Miriam Shaw

aka Marion Shaw

Photo of Miriam Shaw

  • Orchestras

    Les Brown
     Richard Himber
    Ruby Newman
    Joe Reichman

Best remembered for her work with Les Brown’s orchestra in the late 1930s, history records very little about Miriam Shaw. Shaw joined Brown in 1937, becoming the first female vocalist for his new band. She recorded several numbers during her three-year stay and was popular with critics, appearing on the band’s NBC radio show. Brown’s early band struggled and was accused of lacking personality and stage presence, though Shaw was often singled out as having “showmanly attributes.”

Shaw left Brown’s orchestra in February 1940 for Richard Himber. In May, she joined Ruby Newman and changed her stage name to Marion Shaw. In early 1941, she became part of Joe Reichman’s hotel band, where she sang on the orchestra’s RCA Victor recordings, made that February. She remained with Reichman through at least late April but was gone by August, when she was singing in a Miami, Florida, night club. She then disappears into the mists of time.

Sources

  1. “The Reviewing Stand: Les Brown.” Billboard 29 Oct. 1938: 14.
  2. “Wax Works.” The Auburn Plainsman [Auburn, Alabama] 10 Feb. 1939: 4.
  3. “Nottingham Carnival To Open July 3.” The Hopewell Herald [Hopewell, New Jersey] 28 Jun. 1939: 4.
  4. “Vaudeville Reviews: Loew's State, New York.” Billboard 11 Nov. 1939: 23.
  5. “They Thrill Boston.” Down Beat 1 Dec. 1939: 14.
  6. “Himber Orchestra Booked at Liberty.” Zanesville Signal 15 Feb. 1940: 10.
  7. “Bishop Joins Brown.” Down Beat 1 Mar. 1940: 21.
  8. “Stuff's Here.” Down Beat 15 Mar. 1940: 4.
  9. Doucette, Bob. “Newman Big at Boston Opening.” Down Beat 1 Jun. 1940: 9.
  10. “Ruby's Robin.” Down Beat 15 Jul. 1940: 2.
  11. “In Debut.” Down Beat 15 Mar. 1941: 1.
  12. “'Pagliacci' Pinches Himself as His Band Hits the Big Money.” Down Beat 1 Apr. 1941: 9.
  13. “Night Club Reviews: Hotel Netherland Plaza, Pavillon Caprice, Cincinnati.” Billboard 19 Apr. 1941: 20.
  14. “Miami Night Clubs Busy Lining Up Talent for Fall and Winter.” Billboard 13 Sep. 1941: 21.