"That Ain't Right"—Fats Waller & Ada Brown

When 20th Century Fox released its musical movie "Stormy Weather" in 1943, the posters carried the name of Lena Horne and several other musicians and dancers.

One of the names not mentioned on that poster was that of Ada Brown, who sings "That Ain't Right" in the film.

Ada Brown (1890-1950) was a blues singer from Kansas City.

Even though her 1926 recording success "Evil Mama Blues," with the Benny Moten Orchestra, can be considered as the earliest recorded Kansas City Jazz, she did not make many records after that.

However, Ada and her vocal abilities did shine on numerous stages, from Harlem's Apollo Theatre to the London Paladium. British papers at that time called her "Harlem's Queen of Rhythm."

In 1936 Ada Brown was a co-founder of the Negro Actors Guild of America, established with prominent jazz composers to better the position of black actors in the United States. As an actress/singer she appeared in several movies, including "Stormy Weather."

The song she sings here was written by Nat 'King' Cole. It was Cole's 1942 debut on record and became his first succesful hit.

When Ada Brown sang it a year later, she was accompanied by a group led by Fats Waller, who died at the early age of 39 in December of the same year.