In the first half of the 1940s, Duke traveled and recorded as a featured singer with big bands, notably with Vaughn Monroe.
After her career with big bands – after 1945 – and into the late 1960s, she performed on-and-off as a nightclub pianist-singer in the metropolitan areas of Boston, New York City, and Newport, Rhode Island.
Though, according to a 1995 interview (the year she died) in the Atlanta Constitution, at an early age, she preferred the gospel music of a nearby black church.
[5] In 1933, under the product brand pseudonym of "Miss Seiberling," Duke performed on broadcast radio WGST, Wednesdays, 7:15 pm.
Beginning December 30, 1934, Duke sang on WOR two or three times a week – typically Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 5:15 pm.
From Mid to late-1930s, Duke, as vocalist, was the star attraction for Manny Gates (né Emanuel Getzholtz; 1894–1957) Orchestra in Miami[8][f] She joined Jolly Coburn's (né Frank Harry Coburn; 1900–1964)[9][g] Orchestra, a society band, around July 1937[h] after playing a piano stint at a Boston nightclub.
[14] She had been working as a pianist-singer at a Boston nightclub; but because an infected finger interrupted her playing, she auditioned for Vaughn Monroe and was promptly signed.
She left the Monroe Orchestra around June 1943 to join the WAAC,[16] but instead, continued performing, which included a two-month stint with Tommy Dorsey.
[19] Yet, on April 14, 1945, Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra featured Duke, with Bobby Ricky, in Dayton, Ohio, at the Lakeside Park Ballroom.
Recorded June 24, 1937, New York City Jack Lawrence (w&m) Peter Tinturin (1910–2007) (w&m) (audio on YouTube) Jolly Coburn and His Orchestra Marilyn Duke (vocalist) Recorded June 24, 1937, New York City Jack Lawrence (w&m) Peter Tinturin (1910–2007) (w&m) Marilyn Duke (vocalist) Recorded January 13, 1941 William Benton Overstreet (1888–1935) (music) Billy Higgins (né William Weldon Higgins; 1888–1937) (words) (audio on YouTube) Marylin Duke (vocalist) Bobby Nichols (né Robert J. Nichols; 1924–1975) (trumpet solo) Side A (matrix 060317=1): Bluebird B-11025-A Bluebird Records is a sub-label of RCA Victor.