PEARL BAILEY SINGS " LEGALIZE MY NAME" FROM " ST. LOUIS WOMAN"

Pearl Bailey sings" Legalize My Name" from " St. Louis Woman"   Pearl Bailey plays the role of Butterfly, a caustic employee of Biglow Brown's salon. She has been involved with Barney,a jockey who always loses to Little Augie. Barney was played by Fayard Nicholas, the brother of Harold Nicholas playing Little Augie. (The Nicholas Brothers were a famous night club and film dance act known for their spectacular acrobatic routines.)
Butterfly is determined to have a more permanent relationship with Barney and withholds her more enticing favours until Barney comes through. " Legalize My Name" is a pointed demand delivered in the direct and comic style for which Peal Bailey had become famous. A veteran of vaudeville and night clubs, Bailey also had sung with the Count Basie Band  and was known for her  wit and timing in comedy numbers like " Legalize My name" .
Mercer's lyrics are steeped in the vernacular of the time and region and reflect his comfort with Afro American and southern colloquial expressions.

NOTE:  Pearl Bailey would also feature prominently in a subsequent Harold Arlen and Truman Capote musical " House of Flowers."

LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nLI7CudZwA