DESCRIPTION:
"Body and Soul"
Music by Johnny Green
Lyrics by Robert Sour and Frank Eyton
Vocal by Ruth Etting
Recorded September 29, 1930 , New York

Ruth Etting was born Nov. 23, 1897 in David City, Nebraska. She attended the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts; originally intended to be a fashion designer; At 17 she got a job in a Chicago night club working on costumes. Debut in chorus of revue at the Marigold Gardens Theatre, Chicago, 1925. She sang on early radio eventually winning title of "Chicago's Sweetheart." New York stage debut in the 1927 edition of Ziegfeld Follies (New Amsterdam), August 16, 1927. Appeared in the same theatre, December 4, 1928, in "Whoopee" with Eddie Cantor. Several other reviews including the "Ziegfeld Follies of 1931." Debut in London in "Transatlantic Rhythm" at the Adelphi, October 1, 1934. Made several films, the best-remembered being "Roman Scandals", 1933. Composed several popular songs, "Wistful and Blue" and "When You're With Somebody Else' and "Maybe, Who Knows," being among them. Doris Day played the role of Etting in the 1955 movie "Love Me or Leave Me." James Cagney co-starred.

Of the top 1000 all-time jazz songs this tune is ranked No. 1 by JazzStandards.com. "Body and Soul" was written in 1930 by Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, Frank Eyton and Johnny Green. Libby Holman introduced it in the revue Three's a Crowd and was a soundtrack theme in the 1947 film named for the song. "Body and Soul" became a jazz standard, with hundreds of versions performed and recorded by dozens of artists.

In this performance, Ruth sings the verse which is rarely heard in contemporary versions of this song.