Jazz Singer. A noted Big Band vocalist over a long career, she shall be remembered for her work both onstage and in the recording studio. Born Phyllis Taff, she was raised in the New Jersey suburbs of New York and began her career shortly after finishing high school when she landed a gig at the Greenwich Village club Café Society, on instructions from her boss changing her name to 'Jane Harvey' at the time she was hired. Joining Benny Goodman in December of 1944, she spent six months with him, singing live performances and cutting a number of records including "You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me", "Closer than Pages in a Book", and "Up in Central Park". In 1946 Jane partnered with Desi Arnaz, appearing with his band at Ciro's and recording with him for RCA, her songs including "Mi Vita" and "A Rainy Night in Rio". In 1948 she traveled with one of Bob Hope's USO tours, then in 1950 made her Broadway debut in Harold Rome's revue "Bless You All". In 1958 Jane made a few records with Duke Ellington including "A Hundred Dreams from Now"; over the years she continued headlining at top nightclubs while releasing several albums including "Leave it to Jane", "I've Been There", "The Other Side of Sondheim", "Lady Jazz", and a Fats Waller tribute entitled "You Fats, Me Jane". Retired for some time, she made a 2011 comeback, appearing at Feinstein's in New York and at Hollywood's Catalina Jazz Club while supervising the reissue of her LPs and of some previously unpublished takes made with guitar legend Les Paul in the CD format. Jane died of gastric carcinoma with her recorded legacy still available and with an Ellington tribute pending release.
Jazz Singer. A noted Big Band vocalist over a long career, she shall be remembered for her work both onstage and in the recording studio. Born Phyllis Taff, she was raised in the New Jersey suburbs of New York and began her career shortly after finishing high school when she landed a gig at the Greenwich Village club Café Society, on instructions from her boss changing her name to 'Jane Harvey' at the time she was hired. Joining Benny Goodman in December of 1944, she spent six months with him, singing live performances and cutting a number of records including "You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me", "Closer than Pages in a Book", and "Up in Central Park". In 1946 Jane partnered with Desi Arnaz, appearing with his band at Ciro's and recording with him for RCA, her songs including "Mi Vita" and "A Rainy Night in Rio". In 1948 she traveled with one of Bob Hope's USO tours, then in 1950 made her Broadway debut in Harold Rome's revue "Bless You All". In 1958 Jane made a few records with Duke Ellington including "A Hundred Dreams from Now"; over the years she continued headlining at top nightclubs while releasing several albums including "Leave it to Jane", "I've Been There", "The Other Side of Sondheim", "Lady Jazz", and a Fats Waller tribute entitled "You Fats, Me Jane". Retired for some time, she made a 2011 comeback, appearing at Feinstein's in New York and at Hollywood's Catalina Jazz Club while supervising the reissue of her LPs and of some previously unpublished takes made with guitar legend Les Paul in the CD format. Jane died of gastric carcinoma with her recorded legacy still available and with an Ellington tribute pending release.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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