On Jul 17, 1:52 pm, "Dean F." <NoS...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> Singer Jo Stafford passed away yesterday at age 90. She was a very
> popular singer during the 1940`s and `50s. Linked to the big bands of
> WWII, her near perfect pitch and good looks were a hit with GIs and
> civilians alike. She was married to bandleader Paul Weston.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H1Imb6jm0U
Rest In Peace, Jo. You never seemed like anything less than a real
lady all the time while combining that with your fun-loving,
adventurous nature. It's one thing for some people to merely
female, another thing to be feminine, and yet a finer degree by a lot,
and much more rare, for some of those of the opposite gender to be a
lady in addition. Always an image of class, a strange, unknown or
doubted quality in many quarters nowadays.
I was looking for confirmation and a write-up on her life (obit.) in
common American web-sites like the NY Times or CNN, but at this moment
(hour) no luck, although it is being
announced by the London Telegraph:
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/2306332/Jo-Stafford.html
This might be a good time to recall or recapitulate, let's say, my
favorite Stafford recordings, such as these, in no particular order,
but these probably constitute my top 10 by her on most days:
Serenade Of The Bells
Yes Indeed! (with Tommy Dorsey Band)
I Love You
It Could Happen To You
Stardust
The Trolley Song
Some Enchanted Evening
Jambalaya
Candy (with Johnny Mercer)
Make Love To Me
Honorable Mention:
Whatcha Know, Jo? (with Tommy Dorsey outfit)
Stafford, as a member of the vocal group, the Pied Pipers, made a
major contribution to many of the young Frank Sinatra's records with
Tommy Dorsey organization, including the one Sinatra, in a live
appearance in 1955 stated was the one "that got it started for all of
us" - "I'll Never Smile Again" from 1940, which was THE SONG
associated with Sinatra for many years until the advent of new giant
hits like "All The Way". INSA was #1 for perhaps 12 weeks, if I
read or did my research correctly. For the unitiated or unwashed,
Stafford and the Pied Pipers also made a major contribution to the
Sinatra/Dorsey collaboration on "Oh! Look At Me Now!", also from the
early 40's, an essential recording for the these artists mentioned
here, as well.
Thanks for the memories, Jo Stafford
-Larry
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