Does anyone know who is the original singer of the song "Summertime"?

Answer 1

Summertime was composed in 1935 by George Gershwin for the musical "Porgy & Bess", so whomever the person portraying Clara was probably the first to sing it...the first recording seems to have been done by Billie Holiday...
(beautiful song!)

Answer 2

Summertime is a song from the musical Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin. Abbie Mitchell would be the "original" singer.

Abbie Mitchell (1884–1960) was an American opera singer who created the role of "Clara" in George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess

Mitchell began her career in Musical comedy with Will Marion Cook's Clorindy; or, the Origin of the Cakewalk in 1898. She performed with the Walker and Williams companies, Black Patti's Troubadours and in the Cole-Johnson operetty, The Red Moon. In 1919 she went to Europe with Cook's Southern Syncopated Orchestra. Following this she began performing on the concert stage and performing opera in addition to teaching. She was actively performing in New York and she taught at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Her 1935 stage appearance in Porgy and Bess was her final stage appearance.

Answer 3

In The Summertime by Mungo Jerry (70's) or Hot Fun In The Summertime by Sly & The Family Stone, or Summer Breeze by Seals & Crofts,or Summer Song by Chad & Jeremy,or Theme from Summerplace by Henry Mancini.,or the jazz song Summertime, done by many. Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald and I think Billie Holliday.

Answer 4

Mungo Jerry in the 70's

In the summertime

when the weather is high

you can stretch right up
an' touch the sky

when the weather's fine

you got women
you got women on your mind.
Have a drink
have a drive

go out an' see what you can find.

If her daddie's rich

take her out for a meal

if her daddie's poor

just do as you feel

speed along the lane

do a ton
or a ton an'twenty five

when the sun goes down

you can make it
make it good in a lay-by.

We're not grey people

we're not dirty
we're not mean

we love everybody but we
do as we please

when the weather's fine

we go fishing
or go swimming in the sea.
we're always happy

life's for living
yeah ! That's our philosophy.

Whenthe winter's here

yeah
it's party time

bring a bottle
wear your bright clothes

it'll soon be summertime

and we'll sing again

we'll go driving
or maybe we'll settle down

if she's rich
if she's nice

bring your friends
an' we'll all go into town

Answer 5

I should get half-credit for this answer. It was sung in the stage version of George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess." Most of the actors and actresses are not famous today. The name of the character who sang it is CLARA. Later it was made into a movie with big name Hollywood stars. My personal fave rendition of the song is Janis Joplin, but i was not alive to hear the original versions in 1934.

Answer 6

I guess it depends which "Summertime" song you are talking about. The one you are most likely thinking of is by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. However, there are also songs with that title by Gershwin, Sublime, Ella Fitzgerald, Mae, and Billie Holiday. Hopefully that helps!

Answer 7

George Gershwin's "Summertime" (from Porgy and Bess) has had an estimated 2,500 versions recorded.

Answer 8

from the musical Porgy and Bess
by George Gershwin

Answer 9

Crosby Stills and Nash had a song called summertime..."makes me feel fine..."

Answer 10

Janis Joplin did a version too