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| Jeannie Cheatham's Autobiography  Jeannie Cheatham Autobiography ’Meet Me With Your Black Drawers On’ Out Now is the story of her 50 years and countinuing love affair and musical collaboration with her husband and band partner, Jimmy Cheatham. Jeannie writes of a life fighting racism and sexism, of rage and resolve, misery and miracles, betrayals and triumphs, of faith almost lost in dark places, but mysteriously regained in a flash of light. Her autobiography title is the title of her famous blues composition now covered by musicians all over the world. The Black experience in America - from the ’30s through the ’90s - is colorfully and thoroughly revealed throughout this memoir.Jeannie Cheatham was trained in both the classical tradition and in the famous Kansas City jazz tradition by some of its greatest musicians: Pete Johnson, Jay McShann and Count Basie. The great musicians of the past fifty years are there, from the Big Bands of Cab Calloway ("Minnie the Moocher"), Grover Mitchell (Count Basie band leader), Bill Tole ("New York, New York"), Big Mama Thornton ("Hound Dog") to George Lewis (MacArthur New Music Genius). Jeannie Cheatham played piano for them all. Her story is filled with personal experiences with the famous and infamous musicians of the past 60 years. Jeannie’s song, “Meet Me With Your Black Drawers On,” is still being re-recorded today and sung from Europe and Africa to Japan. The song is being played on a regular basis on stations in Washington, D.C.; Chicago, Ill.; KSDS in San Diego and KJZZ in Long Beach. Jazz and blues clubs all over the world are eagerly awaiting the story behind the woman who created “Meet Me With Your Black Drawers On.” write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |