DESCRIPTION:
Freda Josephine McDonald aka Josephine Baker danced into the world in St. Louis in 1906. As young as age 10, she worked as a nanny, housegirl, and by 14 she had already been married, divorced and was working as a comic on the TOBA circuit. Before her more sophisticated recordings with the Jazz du Casino de Paris Orchestra, Baker cut this more "raw" and playful recording of Then I'll Be Happy with Le Jacobs Band of Leige, Belgium. Josephine had an indomitable spirit and a desire to please her audiences whether for a laugh or for the joy of music and European audiences were loyal and appreciative. She became the highest paid and most successful entertainer in Europe in '27 and the skinny "too black" kid from St Louis would also become one of the most beautiful and most photographed women in the world.