There’s a star on the piano on the St. Vincent’s: Langara long-term care residence.
As soon as per week Eve Duke performs for her fellow residents on the Jazz Café.
“It makes me really feel good, as a result of it means I’m truly doing one thing they like, and that’s good,” mentioned Duke.
Born in Washington, D.C., Eve was in her early 20s when she acquired her massive break, found by famed jazz composer Duke Ellington who needed her to sing in his orchestra.
“I may barely rise up,” Duke mentioned concerning the nerves she was feeling throughout her first gig with Ellington.
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“He thought I used to be good and I sang most of his tunes as a result of he wrote lovely songs.”
She toured and recorded with Ellington beneath her stage identify Yvonne Lanauze, whereas connecting with many musical legends within the years that adopted.
“She’s met so much a well-known those who she’s shared tales about, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson,” mentioned music therapist Wendy Solloway, who performs with Duke on the Jazz Café.
Finally shifting to Canada and settling in Vancouver, Eve continued to carry out round city. Now, after simply celebrating her one hundredth birthday, the present should go on.
“It simply brings her again to life,” mentioned Lucy Thomas, who additionally performs on the Jazz Café. “When she begins taking part in, she’s again within the second, she’s again within the membership.”
A proficient artist whose biggest honour has been sharing her present with anybody who appreciates good music.
“I had so many individuals who would come up and say how a lot they loved it,” Duke mentioned.
“That made me really feel actually good.”
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