Arlen conquers the Cotton Club: By 1930, the Depression in America was in full sway. Unemployment doubled in one year with 4 million Americans looking for work. Prohibition did offer employment opportunities in the form of the profitable but illegal distribution of alcohol products to speakeasies, hotels, clubs and bars in New York city. Distribution was controlled by strong, ruthless gangsters like Owney Madden who also owned the Cotton Club in Harlem. The Cotton Club featured all black performers that were admired by a largely white audience . Over a four year period, Arlen and Koehler created at least two shows a year that often dealt with more risqué subjects like drug use and sexual subjects that often reflected the realities of life during the Depression era.
A 1984 film , The Cotton Club was a crime drama directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It was a stylish depiction of racial discrimination where blacks could perform but were not welcome in the audience, wonderful singing and dancing scenes and the influence of gangster control of both liquor distribution and night club entertainment.
One Cotton Club number , filmed by Coppola was Ill Wind. It is a sensual and dramatic Arlen/Koehler song sung by Lonette McKee and it also shows some of the more sordid aspects of the speakeasy era . It provides insight into the actual environment in which the two songwriters worked for several turbulent but successful years.
LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9nOjTbdPKQ
NOTE: The next few posts will showcase more songs and performers of Arlen &/Koehler's memorable Cotton Club songs.
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