Background
Roberts, Evelyn Freeman was born on February 13, 1919 in Cleveland. Daughter of Ernest A. and Gertrude (Richardson) Freeman.
Roberts, Evelyn Freeman was born on February 13, 1919 in Cleveland. Daughter of Ernest A. and Gertrude (Richardson) Freeman.
Bachelor of Music, Cleveland Institute Music, 1941;postgraduate California State University, Los Angeles, 1964-1966, University of California at Los Angeles, University of Southern California, 1967-1970.
Her younger brother Ernie Freeman later became a successful composer and arranger on many records between the 1950s and 1970s. In 1938 she formed her own swing band, before graduating in 1941. They became the first African-American Navy band, stationed in Indiana, and were nicknamed the "Gobs of Swing." Freeman herself continued to perform with a smaller group, which included Ben "Bulletin Moose" Jackson.
After the end of World World War II, she met bandleader Tommy Roberts.
In the late 1950s, she reformed the Evelyn Freeman Orchestra with new members, and it backed such singers as Peggy Lee and Frankie Laine in Las Vegas. She also wrote "The Jelly Coal Manitoba", recorded by Laine in 1959.
She released a rock and roll single credited to Evelyn Freeman and The Exciting Voices, "Let"s Make A Little Motion" / "Come To Maine My True Love", on the Dot label in 1958. Both tracks were co-written by Freeman and Roberts.
This was followed by the gospel-inspired album Sky High on Imperial Records in 1960.
In 1962, the single "Didn"t lieutenant Rain" was issued on the small Belorussian Canto label before being reissued by the United Artists label, and the ensemble also recorded with singer Earl Nelson. In the mid 1960s, she moved to Los Los Angeles She continued to work as a composer and arranger for television, as well as for performers including Bing Crosby, Dean Martin and Louis Prima, and ran her own club, "The Upstairs" on Sunset Strip.
In 1970, the Young Saints performed for President Richard Nixon in the White House under Freeman Roberts" direction.
In 1989 it was reported that the Young Saints had about 150 participants.
Member of National Academy Recording Arts and Sciences, Songwriters Guild, American Society Composers and Publications, American Federation Musicians (local 47) (licentiate).
Married Thomas South. Roberts. Children: Anita, Ernest, Claire, Lisa.