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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: Columbia Records, Blue Note, 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: Columbia Records, Blue Note, 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.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

A Foggy Day With Carmen McRae 1955 · Stardust Carmen McRae 1955 · Bethlehem Records Torchy 1955 · Decca Records Blue Moon 1956 · Decca Records By Special Request 1956 · Decca Records After Glow 1957 · Decca Records Birds of a Feather 1958 · Decca Records Carmen for Cool Ones 1958 · Decca Records Book of Ballads 1959 · Kapp Records When You're Away 1959 · Kapp Records Something to Swing About 1960 · Kapp Records Take Five at Basin Street East 1961 · Live · Columbia Sings Lover Man and Other Billie Holiday Classics 1962 · Columbia Something Wonderful 1963 · Columbia

Alfie 1966

For Once in My Life 1967 · Atlantic "Live" & Wailing 1968 · Live · Mainstream Records Portrait of Carmen 1968 · Atlantic The Sound of Silence 1968 · Atlantic Just a Little Lovin’ 1970 · Atlantic I Am Music 1975 · Blue Note November Girl 1975 · Black Lion Can't Hide Love 1976 · Blue Note Ronnie Scott's Presents Carmen McRae 'Live' 1977 · Live · Pye Records I'm Coming Home Again 1980 · Buddah Records I Giganti Del Jazz Vol. 21 1981 · Armando Curcio Editore I Giganti Del Jazz Vol. 56 1981 · Armando Curcio Editore Ms Magic 1982 · Accord You’re Lookin’ at Me: A Collection of Nat King Cole Songs 1984 · Concord Jazz Any Old Time 1986 · DENON 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 · Concord Jazz Live at Bubba's 1988 · Live · e.f.s.a. collection Carmen Sings Monk 1990 Ms. Jazz 1990 · Groove Merchant The Great American Songbook 1990 · Live · Atlantic Jazz Live at Century Plaza 1991 · Live · Atlantic Woman Talk: Live at the Village Gate 1991 · Live · Jazz Heritage Here to Stay 1992 · Decca Jazz Alive 1994 · Live · Legacy For Lady Day, Volume 1 1995 · BMG Novus The Carmen McRae and Betty Carter Duets 1996 · Live · Verve It Takes a Whole Lot of Human Feeling 1997 · Charly Records Dream of Life 1998 · Qwest Records For Lady Day, Volume 2 1999 · Live In London 1999 · Live · TKO Magnum Music Mad About the Man: Carmen McRae Sings Noel Coward 1999 Torchy / Blue Moon 1999 · MCA Records Live at Midem 2000 · Live · TKO Magnum Music Live at Umbria Jazz 2001 · Live · EGEA Sound of Silence / Portrait of Carmen 2001 · Atlantic Upside Down: Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival 2001 · Live · Greatest Jazz Concerts Bittersweet 2002 · Atlantic Carmen McRae at Ratso's, Volume 1 2002 · Live · Hitchcock Media No More Blues 2002 · Live · Past Perfect Silver Line Sarah - Dedicated to You 2003 · Bluebird Boy Meets Girl / Porgy and Bess 2005 · Verve Live at Sugar Hill, San Francisco 2005 · Live · Time Records The 1964 Orchestra Recordings 2006 · Lone Hill Jazz Live at the Flamingo Jazz Club 2008 · Live · Acrobat Music Live at the Village Gate & The Half Note 2010 · Live · Fresh Sound Records 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 · Sunset Blvd Records Carmen McRae at Ratso's, Volume 3 · Live

Don't Misunderstand

Also plays on

Albums where Carmen McRae is credited as a sideman

1960	Tonight Only! — The Dave Brubeck Quartet feat. Carmen McRae	vocals
1970	Burnin’: Live at Freddie Jett’s Pied Piper, L.A. — Esther Phillips	liner notes
1971	Summit Sessions — Dave Brubeck	vocals
1980	Two for the Road — George Shearing / Carmen McRae	vocals
1982	Heat Wave — Cal Tjader & Carmen McRae	vocals
1988	20 — Harry Connick, Jr.	vocals

Awards

NEA Jazz Masters

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.