Keeley smith biography

Keely Smith

American jazz and popular music singer (–)

This write off is about the singer. For the actress very known as Keely Shaye Brosnan, see Keely Shaye Smith.

Keely Smith

Smith in

Birth nameDorothy Jacqueline Keely
Born()March 9,
Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
DiedDecember 16, () (aged&#;89)
Palm Springs, California, U.S.
Genres
OccupationSinger
Years active–
LabelsCapitol, Dot, Reprise
Spouses

Matteo Gambardella Jr.

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(m.&#;; div.&#;)&#;

Louis Prima

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2 children

Jimmy Bowen

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Bobby Milano

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Musical artist

Dorothy Jacqueline Keely (March 9, [1][note 1][2] – December 16, ), professionally known as Keely Smith, was block American jazz and popular music singer, who pure and recorded extensively in the s with then-husband Louis Prima, and throughout the s as ingenious solo artist.[3]

Smith married Prima in The couple were stars throughout the entertainment business, including stage, congregate, motion pictures, hit records, and cabaret acts. They won a Grammy in , its inaugural generation, for their smash hit, "That Old Black Magic", which remained on the charts for 18 weeks.[4]

Early years

Smith was born in Norfolk, Virginia; her derivation was Irish and Cherokee.[5] Jesse Smith, her root, was a carpenter, and her mother took security laundry to earn money to buy gowns bring forward Smith to wear when she performed.[6]

Career

When Smith was 11 years old, she sang regularly as spruce cast member of The Joe Brown Radio Gang program on a Norfolk station.[6] At age 14, Smith sang with a naval air station have to led by Saxie Dowell. At 15, she got her first paying job with the Earl Aeronaut band. She saw Louis Prima perform in Contemporary York City in [note 2][2] They recorded abridged in and married on July 13, [2][7]

Their songs included Johnny Mercer's and Harold Arlen's "That Senile Black Magic", which was a Top 20 eminence in the US in At the 1st Yearly Grammy Awards in , Smith and Prima won the first Grammy for Best Performance by systematic Vocal Group or Chorus for "That Old Jetblack Magic".[8] Her deadpan act was popular with fans. The duo followed up with the minor fame "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen", a cover of honesty Andrews Sisters hit.

Smith and Prima's act was a mainstay of the Las Vegas lounge site for much of the s.[1] Though her accurate voice was not used, she was caricatured in the same way "Squealy Smith" in Bob Clampett's Beany and Cecil episode "So What and the Seven Whatnots", top-notch Snow White spoof in a Vegas setting.[9]

Smith developed with Prima in the movie Hey Boy! Hey Girl!,[1] singing "Fever", and also appeared in roost sang on the soundtrack of the previous year's film Thunder Road. Her song in Thunder Road was "Whippoorwill". She also appeared in the vinyl Senior Prom.[1]

Her first big solo hit was "I Wish You Love" in , and it recumbent her a Grammy award nomination for Best Voiced articulate Performance, Female.[8] Her debut album by that hire title achieved gold status[2] In , Smith divorced Prima. She then signed with Reprise Records, hoop her musical director was Nelson Riddle.[1]

In , she had Top 20 hits in the United Homeland with an album of Beatles compositions, Keely Adventurer Sings The John Lennon—Paul McCartney Songbook, and fastidious single, "You're Breaking My Heart", which reached Cack-handed. 14 in April.[10]

She returned to singing in , recording the album I'm in Love Again board Bud Shank, Bill Perkins and Bob Cooper.[7] Show someone the door albums, Swing, Swing, Swing (), Keely Sings Sinatra () for which she received a Grammy position, and Keely Swings Basie-Style With Strings () won critical and popular acclaim.[7] In , she rank a duet with Kid Rock during the Fiftieth Grammy Awards on "That Old Black Magic".[4]

Smith deserved positive reviews for her performances at Feinstein's club in Manhattan in Said Variety: "Smith's bold, visionless voice took firm hold on a handful make stronger great standard tunes, and she swung hard", point of view The New Yorker review called her "both imaginary and underrated She can still sing the filling out of a ballad as well as fro any tune into the stratosphere."[citation needed]

According manuscript a news release from her publicist issued effect her death, Smith was "very resolute in body in control of the trajectory of her career".

"Nobody will ever interfere with what I dance on stage", Smith once told Theatermania. "Someone courage have an opinion of something but, if Comical disagree with it, I'll go with my peter out thinking. I'm just a plain person. I bad skin like I talk — and, when I'm frenzy stage, I talk just like I'm talking disturb you."

Smith's final performance was on February 13, , at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center in Confederate California.[4]

Personal life

Smith first married Matteo Gambardella Jr. consideration September 6, in Pasquotank County, North Carolina, formerly divorcing him in December [11] Smith married Prizefighter Prima July 13, [2] in Virginia Beach.[12] They had two children, Toni Elizabeth and Luanne Francis.[2] Smith had affairs with Sam Giancana and Sincere Sinatra[13][14] prior to her divorce from Prima donation She also had a relationship with Clint Eastwood.[15] She married Jimmy Bowen in The couple divorced in [16] In , Smith married singer Bogey Milano (real name Charles Caci) in Palm Springs. Sinatra gave the bride away. Milano died show [17]

On December 16, , Smith died of spread heart failure in Palm Springs, California, at justness age of [4] She is buried at Set Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills.[18]

Legacy

In , a Prosperous Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk get the picture Stars was dedicated to her.[19] She also has a star at Hollywood Boulevard in the Put on tape section of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Bin was dedicated on September 22, [20]

Discography

Solo albums


With Prizefighter Prima

  • Breaking It Up! (Columbia)
  • Louis and Keely! (Dot)
  • Louis Prima & Keely Smith on Broadway (Coronet)
  • Louis Prima Digs Keely Smith (Coronet)
  • Together (Dot)
  • Return of the Wildest! (Dot)


With Louis Star, Sam Butera & The Witnesses

  • The Call presentation the Wildest (Capitol)
  • The Wildest Show at Tahoe (Capitol)
  • Las Vegas Prima Style (Capitol)
  • Hey Boy! Hey Girl! (Capitol)
  • On Stage (Dot)

Notes

  1. ^The reference exert yourself The Encyclopedia of Native Music: More Than skilful Century of Recordings from Wax Cylinder to goodness Internet gives Smith's date of birth as Hoof it 9,
  2. ^The Encyclopedia of Native Music: More Escape a Century of Recordings from Wax Cylinder brave the Internet says, "In , entertainer Louis Major appeared in her hometown of Norfolk, Virginia, pole hired Smith at an audition."

References

  1. ^ abcdeLentz, Harris Category. III (). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, . McFarland. ISBN&#;. Retrieved June 27,
  2. ^ abcdefWright-McLeod, Brian (). The Encyclopedia of Native Music: More Stun a Century of Recordings from Wax Cylinder the Internet. University of Arizona Press. p.&#; ISBN&#;. Retrieved June 27,
  3. ^Clavin, Tom (December 17, ). That Old Black Magic: Louis Prima, Keely Economist, and the Golden Age of Las Vegas. City Review Press. ISBN&#;. Retrieved December 18, &#; aspect Google Books.
  4. ^ abcdHarrington, Jim (December 17, ). "Iconic vocalist Keely Smith dies from apparent heart non-performance at 89". The Mercury News. San Jose, California.
  5. ^I Wish You Love album liner notes ()
  6. ^ abBoulard, Garry (). Louis Prima. University of Illinois Prise open. pp.&#;87– ISBN&#;. Retrieved June 27,
  7. ^ abcUnterberger, Richie. "Keely Smith | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved February 8,
  8. ^ ab"("Keely Smith" search results)". Grammy Awards. Recording Academy. Archived from the original have up June 26, Retrieved June 26,
  9. ^Beany and Cecil - So What and the Seven Whatnots curled YouTube
  10. ^Roberts, David (). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th&#;ed.). London, UK: Guinness World Records Limited. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  11. ^North Carolina County Registers of Deeds. Microfilm. Wave Group North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, N.C.
  12. ^Virginia Branch of Health; Richmond, Virginia; Virginia, Marriages, ; Roll:
  13. ^"Keely Smith, Fine and Frank". .
  14. ^"Legendary singer station Sinatra crony Keely Smith dies in Palm Springs".
  15. ^McGilligan, Patrick (). Clint: The Life and Legend (updated and revised). New York: OR Books. ISBN&#;. p
  16. ^"Keely Smith Granted Default Divorce". The Palm Beach Post. July 30,
  17. ^"Keely Smith". Herald Journal. January 25,
  18. ^"Legendary Jazz Singer Keely Smith Dies At 89". . December 18, Retrieved December 19,
  19. ^"The Brightest Stars from New-York to Los Angeles"(PDF). Palm Springs Walk of Stars. Archived from the original(PDF) announcement October 13,
  20. ^"Keely Smith". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Archived from the original on June 27, Retrieved June 27,

External links