Murphy was born in 1913 and became a pianist and vocalist. Her parents wanted her to become a teacher. She did go to college and began training in education. However, the desire to become a musician led her to abandon school and to pursue a career in music.
She was a great pianist, playing jazz, ad-lib scat, stride and boogie woogie, but was famous for her vocal sound effects. Murphy included the sound of a ringing telephone, giggles and squeals in a high little girl voice as well as her signature phrase “chee chee” in her singing. She became known as “the Chee Chee Girl.” “Busy Line” was Murphy’s most famous song. She performed on the radio and played in New York City at the best clubs.
Murphy also toured Europe and performed in England. Princess Margaret was a fan and always attended her London concerts. Murphy was one of only three Americans asked to perform at parties celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s coronation.
She was married four times but had no children and was single when she died in New York City on Nov. 16, 1989.
Dickenson was born in 1906 and became a trombonist.
He planned to be a plasterer, just like his father, but an accident changed his future. Working with his father, Dickenson started up a ladder carrying a hod of plaster. A rung broke and he fell to the ground. The injury left him unable to do manual labor. He then turned to the one thing he thought he could make a living doing: playing the trombone.
Dickenson played in the leading bands of the time. At various times he was a member of the following groups: Count Basie Band, Sidney Bechet, Bobby Hackett, Claude Hopkins, Earl Hines and Benny Carter and performed in The World’s Greatest Jazz Band.
He was a leading instrumentalist and sideman. With a recognizable creative sound, he excelled in swing, Dixieland, mainstream jazz and blues type riffs. His sly, witty, and humorous character was transmitted through his playing. Dickenson was self-taught and played by keeping the mouthpiece on his lip. Most players are taught to put the mouthpiece above their upper lip on the skin. His unusual sounds included the “half-valve” sound usually produced by trumpet and one that sounded like he was playing underwater.
In the 1940s Dickenson moved on from big bands to work in small combos and played in New York clubs. He moved to Los Angeles and recorded some records and then moved to Boston in 1949. There he played with his own combo at the Boston Savoy.
Dickenson toured in Europe, Asia and Canada.
He married Otealia Foyer, but they had no children. The couple moved to New York City and lived in the Bronx, and he again played in the clubs.
Like Murphy, Dickenson died in New York City on Nov. 16, but Dickenson’s year of death was 1984.
It is unclear if Murphy and Dickenson knew each other, but it seems likely. Their lives appeared to follow the same trajectory.
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