. It should be noted though that all had their career foundations in entertaining audiences of one kind or another. The most well trodden route to solo stardom in the 1940s was via the big band, and this is also true of male vocalists too. Ella Fitzgerald and Peggy Lee both joined big bands in their early careers before emerging as solo stars.  Judy Garland and Shirley Bassey made the transition from backgrounds in entertainment, while Aretha Franklin and Etta James were both involved in groups. Franklin cut her teeth in her minister father’s gospel choir, while Etta James also sang in a church choir before forming her own girl group, Etta James and the Creolettes.

Each artist featured in this collection is a unique talent but making it to Diva status isn’t just about the voice. They have an undeniable X factor. Fitzgerald was a hard-working pioneer, often touring and performing for fifty weeks a year. Franklin has the big voice that projected the intimate thoughts and feelings of women the world over. Lee had business savvy, knew the value of promotion and excelled as a songwriter. Bassey put Wales on the musical map almost singlehandedly. James poured out her art and her soul in her music, unafraid of the woman she was and not caring what others made of her. Garland similarly projected her inner self and personal struggles in her musical performances; a quality that commentators have suggested is the key ingredient in her status as gay icon. A diva needs determination, courage, passion, talent, and intelligence, not just the voice and the attitude.  As Aretha Franklin said: “Being the Queen is not all about singing, and being a diva isn’t all about singing. It has much to do with your service to people.” Viva La Diva!