"The Buxom Blues Singer"
The Past:
in Music
Dodo Greene
Her birth name was Dorthea Hawkins, but she has been known as Dodo since she was a teenager.
A Buffalo native, Dorthea "Dodo" Greene began singing at age 7 or 8 when she was chosen for recurrent appearances on the Buster Brown Shoes Amateur Hour radio program.
Ms. Greene's musical career did not begin in earnest until the late 40's. She said she got her first big singing job at the Club Moon-Glow, a nightclub at Michigan and William Street. She also sang at other local clubs on the east side of Buffalo and the Cold Springs district, including The Musician's Club, The Buffalo Club, the Pine Grill, Mandy's and the Little Harlem.
In 1959 Ms. Greene left Buffalo for New York City. In 1960 she joined Cab Calloway's Broadway production of "Cotton Comes to Harlem" at the Wintergarden Theatre. She became known at that time as the "buxom blues singer". It was also about this time that she perfected a Louie Armstrong imitation, including his trademark throaty growl and hanky and adopted her trademark bleached blonde hairstyle. She still performs the Armstrong tribute in her act to this day.
From her New York base, Ms. Greene performed in the Catskill's resort area, New York City clubs and eventually toured Europe. She recorded an album with Blue Note Records as the first female singer to record with that label.
The album "My Hour of Need" is still available in CD form. She returned to Buffalo with plans to retire at age 60. However, friends convinced her to get back on stage and she began singing again at clubs such as the Blue Note and the Calumet Cafe.
In 1997 Ms. Greene was honored in Buffalo's Hall of Fame, along with music great Harold Arlen. She was a woman of great talent, boundless energy and an indomitable spirit who continued to "wow" her audiences right up until her death.
