Annette Sanders
Born
Annette Benbasset[1]

1937 or 1938
New York, NY, U.S.[2]
Occupations
  • Jazz vocalist
  • studio singer
Years active1963–present
Spouse
  • Morty Lewis
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1965; died 1990)​
ChildrenMichelle Lewis, Jonathan Lewis[1]

Annette Sanders (born 1937 or 1938) is an American jazz vocalist and studio singer. She is the mother of singer-songwriter Michelle Lewis.

Early life and career

Born Annette Benbasset in the Bronx, New York City in 1937 or 1938, Sanders was one of four children born to Turkish immigrants Celia Lomita and Joseph Benbasset,[2][3][4] the latter a self-described "salesman [of] sporting goods" who would soon achieve great success as a clothing designer, earning a seat on the Board of Directors of the National Skirt and Sportswear Association.[2][5] He was also active in the Central Sephardic Community of America, Inc., where he later served as treasurer.[6]

After attending Hunter College,[7] Sanders first attracted national attention in 1963 as one of the first performers booked at The Rat Fink Room, Jackie Kannon's fledgling comedy club. "Among the new talent Kannon brought in," observed columnist Louis Sobol, "was a winner named Annette Sanders who looks something like Barbra Streisand and sings very much like in her manner."[8] Variety's review likewise highlights the Streisand influence, but adds:

[B]ut there are moments in which Miss Sanders comes through for some good all-around results. Miss Sanders has a fresh personality and her tunes are sometimes angled pixeishly. She doesn't go too far off the beaten path for her numbers, but they are given individual treatment. Ultimately, Miss Sanders will present herself more strongly, and she'll find acceptance on her own terms.[9]

By the following spring, Sanders had appeared in such venues as the hungry I, Mister Kelly's, and the Blue Angel. In April, she shared the bill with Woody Allen at the soon-to-be-renamed Washington, D.C. music club, the Shadows.[10] The following month, patrons at the Crescendo in West Hollywood saw Sanders and a young Bill Cosby open for Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers.[11][12] In December, the Cincinnati Post's Dale Stevens reviewed her performance at Cincinnati's recently opened Playboy Club, commending Sanders' "fine voice control, which gives her an added dimension of dramatics on her ballads, which are her specialty [...] Her approach is one of thoughtful emotion spiced by a high-keyed awareness of the lyrics."[13] On the other hand, Variety, assessing Sanders' performance the previous month at Houston's Tidelands nightclub, observes:

Young thrush can do anything, but probably will excel as a jazz stylist. While she has a way with a ballad, Miss Sanders scores heavily with excellent jazz arrangements by her pianist and arranger Ray Starling. There are no frills about femme. She just stands at mike, usually with eyes closed and lost in mood of tune, and sings. She enjoys singing, and patrons enjoy listening.[14]

By this time, Sanders had been signed to Mercury Records by Bobby Scott,[15][16] who also provided the tunes and arrangements on her first single, "If My Love Were There" and "Half a Crown.[17][18]

After appearing twice on The Merv Griffin Show in the fall of 1965,[19][20] and once on The Tonight Show the following January,[21] Sanders was discovered by Benny Goodman, with whom she performed intermittently over the next five years.[22][23][24] May 19, 1966 marked the beginning of the group's first extended engagement, at New York's Rainbow Grill. Reviewing that performance, Down Beat's Dan Morgenstern observed:

Miss Sanders, who has done well for herself in the world of television commercials, has a big, well-controlled voice, good intonation, and an unaffected, straightforward style. Her good conception of time was evident on Broadway, and she showed a pleasant way with a ballad on George Gershwin's Soon.[25]

Meanwhile, Sanders cut another two sides for Mercury in December 1966: "Come To The Masquerade" and "Any Other Way," both from the Off Broadway musical, Man with a Load of Mischief.[26]

Early successes notwithstanding, her marriage in 1965, plus the birth of two children not long thereafter, compelled Sanders to limit her commitments—not merely to Goodman, but to her music career as a whole, which, as a result, was confined almost entirely to studio work for the next two decades.[27][22] Among the more memorable jingles Sanders performed during those years are "I Love New York",[22] "I'm a Chiquita Banana,"[28] and "Turn me loose, Imprévu!" (for Coty Inc.'s Imprévu perfume).[29] Some of the other companies, products and/or places whose praises Sanders sang include Sears, Pathmark, McDonald's,[30] Coca-Cola, Jell-O, and Trump Plaza.[22]

The Time is Right, Sanders' 1986 debut disc, featuring pianist-arranger Michael Abene, guitarist Joe Beck, and her husband, reedman Mort Lewis, was given a brief but emphatic—and empathetic—thumbs-up by the Herald-Sun's R.C. Smith, stressing the album title's autobiographical connotation:

Let's hope that the time is right for this fine singer, another graduate (with Marlene VerPlanck, among others) of the TV jingle camp who can really generate a lyric. The glorious Arthur Schwartz-Dorothy Fields song, Make the Man Love Me, rarely has been sung more simply and unaffectedly than here. Ms. Sanders has an intimate voice, blessedly free of mannerisms.[31]

In 1985, Sanders, along with colleague Arlene Martell and others, formed Group Five, a jazz vocal quintet composed entirely of veteran studio performers. The other original members were Helen Miles, Lenny Roberts and Artie Schroeck,[32][33][34] the latter two providing lyrics and musical arrangements, respectively.[33] By 1991, Paul Evans had replaced Schroeck,[29] and by no later than 1997, Miles and Roberts had been succeeded by Holli Ross and Kevin DeSimone.[35] Although no Group Five album was ever released, one of the quintet's later incarnations—with Sanders, Martell, Miles, Evans and Jeff Lyons—was featured on Freddy Cole's 1996 release, It's Crazy, But I'm in Love, providing all background vocals.[36]

Personal life

A longtime resident of River Vale, New Jersey,[37][38] Sanders was married to tenor saxophonist Morty Lewis from May 1965 until his death in March 1990.[27][39][40] The following year, on December 13, at Temple Beth El in Closter, New Jersey, Sanders and pianist Michael Abene performed a Shabbat jazz service in her husband's memory, featuring a setting of Sim Shalom composed by Rabbi Fredric S. Pomerantz.[41] In addition to Sanders, Lewis was survived by their two children, Jonathan and singer-songwriter Michelle Lewis.[1]

Discography

As leader

  • The Time Is Right (Sovereign, 1986)[42][43]
  • On My Way to You (Cabaret Records, 1995)[44]
  • Everything I Love (Ripe & Ready, 1998)[7]
  • Let's Get Lost (Orchard, 2000)[45]
  • No Free Jam (Orchard, 2000)[45]
  • You Will Be My Music (Mama Jazz Foundation/Summit Records, 2007)[45]

As sidewoman

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1994 Bullets Over Broadway Vocalist (Three Deuces) [74]
1995Mighty AphroditeChorus[75]
1996 Everyone Says I Love You Helen Miles Singer [76]
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1965 The Clay Cole ShowSelf1 episode[77]
1965ABC's NightlifeSelf1 episodes[78]
1965The Merv Griffin ShowSelf2 episodes[19][79]
1966The Tonight ShowSelf1 episode[80]
1994 The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus Chorus [81]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Nager, Larry (March 21, 1997). "Commercial Breakthrough: Annette Sanders Trades Studio Work for Club Dates". The Cincinnati Enquirer Weekend. p. 122.
  2. 1 2 3 "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQ5F-63L : 7 January 2021), Annette Benbasset in household of Joseph Benbasset, The Bronx, New York City, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 3-256, sheet 62A, line 5, family 116, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2467.
  3. ↑ "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1938", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2CD-K4SV : 16 August 2022), Joseph Benbasset and Clia Lomita, 1932.
  4. ↑ "Paid Notice: Deaths BENBASSET, CELIA: [Paid Death Notice]". The New York Times. September 4, 2008. pp. C12. ProQuest 433944052. BENBASSET--Celia, on September 3, 2008. A century of loving and giving. Beloved wife of the late Joseph M. Benbasset. Cherished mother of Susan and Stanley, Annette and Morty, Murray and Merri, Sally and Steve. Adored grandmother of Liz and Harold, Margie and Sandy, Joe and Nancy, Michelle and Dan, Jonathan and Stephanie, Jason and Melissa, Andrew, Corey, and Cari.
  5. ↑ "Skirt Industry Urges Prompt Store Ordering: Perahia Also Sees Flexible Deliveries of Fabrics Vital to Sound Operations". New York Herald Tribune. November 5, 1948. p. 33. ProQuest 962706095. Perahia and all other officers were reelected. New directors chosen were Joseph Benbasset of Joseph Benbasset, Inc., and Fred Hazan, of Lloyd Sportswear Co., Inc.
  6. ↑ "___". Better Times. Volume 34. 1952. p. 3.
  7. 1 2 Adderton, Donald V. (May 1, 1998). "Sanders' jazzy sounds shine through on CD". Biloxi Sun Herald. p. 62.
  8. ↑ Sobol, Louis (October 10, 1963). "New York Cavalcade". Springfield News-Sun.
  9. ↑ Jose (October 9, 1963). "New Acts: Annette Sanders". Variety. p. 53. ProQuest 962706095. Annette Sanders, a newcomer locally, has been on view in the Catskill country where she has developed into a personable singer. At this point, she shows an artistic resemblance to Barbra Streisand, but there are moments in which Miss Sanders comes through for some good all-around results. Miss Sanders has a fresh personality and her tunes are sometimes angled pixeishly. She doesn't go too far off the beaten path for her numbers, but they are given individual treatment. Ultimately, Miss Sanders will present herself more strongly, and she'll find acceptance on her own terms.
  10. ↑ Pagones, John (April 5, 1964). "New Comedy Star Back to Shadows". The Washington Post. pp. G4. ProQuest 963027145. Woody Allen, the low-key comedy star who burst onto the horizon a few seasons ago, opens Monday at The Shadows. Appearing with him will be Annette Sanders. The 23-year-old has played at the hungry i, Mr. Kelly's and The Blue Angel.
  11. ↑ "Bill Cosby Plays Crescendo May 5". California Eagle. April 30, 1964. p. 12.
  12. ↑ "Annette Sanders". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. May 13, 1964. p. 38.
  13. ↑ Stevens, Dale (December 9, 1964). "Mathis Opens 3 KC Concerts; Three Girl Singers". The Cincinnati Post.
  14. ↑ Skip (November 11, 1964). "Night Club Reviews: Tidelands, Houston". Variety. p. 68. ProQuest 962973319.
  15. ↑ "Artist-Disc Deals; Mercury: Annette Sanders". Variety. November 18, 1964. p. 53. ProQuest 962969418. Annette Sanders, New York songstress, has been signed by Mercury Records. Her debut disc will couple "If My Love Were There" and 'Half a Crown'.
  16. ↑ "Evening of love songs this Friday at Watchung Arts Center". Echoes-Sentinel. March 2, 2016.
  17. ↑ Ruppli, Michel; Novitsky, Ed (1993). The Mercury Labels, A Discography; Volume 3, the 1964-1969 Era. Westport, CN: Greenwood Press. p. 142. ISBN 9780313290336.
  18. ↑ "Annette Sanders – If My Love Were There". Discogs.
  19. 1 2 "Today's TV Highlights". The Morning Call. October 18, 1965. p. 30.
  20. ↑ "Today's Television". The Miami Herald. December 3, 1965. p. 18-D.
  21. ↑ "Record TV Notes: Stars on Talent Scouts". The Pocono Record. p. 12.
  22. 1 2 3 4 Santelli, Robert (May 16, 1991). "Jingle Singer Will Be Singing a Different Tune". Asbury Park Press. p. E3.
  23. ↑ Wallace, Kenneth G. (May 4, 1966). "One on the Aisle: Ingrid Bergman Signed". The Hackensack Record. p. D-11.
  24. ↑ "Good Man". Pottsville Republican and Herald. May 23, 1966. p. 8.
  25. ↑ Morgenstern, Dan (July 28, 1966). "Goodman 20 Years Later" Down Beat. p. 23.
  26. ↑ "Record Ramblings: New York". Cash Box. December 17, 1966. p. 34.
  27. 1 2 Jacobsen, Ellen (October 2, 1969). "Home, Career — She Manages Both". The Hackensack Record. p. 21.
  28. ↑ Green, Norm (November 30, 1986). "Fine Tuning". New York Daily News Magazine. p. 6.
  29. 1 2 O'Connor, Helen (February 25, 1991). "Singers That Jingle Jangle Jingle". New York Daily News. p. 33.
  30. ↑ Bell, Bill (April 25, 1989). "Take Five and Check Out This Group's Jingles". New York Daily News. p. 35. ProQuest 2317280251. 'I think we met at a McDonald's session' says Annette Sanders, who has also sung the praises of Pathmark and Sear's...
  31. ↑ Smith, R.C. (August 11, 1989). "On Jazz". The Herald-Sun. p. 7D.
  32. ↑ Lloyd, Jack (November 18, 1988). "High Notes". The Philadelphia Inquirer Weekend. p. 32.
  33. 1 2 Orgill, Roxanne (October 12, 1989). "Voices That Soar and Sell". The Hackensack Record. p. E6.
  34. ↑ Hari (December 14, 1988). "New Acts: Group Five". Variety. p. 75. ProQuest 1438515901. Self-styled 'world's first unknown famous group,' quintet of studio singers who agreed three years ago during one of numerous radio and tv commercial gigs that they'd welcome singing together more than 30 seconds at a time, is offering an eminently listenable mix of standards and special material. [...] Annette Sanders and Artie Schroeck soloed when not in tandem with Arlene Martell, Helen Miles and Lenny Roberts. All five collaborated on a medley of their joint and separate 'hits' – jingles for, among others, G.E., McDonald's, Coca-Cola and New York City. Strong backup was provided by the group's arranger, Michael Abene, at piano, plus Kevin McConnell on guitar, Ron Davis on drums and George Mesterhazy on synthesizer.
  35. ↑ "Group Five Singer Had 'Commercial' Success". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 209.
  36. 1 2 Di Fillipo, Ricardo (April 1, 2015)."Cole Freddy". Enciclopedia Del Jazz.
  37. ↑ Wynne, Peter (June 29, 1973). "Opera Debut for Financier". The Hackensack Record. p. 31. Accessed January 5, 2022.
  38. ↑ "Due to Croon Tony Bennett, Bill Evans Recordings Aug. 13". Pascack Valley Community Life. p. A33. Accessed January 5, 2022.
  39. ↑ Lawlor, Vera (March 9, 1990). "Only in New Jersey: Nightclubs". The Hackensack Record Preview. p. 16.
  40. ↑ Harrington, Bob (March 30, 1990). "Bistro Bits". Back Stage. pp. 29A. ProQuest 962922947. Condolences to singer Annette Sanders of Group Five on the loss of her husband, musician Morty Lewis. Morty was one of the best tenor sax players in the business and will be missed by his many friends.
  41. ↑ "A Shabbat Jazz Service". The Hackensack Record. p. B-4.
  42. 1 2 "Search results for au='Sanders, Annette'". WorldCat.
  43. ↑ Ineck, Tom (July 9, 1989). "Top Organist Swings, Vocalist Scats on Jazz Releases". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 18.
  44. ↑ Verna, Paul (July 15, 1995). "Album reviews -- On My Way To You by Annette Sanders". Billboard. p. 66.
  45. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Annette Sanders credits". AllMusic.
  46. 1 2 3 Gross, Mike (May 25, 1968). "Record Review: Monmouth Fires on-Target 3-Album Salute to Berlin". Billboard. p. 22.
  47. ↑ "New LP/Tape Releases – Special Merit Picks: Pop". Billboard. November 20, 1971. p. 66.
  48. ↑ "Jon Lucien – Rashida". Discogs.
  49. ↑ "Harold Dumont sings Duke Ellington". WorldCat.
  50. ↑ Veny, Michael (March 29, 1975). "Album Reviews". New York Amsterdam News. pp. D6. ProQuest 226546685. Harold Dumont has a soft, rich baritone-tenor voice. His first major recording, "Harold Dumont Sings Duke Ellington," is on the Cleemo label.
  51. ↑ "Billboard's Top Album Picks: Billboard's Recommended LPs". Billboard. July 8, 1978. p. 69.
  52. ↑ "Meco – Pop Goes The Movies: Image". Discogs.
  53. ↑ "Leslie Pearl – Words & Music". Discogs.
  54. ↑ "Christmas In The Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album". Discogs.
  55. ↑ Hall, Mike (April 3, 1983). "Getting to Know Albert Collins May Be Worth 'Losing Your Cool'". Clarion-Ledger. p. 3F.
  56. ↑ "Michael Davis – Heroes". Discogs.
  57. ↑ "'Yale University Music Library-Benny Goodman Live at the Rainbow Grill-Volume 6' image". Discogs.
  58. ↑ "The Glenn Miller Orchestra – In The Christmas Mood". Discogs.
  59. 1 2 3 4 Mayhall, Mark (November 17, 1995). "Club Crawling: Double-barreled Blank; Ambassador of Jazz". The Cincinnati Enquirer Weekend. p. 39.
  60. ↑ "'Christmas Through Your Eyes' by Goria Estefan: Liner Notes". Internet Archive.
  61. ↑ "The Glenn Miller Orchestra – In The Christmas Mood II". Discogs.
  62. ↑ "Benny Goodman – The King Of Swing - Volumes 6-10". Discogs.
  63. ↑ "Ray Starling, New York Neophonic Orchestra, Joel Kaye, New York Sound Stage One Orchestra – Alternate Routes". Discogs.
  64. ↑ "Michael Jackson – Blood On The Dance Floor (HIStory In the Mix)". Discogs.
  65. ↑ "'I Won't Dance' by Steve Ross". Internet Archive.
  66. ↑ "In the Nutcracker Mood". WorldCat.
  67. ↑ Albertson, Chris (November 1997). "Burning for Buddy--A Tribute to the Music of Buddy Rich, Vol. II". Stereo Review. p. 33. ProQuest 211316345. Rich himself appears - by way of a 1968 drum track in "Channel One Suite," a memorial anthem of sorts with vocals by Annie Ross, Domenick Allen, Annette Sanders, and Rich's daughter, Cathy, who also sings 'Them There Eyes.'
  68. ↑ "Chuck Mangione – The Feeling's Back". Discogs.
  69. ↑ "Walter Levinsky in concert : as he wanted to be remembered". WorldCat.
  70. ↑ "Salute! The World War II Tribute Album Various Artists". AllMusic.
  71. ↑ Popa, Christopher (November 2006). "Big Band News: Special CD Preview". Big Band Library.
  72. ↑ "Jazz at Token Creek 2009 : Songs of Jimmy van Heusen". WorldCat.
  73. ↑ "Jazz at Token Creek 2004 : Harold Arlen & Vernon Duke". WorldCat.
  74. ↑ Romney, Jonathan (May 1, 1995). "Bullets Over Broadway". Sight and Sound. p. 40. ProQuest 1305507237. Music performed by [...] Three Deuces Vocalists: Emily Bindiger, Michelle Lewis, Annette Sanders, Cindy Cobitt, Jenna Miles, Chrissy Faith, Helen Miles, Arlene Martell
  75. ↑ James, Nick (April 1, 1996). "Mighty Aphrodite". Sight and Sound. p. 48. ProQuest 1305510203. Music performed by [...] Dick Hyman Chorus: Mary Sue Berry, Al Dana, Kevin De Simeone, Paul Evans, Chrissy Faith, Arlene Martell, Kenny Karen, Randy Lawrence, Jeff Lyons, Charles Macgruder, June Macgruder, Helen Miles, Jenna Miles, Robert Ragaini, Annette Sanders, Vaneese Thomas
  76. ↑ Romney, Jonathan (April 1, 1997). "Everyone Says I Love You". Sight and Sound. p. 40. ProQuest 1305516366. Music performed by [...] The Helen Miles Singers: Emily Bindiger, Cindy Cobitt, Al Dana, Kevin DeSimone, Paul Evans, Chrissy Faith, Jeff Lyons, Michael Mark, Arlene Martell, Jenna Miles, Robert Raigini, Lenny Roberts, Annette Sanders, Terry Textor, Vaneese Thomas, Asley H. Wilkinson, Helen MilesHelen Miles
  77. ↑ "Today's Highlights: 6 P.M. to 9 P.M.". New York Daily News. February 3, 1965. p. 78.
  78. ↑ "Today's TV Tips". The Waco News Tribune. June 1, 1965. p. 12.
  79. ↑ "Today's Television: Evening". The Miami Herald. December 3, 1965. p. 30.
  80. ↑ "Record TV Notes: Stars on Talent Scouts". The Pocono Record. January 17, 1966. p. 12
  81. ↑ Baxter, Joan (1997). Television musicals: Plots, Critiques, Casts, and Credits for 222 Shows Written for and Presented on Television, 1944-1996. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 86. ISBN 0-7864-0286-5.
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