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Jane Douglass White

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Jane Douglass White(April 14, 1919 – April 26, 2008), bornRuby Jane Douglass(sometimes spelledDouglas), was an AmericanWomen's Army Corpsofficer, music educator and songwriter. AUniversity of Oklahomagraduate, she wrote several songs duringWorld War IIto promote the corps; Captain Douglass was selected in 1944 to command the first all-womanSpecial Servicecompany.

Jane Douglass White
Black-and-white photograph of a brunette woman smiling at camera with her hands on the keyboard of a dark grand piano
Jane Douglass White at her piano in 1981
Born
Ruby Jane Douglass

(1919-04-19)April 19, 1919
Coffeyville, Kansas,US
DiedApril 26, 2008(2008-04-26)(aged 89)
Burial placeWilliamson Memorial Gardens,Franklin, Tennessee
Other namesJane White, Jane Douglass, Jane D. White, J. D. White
Education
Occupation(s)WAC officer, songwriter, musician
Years active1940–1998
Spouse
Gail C. White
​
​
(m.1948; died 2006)​

Before the war, Douglass taught vocal music in theBristow, Oklahomapublic schools. One of her songs, originally entitled "The WAAC is in Back of You", was adapted after the war into the official "Song of the Women's Army Corps".She was awarded a master's degree atColumbia University,while she studied piano with Anton Bilotti. After marriage, she changed her name to Jane Douglass White, becoming a prolific songwriter and music director for stage and television. A song she co-wrote with Sidney Shaw, "Love is a Gamble" was recorded by such artists asEartha KittandJohnny Mathis.

She was an assistant producer withHarry Salterfor the 1950s edition of television'sName That Tuneand afterwards became a well-known Christian music entertainer. Douglass served as a musical director forCharles Colson'sPrison Fellowshipprogram.

Early life

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Born inCoffeyville, Kansas,[1][2]Ruby Jane Douglass grew up in a musical family with an older brother who could play anything "by ear." By the age of five, Ruby Jane was taking music lessons and singing with her family at the Presbyterian church. Before college, she had acquired training and experience in voice, piano, and electric organ.[2]Douglass graduated theUniversity of Oklahomain 1939 where she was a member of the Alpha Omicron chapter of theKappa Alpha Thetasorority and president of the Mu Kappa chapter ofMu Phi Epsilonprofessional music fraternity.[3]As a part of the "Debs in Swing Trio" she and two fellow Thetas entertained fellow Sooners at university alumni events.[4]She was hired by the Bristow Public Schools after graduation and became supervisor of the district's vocal music department.[5]By January 1941, she had copyrighted her first musical composition, "I Wished on a Star".[6]

Military career

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After theattack on Pearl Harbor,Douglass volunteered for the newWomen's Army Auxiliary Corps(WAAC) and was commissioned third officer.[5]Inspired by the martial rhythm of the clicking of her car tires as she drove home from the induction center in Oklahoma City she wrote her first military song, "The WAAC is in Back of You".[7][8]During basic training, Douglass taught her fellow WAACs the song, and soon it became a company favorite.[2]According to one source, WAAC commander Col.Oveta Culp Hobbyenjoyed hearing the song sufficiently to recognize Douglass, appointing her to theSpecial Servicesbranch of the army.[2]

After completing training atFort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training School,Douglass was assigned to the newDaytona Beach, Florida,women's training camp,[7]On January 4, 1943, the war department announced Douglass's promotion to second officer, the equivalent to first lieutenant.[9]Douglass several times was sent to New York City, involved in writing "There'll be a New Style Bonnet at the Easter Parade" and "Something New Has Been Added to the Army," two new songs for asoldier's show,a musical review for WAC performances, entitledP.F.C. Mary Brown, a WAC musical revue.[8]She wrote music and lyrics for several songs, assisted byArthur Altman,PrivatesFrank LoesserandHy Zaret.The book for the musical was written by PrivateArnold M. Auerbach,Lieutenants Bob Eastright and Jack Hill. Choreography for the musical was provided by PrivateJosé Limón.[10]

On September 22, 1943, Douglass was promoted to captain.[8]After promotion, Douglass was made chief of Special Services branch, second WAC training center, Daytona Beach. She compiled and edited the official WAC songbook and expressed an interest in taking a special services unit overseas.[8]Douglass's original WAC composition was published in 1943 as "The WAC is a Soldier Too".[11][12]

Before the move of the Daytona training facility toFort Oglethorpein January 1944, Douglass wrote "Farewell Daytona Beach".[13]In summer 1944 Douglass was one of a group of Special Services WACs ordered to duty in Italy and France, directly entertaining troops and teaching those troops the songs, dances and patter of "blueprint specials."[2]While in Paris, her group worked with former actressMadeleine Carrolldistributing music and gifts to local children.[14]On a visit toSaint-Cloud,Douglass and her WACs were themselves honored with music, played by the French on instruments previously hidden from the Nazis during the occupation:

We stood at attention while the French flag was raised and the band playedLa Marseillaise.Then they raised Old Glory, and the band played probably the worst version ofThe Star-Spangled Bannerthat I have ever heard. They had no music and played it by ear. But they made a noble effort and as the tears streamed down my cheeks, I knew that I had never been more proud to be an American.

— Jane Douglass White, 2002,[14]

Returning to Fort Oglethorpe, Douglass was chosen to command the all-female 1st WAC Special Services Company.[15]After getting final approval from Lieutenant Colonel Anna W. Wilson, Douglass began the process of selecting the five officers and 109 soldiers who would compose the unit.[15]For her work in France, Captain Douglass was awarded theLegion of Meritfrom the War Department.[16]

Songwriting career

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After returning to Oklahoma to visit family,[17]Douglass moved to New York City where she wrote songs and studied for her master's degree atColumbia University.[1]During her time in New York, she was introduced to classical pianist Anton Bilotti and after audition asked him to coach her on piano technique.[18]She discovered that her musicianship and wartime experiences gave her confidence to perform in New York City venues; she was quickly hired as the dining room pianist at thePark Sheraton Hotel.[18]Douglass was a featured performer at the Cafe Maurice in 1948.[19]

Bilotti's brother-in-law, recently discharged armymaster sergeantGail White met and befriended the ex-captain Douglass. In spring of 1948, the two army veterans co-wrote and published a song together, entitled "Do We?";[20]White and Douglass said "I do" to each other weeks later, getting married at New York City'sFifth Avenue Presbyterian Church.[19]Later in 1948 Douglass changed her professional name to Jane Douglass White, becoming a member of theAmerican Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.[1]

White's songwriting career took off when she was asked by the Department of the Army to revise the lyrics of her popular march "The WAC is a Soldier Too" for peacetime use.[21][22]Working by mail with fellow WAC veteran Camilla Mays Frank to adjust lyrics, the song was adopted by the army as the official "Song of the Women's Army Corps"in 1951.[23]In 1953, popular Hollywood movie starFrancis the Talking Mulewas utilizing White's and Frank's official corps march in the opening credits of the newest releaseFrancis Joins the WACS.

Several of the songs she co-wrote with Sydney Shaw were published in 1958 by actorBurt Lancaster,producerHarold Hecht,and publisherLoring Buzzellvia their music publishing companiesHecht-Lancaster & Buzzell MusicandCalyork Music.Two of these, "Whispering Campaign" and "I Don't Want to Do a Thing but Love You" were recorded by The Temples for a single releasedDate Recordsin July 1958. "You're the Prettiest Thing" was recorded byMerv GriffinandThe Spellbindersfor a single released byDecca Records.

Theater career

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In 1969 White was operating the Grist Mill Playhouse, anActor's Equitytheater company, inAndover, New Jersey.[24]

Janet and Jane

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In 1972, White partnered with mezzo soprano Janet Baird Weisiger to form the duo "Janet and Jane." The two toured the United States playing and singing Christian music; they recorded three albums together and in 1976 were averaging ten concert performances a month.[25]By 1980, White was managing Messiah Music, a small Christian music publisher.[26]

In 1991 White was still active inPrison Fellowship,Charles Colson's prison ministries program. White was providing seminar programs for the incarcerated and their families.[27]

Gail and Jane White would remain married for 58 years until his death in 2006.[citation needed]

Selected works

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Compositions

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  • "The WAAC is in Back of You"as Ruby Jane Douglass (1943)[7]
  • "Do We" as Jane Douglass with Gail C. White (1948)
  • "Song of the Women's Army Corps"with Camilla Mays Frank (1951)[28]
  • "Empty Words" as Jane Douglass with Jimmy Gayle (1951)[28]
  • "Happy Polka" as Jane Douglass with Jimmy Gayle (1951)[28]
  • "Look in the Mirror" as Jane Douglass with Abe L. Laufe (1951)[28]
  • "Ruby Lips" as Jane Douglass with Jimmy Gayle (1951)[28]
  • "I Wish I Had a Penny" with Camilla Mays Frank (1953)[29]
  • "It's the Fashion" with Thomas Henry O'Malley (1953)[29]
  • "Sea in a Shell" as Jane Douglass with Ruth Hughes Aarons (1953)[29]
  • "Have a Heart" as Jane Douglass with Thomas Henry O'Malley (1953)[29]
  • "I'll Be Good to You" as Jane Douglass with Thomas Henry O'Malley (1953)[29]
  • "Say Hey (The Willie Mays Song)" withDick Kleiner(1954) recorded byThe TrenierswithWillie Mays,Quincy Jonesproducing[30]
  • "French Poodle" recorded bySam Buteraand the Witnesses
  • "Blue Jean Blues" with Richard Kleiner (1957) recorded by Sharon Strauss[31]
  • "Joanie" (1957)[31]
  • "New Orleans Madness" (1957)[31]
  • "Be on the Lookout" with Sydney Shaw (1958)[32]
  • "The Garden" with Ruth Eby (1958)[32]
  • "I Don't Want to Do Anything But Love You" with Sydney Shaw (1958)[32]
  • "Time Will Tell" with Sydney Shaw (1958)[32]
  • "Whispering Campaign" with Sydney Shaw (1958) recorded by The Temples in 1958[32]
  • "Love is a Gamble" with Sydney Shaw (1959) recorded byJohnny Mathis,recorded byEartha Kitt[33]
  • "(You're the) Purtiest Thing" recorded byMerv Griffin,recorded by Sharon Strauss
  • "Lover's Quarrel" with Sharon Strauss (1961)[33]
  • "Three Guesses" with Linda Sampson (1961)[33]
  • "Groovy" as Jane D. White (1963) recorded by Dick Watson, produced by Jane D. White[34]
  • "Julius" (1963)[34]
  • "Be on the Lookout (for the Woman)" with Sydney Shaw (1963) recorded by Dick Watson, produced by Jane D. White[34]
  • "Tipsy Gypsy from P'Kipsie" as J.D. White with Jay Rio, recorded by Jane D. White and the Hollywoods
  • "Alas!...No Gas" (1963) recorded by Jane White[34]
  • "Black and White and Read All Over Blues" with Mike Strauss (1963)[34]
  • "William" (1963)[34]
  • "Ring Around Rosie" (1963)[34]
  • "Tex, The Cowboy Santa Claus" as Jane Douglas White (1963)
  • "How I Love My Love" with Sidney Shaw and Michael Edwards (1968)[35]
  • Songs of Joy and Praise As Sung By Janet and Janewith Janet Weisiger (1973), ten songs, Messiah Music
  • "I Surrender" (1981)
  • "The Shepherd Evangelist Pastoral Counselor Blues: (The Pastor's Song)" (1991)

Musicals

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  • Guardian Angel,a musical comedy in two acts and 12 scenes, music by Jane Douglass White, book and lyrics byBurton Crane(1955)[36]
  • Anyone for Love?a musical comedy in two acts, music by Jane Douglass White, book and lyrics byBurton Crane(1956)[37]
  • The Easter Yeggwith Thomas Henry O'Malley (1997)
  • The Christmas Caper: Where is the Love?a mini musical with Thomas Henry O'Malley (1997)

References

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  1. ^abcAmerican Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (1980).ASCAP biographical dictionary.New York: R.R. Bowker Co. p. 540.ISBN978-0-8352-1283-0.RetrievedMay 26,2021.
  2. ^abcdeWallace, Ken (July 4, 1971)."Her Musical Ventures Are Varied".The Record.Hackensack, NY. p. 42.RetrievedJune 28,2021.
  3. ^"The Triangle of Mu Phi Epsilon".28–35. Mu Phi Epsilon. 1933: 61.RetrievedMay 24,2021.{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal=(help)
  4. ^"Homecoming Celebration" Best Ever ""(PDF).The Sooner Magazine:10. December 1938.RetrievedMay 24,2021.
  5. ^abHampf, Michaela (2010).Release a Man for Combat: The Women's Army Corps During World War II.Böhlau Verlag Köln Weimar. p. 166.ISBN978-3-412-20660-4.RetrievedMay 24,2021.
  6. ^Library of Congress Copyright Office (1941)."Part 3, Musical Compositions".Catalog of Copyright Entries 1941 Music.New Series.36.U.S. Govt. Print. Off.RetrievedMay 24,2021.
  7. ^abc"Clipped From The Times Herald".The Times Herald.Newspapers. Associated Press. January 21, 1943. p. 12.RetrievedMay 24,2021.
  8. ^abcdKappa Alpha Theta Journal, Vol. 58 no. 3.March 1944. p. 237.RetrievedMay 25,2021.
  9. ^"Eight WAACs from Oklahomans Receive Their Promotions".Miami News-Record.Miami, Oklahoma. January 4, 1943. p. 2.RetrievedMay 26,2021.
  10. ^Auerbach, Arnold; Douglass, Ruby Jane; Zaret, Hy; Loesser, Frank; Altman, Arthur; Eastright, Bob; Hill, Jack (1944).P. F. C. Mary Brown,a WAC musical revue.Headquarters, Army Service Forces, Special Services Division. p. 9.RetrievedMay 25,2021.
  11. ^Copyright 1943, Kaycee Music Company, Inc. RKO Building, Radio City, NY, NY
  12. ^WAC songbook [circa 1944]:: Women Veterans Historical Project.Fort Des Moines, Iowa: WAC Special Services. 1944. p. 4.RetrievedMay 29,2021.
  13. ^Patterson, Gordon (Fall 1999)."The Skirted Soldiers"(PDF).FHC Forum.XII(3). Tampa, Florida: Florida Humanities Council: 33.RetrievedMay 24,2021.
  14. ^abWhite, Jane Douglass (August 20, 2002)."Essay winner shares funny, poignant moments".The Tennessean.Franklin, Tennessee. p. 60.RetrievedJune 28,2021.
  15. ^abCooke, James J. (October 1, 2012).American Girls, Beer, and Glenn Miller: GI Morale in World War II.University of Missouri Press. p. 264.ISBN978-0-8262-7284-3.RetrievedMay 26,2021.
  16. ^"Legion of Merit".The Record-Citizen.Bristow, Oklahoma. January 10, 1946. p. 1.RetrievedJune 28,2021.
  17. ^"DAR Chapter - Alexander Walker revolutionary soldier Spartansburg, South Carolina".The Paris News.May 6, 1946. p. 2.RetrievedMay 25,2021.
  18. ^ab"If Music Be the Food of Love".The Tennessean.Nashville, Tennessee: Newspapers. February 9, 2003. p. 174.RetrievedJune 1,2021.
  19. ^ab"1939"(PDF).Sooner Magazine.21(3). PDF: 26. November 1948.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
  20. ^Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1948).Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series.p. 331.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
  21. ^"The WAC is a soldier, too".pritzkermilitary.org.Chicago: Pritzker Military Museum & Library.RetrievedMay 28,2021.
  22. ^"The Big Picture, Episode 277: The WAC is a Soldier, too".pritzkermilitary.org.Chicago: Pritzker Military Museum & Library.RetrievedMay 28,2021.
  23. ^Kerby, Therese D. (July 2015).A History of the 14th Army Band (WAC): 1949–1976(PDF).pp.139–140.RetrievedMay 26,2021.
  24. ^"Equity".54–55. Actors' Equity Association. 1969: 18.RetrievedMay 31,2021.{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal=(help)
  25. ^"Honor Three at May 7 Alumni Day Banquet".Issuu.Vol. 8, no. 2. Hope College Office of Public Relations. April–May 1977. p. 1.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
  26. ^Musician's Guide.Marquis Who's Who, LLC. December 1980. p. 766.ISBN978-0-8379-5601-5.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
  27. ^"The Acts & Proceedings of the... Regular Session of the General Synod, Reformed Church in America".71.Board of publication and Bible-school work. 1991: 467.RetrievedMay 31,2021.{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal=(help)
  28. ^abcdeOffice, Library of Congress Copyright (1951).Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series.pp. 42, 60, 116, 168, 487.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
  29. ^abcdeOffice, Library of Congress Copyright (1953).Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series.pp. 141, 239, 372, 595, 665, 995.RetrievedMay 29,2021.
  30. ^"Say Hey: Willie Mays and" The Catch "".chimesfreedom.September 29, 2016.RetrievedMay 28,2021.
  31. ^abcCatalog of Copyright Entries 1957 Music Jan-June 3D Ser Vol 11 Pt 5.U.S. Govt. Print. Off. 1957. p. 1019.RetrievedMay 28,2021.
  32. ^abcdeOffice, Library of Congress Copyright (1959).Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series.p. 1138.RetrievedMay 28,2021.
  33. ^abcOffice, Library of Congress Copyright (1962).Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series.pp. 308, 313, 528.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
  34. ^abcdefgCatalog of Copyright Entries 1963 Music Jan-June 3D Ser Vol 17 Pt 5.U.S. Govt. Print. Off. 1963. p. 1169.RetrievedMay 28,2021.
  35. ^Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1968).Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series.p. 1807.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
  36. ^Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1956).Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series.p. 74.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
  37. ^Catalog of Copyright Entries 1956 Dramas Etc. Jan-Dec 3D Ser Vol 10 Pts 3-4.U.S. Govt. Print. Off. 1956. p. 72.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
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