On Wednesday 19 November we celebrate Evelyn Dove’s remarkable legacy and the powerful mark she left on UK culture with World Heart Beat Band: Tribute to Evelyn Dove. Ahead of the show, we explore who was Evelyn Dove?
About Evelyn Dove
Evelyn Dove (1902 – 1987) was a pioneering British singer, actress, jazz and cabaret performer.
In 1925, she was the first Black woman to be broadcast on BBC Radio.
Born in London in 1902, she was attracted to the arts and graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in 1919, where she studied piano, contralto, and elocution.
She performed on the jazz and cabaret scene and became known for her enchanting voice and passionate cabaret and jazz performances that inspired generations to come.
Her music is elegant, soft, and revolutionary. Mixed with her smooth, lush, and rich voice, she sang with the perfect combination of melody and harmony, which gained her a huge audience.
Blue Plaque in Battersea
Born in London in the Lying-in Hospital, Endell Street Evelyn was the daughter of Francis Dove, a successful barrister and businessman from Sierra Leone and his English wife, Augusta (née Winchester).
Evelyn was honoured with a blue plaque on 29th September 2023 at her residence in Battersea (25 Barnard Road, SW11, where she lived as a child with her mother). It was unveiled by the Nubian Jak Community Trust, in partnership with Sony Music UK’s Social Justice Fund and the Battersea Society.
The UK and Beyond
The UK wasn’t the only place where Evelyn lived and performed. She performed at The Casino de Paris in 1932, New York’s legendary Connie’s Inn in 1936, and at the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai in 1937.
BBC Radio and TV
In 1939, Evelyn was given her own music series, Sweet and Lovely. Evelyn then hosted more shows, like Serenade in Sepia, with co-host Trinidadian folk singer Edric Conner, the radio show, which began in 1945, was so successful that it was adapted for television in 1946.
Evelyn passed away in 1987. Dove’s legacy of being the first Black woman to be broadcast on BBC Radio paved the way for future generations. Dove broke racial barriers, created pathways for others, and left behind a legacy of beautiful music.
Tribute concert to Evelyn Dove
Join us at World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens on Wednesday 19 November (7:30pm) to celebrate Evelyn Dove’s remarkable legacy and the powerful mark she left on UK culture.
This special evening will celebrate her remarkable life through live performances by the World Heart Beat Band, bringing back Evelyn’s story and music to life for the crowd.
Performed by the World Heart Beat Band, the performance will be led by jazz pianist Ayo Vincent (and teacher at World Heart Beat) who’s played at venues such as Ronnie Scott’s, Kings Place and the 606 Club.
The evening will be part of a double bill with the Danny Piers Trio. Danny is a London-based, British Spanish jazz pianist and composer known for his original compositions and expressive performances. He will perform alongside Tom Sheen and Sacha Harlan, bringing an intuitive contemporary approach to jazz.