After the War It was assumed that after the war women would return to their “appropriate” role as a housewife and mother. This assumption was not limited to just the music world, but also in other areas. However, the opposite occurred. “…women’s presence in the labor force grew in the post-war years…” (Tucker, n.d., para 11).
Several female musicians did not leave the musical field after the war, but they did pursue more customarily “suitable” careers in music accompaniment and education. Some of the female brass and woodwind players even switched to the more traditional piano or organ, as this was approved by society. “Some put down their horns and switched to piano or Hammond organ to take advantage of the continuing relative acceptance of women at the keyboard” (Tucker, n.d., para 11).
Shirley Scott, a native of Philadelphia, was the “Queen of the Organ.” The Hammond B3 organ became extremely popular in jazz music. Scott recorded several albums. Her career expands over 40 years as a musician and later as an educator. “In the 90’s she began teaching jazz history and piano at Cheyney University in Cheyney, Pa” (The New York Times, 2002, para 8).
Several women were left without a place in the band when the men came home. “Once WWII ended though, many women instrumentalists were let go as GI jazz musicians returned to reclaim their jobs” (Howze, n.d., para 9). The ones that stayed had to struggle with harassment from their male band members. A few of the all female bands stayed active through smaller groups. “Some of those famous women small combo leaders were Barbara Carroll, Hazel Scott, Nellie Lutcher, Hadda Brooks, and Marian McPartland” (Howze, n.d., para 11). Others took the freelance musician road. Some popular women in the world of freelance were Sarah Vaughn and Clora Bryant.
Television did create opportunities for some in music. Ina Ray Hutton and the Melodears were one of the first female bands to be recorded. They toured for many years. Ina conducted not only her all female bands, but she also led a male band during her career. “The Ina Ray Hutton Show” appeared on television during the 1950s, in which she structured an all female band. This show earned great acclaim earning five Emmy Awards.