"It’s a thimbleful of a voice, and I have to use it close to the microphone. But it is a kind of over-smoked voice, and it automatically sounds intimate." Julie London
It is the centenary today of the birth of the Queen of the sultry laid-back style we call "Sunday Music". A pin-up girl during WW2, the young Gayle Peck was inevitably destined to become a star. Born into a vaudeville performing family, Miss Peck was working as a lift attendant when she was "discovered" by Hollywood agent Sue Carol.
However, it took a few more years before the renamed Julie London emerged into the musical spotlight with the multi-million-selling Cry Me A River - an eternal standard of the late-night music genre.
Her movie career never really made the same kind of impact and, as with so many of her contemporaries, Miss London turned to TV - with numerous special guest appearances on shows hosted by Bob Hope, Pat Boone, Dina Shore, Jack Benny and the like, as well as her own TV specials. She was one of the stars of US paramedic drama series Emergency! for many years before she retired from regular performing.
But what a legacy she left..!
Julie London (26th September 1926 – 18th October 2000)
PS:
On this most gloriously sunny late summery day, we're off en masse to
go and sit in the function room of
The Perseverance
in Holborn/Bloomsbury for another of our lengthy
drinking sessions film clubs.
Shame it's not in a beer garden, really...
My version of "Cry Me A River" simply cannot compete. You do not want to bear witness.
ReplyDeleteWas that you I heard MJ??? Here I thought a in heat cat was outside the window...
DeleteI'm sure Mistress MJ has the voice of an angel...
Delete...or some kind of supernatural being, anyway. Jx
I still have my father's vinyl library of Julie London albums. She is and has been a daily fixture at the Casa du Borghese. Such a soothing voice.
ReplyDeleteJulie London was unique amongst vocalists. There was no-one else quite like her. Jx
DeleteShe was one of the stars Dad and I shared; though we bought the records from the shop, not Record Club.
ReplyDeleteAs it should be. "Record clubs", Readers Digest, Ronco, K-Tel - all of them specialised in "cheapened" lo-fi compilations and, often, trimmed tracks. None of them worthy of the likes of Miss London. Jx
DeleteI didn't think I'd heard of Julie London, but as soon as I heard her voice, I knew I must have - very distinctive.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I hope you had a fab evening!
She is forever associated with Cry Me A River, so if you've heard that song, you have heard her... Jx
DeleteMy gosh what she packed into that thimble.
ReplyDeleteI have always loved her voice ever since I was a nipper.
fab selection of videos to she her voice off. Perfect for a Sunday morning.
I've always loved her voice, too - eternal... Jx
DeleteHers is my favourite version of Cry Me A River. Maybe I could accompany Mistress MJ with my saxophone? That could be an interesting version.
ReplyDeleteSx
{{{shudders}}} Jx
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