ENDEIT
Carmen McRae
Photo: Distributed by Associated Booking Corp., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Pianists · 1920–1994

Carmen McRae

American jazz musician and actress (1922-1994)

Born
8 April 1920
Died
10 November 1994
Beverly Hills
Country
United States
Active
1939–1991
Record labels
Blue Note, Columbia Records, Atlantic Records, Decca, Concord Records
Discography
68 albums

Biography

Carmen McRae was a jazz musician who played piano. Carmen McRae was born on 8 April 1920 and died on 10 November 1994 in Beverly Hills. The music is usually filed under jazz. Record labels: Blue Note, Columbia Records, Atlantic Records and Decca. The discography here lists 68 albums, from “A Foggy Day With Carmen McRae” (1955) to “Sings Love Songs” (2025). Honours include NEA Jazz Masters.

Carmen Mercedes McRae (April 8, 1920 – November 10, 1994) was an American jazz singer. She is considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century and is remembered for her behind-the-beat phrasing and ironic interpretation of lyrics.

Read the full article on Wikipedia ↗ · From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Discography

Studio and live albums

A Foggy Day With Carmen McRae 1955
Carmen McRae 1955
Torchy 1955
Blue Moon 1956
By Special Request 1956
After Glow 1957
Birds of a Feather 1958
Carmen for Cool Ones 1958
Book of Ballads 1959
When You're Away 1959
Something to Swing About 1960
Take Five at Basin Street East 1961 · Live
Sings Lover Man and Other Billie Holiday Classics 1962
Something Wonderful 1963
Alfie 1966
For Once in My Life 1967
"Live" & Wailing 1968 · Live
Portrait of Carmen 1968
The Sound of Silence 1968
Just a Little Lovin’ 1970
I Am Music 1975
November Girl 1975
Can't Hide Love 1976
Ronnie Scott's Presents Carmen McRae 'Live' 1977 · Live
I'm Coming Home Again 1980
I Giganti Del Jazz Vol. 21 1981
I Giganti Del Jazz Vol. 56 1981
Ms Magic 1982
You’re Lookin’ at Me: A Collection of Nat King Cole Songs 1984
Any Old Time 1986
As Time Goes By: Carmen McRae Alone Live at the Dug 1987 · Live
At Ratso's, Volume 2 1987 · Live
Fine and Mellow (live at Birdland West) 1988 · Live
Live at Bubba's 1988 · Live
Carmen Sings Monk 1990
Ms. Jazz 1990
The Great American Songbook 1990 · Live
Live at Century Plaza 1991 · Live
Woman Talk: Live at the Village Gate 1991 · Live
Here to Stay 1992
Alive 1994 · Live
For Lady Day, Volume 1 1995
The Carmen McRae and Betty Carter Duets 1996 · Live
It Takes a Whole Lot of Human Feeling 1997
Dream of Life 1998
For Lady Day, Volume 2 1999 · Live
In London 1999 · Live
Mad About the Man: Carmen McRae Sings Noel Coward 1999
Torchy / Blue Moon 1999
Live at Midem 2000 · Live
Live at Umbria Jazz 2001 · Live
Sound of Silence / Portrait of Carmen 2001
Upside Down: Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival 2001 · Live
Bittersweet 2002
Carmen McRae at Ratso's, Volume 1 2002 · Live
No More Blues 2002 · Live
Sarah - Dedicated to You 2003
Boy Meets Girl / Porgy and Bess 2005
Live at Sugar Hill, San Francisco 2005 · Live
The 1964 Orchestra Recordings 2006
Live at the Flamingo Jazz Club 2008 · Live
Live at the Village Gate & The Half Note 2010 · Live
At the Great American Music Hall, Vol. 1 2013 · Live
At the Great American Music Hall, Vol. 2 2013 · Live
A Little Moonlight 2021 · Live
Sings Love Songs 2025
Carmen McRae at Ratso's, Volume 3 · Live
Don't Misunderstand

Also plays on

Albums where Carmen McRae is credited as a sideman

1971 Summit Sessions — Dave Brubeck vocals

Awards

Historic 78 rpm records

  • A Foggy Day Ira Gershwin · George Gershwin · Carmen McRae · 1953 archive.org ↗
  • Wanting You Hammerstein 2nd · Romberg · Carmen McRae · 1953 archive.org ↗
  • A FOGGY DAY CARMEN McRAE · Ira Gershwin · George Gershwin · 1953 archive.org ↗
  • IN LOVE IN VAIN CARMEN McRAE · Larry Elgart and his orchestra · Leo Robin · Jerome… · 1953 archive.org ↗

Listen on Spotify

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did Carmen McRae play?

Carmen McRae is known for playing piano.

When and where was Carmen McRae born?

Carmen McRae was born 8 April 1920.

What are Carmen McRae's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include A Foggy Day With Carmen McRae (1955), Carmen McRae (1955), Torchy (1955), Blue Moon (1956) and By Special Request (1956).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.