Maxine Sullivan

Born the same year as the first International Women’s Day. Maxine Sullivan (1911-1987) was born Marietta Williams in Homestead, Pennsylvania (nor far from Pittsburgh). She came to New York City in 1937 and immediately she went to “Swing Street,” as 52nd Street was known, and became the vocalist at the Onyx Club singing for John Kirby’s group. That same week she also made her debut recording with the Claude Thornhill Orchestra. Thornhill suggested she do a swing version of the Scottish folk song, “Loch Lomond.” This song was a hit and gave her international acclaim. She followed this with swinging recordings of other folk songs, “Molly Malone,” “It Was a Lover and His Lass,” and “If I Had a Ribbon Bow.” In 1940 she performed with John Kirby (a bandleader and later her husband) on a national weekly radio program called “Flow Gently Sweet Rhythm.” This was pioneering as they were one of the first Black jazz musicians to have their own radio program. In 1958 she was one of three women to appear in the legendary “A Great Day in Harlem” photograph (along with Marian McPartland and Mary Lou Williams). By 1957 she had divorced Kirby and was remarried to stride pianist Cliff Jackson. She temporarily retired to stay home and raise her daughter and during this time was involved in Bronx civic affairs and did a lot of community organizing from her home at 818 Ritter Place. The home also became the setting for jam sessions for local jazz musicians. Maxine and her husband also bought another house in 1945 at 1312 Stebbins Avenue which had previously been the home of musician Eddie Mallory and his wife vocalist Ethel Waters. Maxine and Cliff converted it to a boardinghouse for musicians; tenants included trombonist Vic Dickenson and drummer Marquis Foster. When Jackson died in 1979 Maxine wanted to open a jazz community center and museum dedicated to her late husband. So the home on Stebbins Avenue became known as The House That Jazz Built and had its grand opening on July 19th, 1975.