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Suggest pagesKeely Smith
| Keely Smith | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Dorothy Jacqueline Keely |
| Born | March 9, 1932 |
| Origin | Norfolk, Virginia, United States |
| Genres | Jazz Pop music |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Associated acts | Louis Prima Frank Sinatra |
Keely Smith (born Dorothy Jacqueline Keely, March 9, 1932)[1][2] is an American jazz and popular music singer who enjoyed popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. She collaborated with, among others, Louis Prima and Frank Sinatra.
Contents |
[edit] Career
Smith showed a natural aptitude for singing at a young age. At 14, she started singing with a naval air station band led by Saxie Dowell. At 15, she got her first paying job with the Earl Bennett band.
Smith made her professional debut with Louis Prima in 1949 (the couple were married in 1953); Smith played the "straight guy" in the duo to Prima's wild antics and they recorded many duets. These include Johnny Mercer's and Harold Arlen's "That Ol' Black Magic", which was a Top 20 hit in the US in 1958. In 1959, Smith and Prima were awarded the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Vocal Group or Chorus for "That Ol' Black Magic". Her "dead-pan" act was a hit with fans. The duo followed up with the minor successes "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen", a revival of the 1937 Andrews Sisters hit. Smith and Prima's act was a mainstay of the Las Vegas lounge scene for much of the 1950s.
Smith appeared with Prima in the 1959 film, Hey Boy! Hey Girl!, singing "Fever", and also appeared in and sang on the soundtrack of the previous year's Thunder Road. Her song in Thunder Road was "Whippoorwill". Her first big solo hit was "I Wish You Love". In 1961, Smith divorced Prima. She then signed with Reprise Records, where her musical director was Nelson Riddle. In 1965, she had Top 20 hits in the United Kingdom with an album of Beatles compositions, and a single, "You're Breaking My Heart".[3] Her Reprise recordings have never been made available on CD.
In 1985, she made a comeback with I'm In Love Again (Fantasy Records)[citation needed]. Her albums, Swing, Swing, Swing (2002), Keely Sings Sinatra (2001) for which she was Grammy nominated, and Keely Swings Count Basie Style with Strings (2002) garnered critical and fan acclaim.
[edit] Later career
Smith released Vegas '58 – Today a compilation album of her best known songs, all recorded live. Smith has re-recorded a number of songs from her Prima years, including a modified version of "Oh Marie," which has been renamed "Oh Louis" in tribute. By her own admission, she has never had a singing lesson and cannot read music.
She works a light touring schedule. She was booked at the Cafe Carlyle in New York City in 2007. On February 10, 2008, Smith performed "That Old Black Magic" with Kid Rock at the 50th Grammy Awards.
[edit] Personal life
Smith married Louis Prima in 1953 and divorced him in 1961. They had three children. In 1965, she married Jimmy Bowen. The couple divorced in 1969.[4]
Smith married musician Bobby Milano in 1975 in Palm Springs. Frank Sinatra gave the bride away.[5]
[edit] Musical
In 2008, Vanessa Claire Smith and Jake Broder wrote and starred in the new musical, Louis & Keely Live at the Sahara, which premiered at Los Angeles' Sacred Fools Theater Company and went on to be nominated for four Ovation Awards, including the Franklin R. Levy Award for Musical in an Intimate Theatre, which it won. Smith herself attended a performance, as recounted at the show's official website.
[edit] Discography
Soundtracks
- Thunder Road (1958)
- Hey Boy! Hey Girl! (1959) Soundtrack album T-1160 (Capitol) US
- Raging Bull (1980)
- DTV: Golden Oldies (1984)
- Mad Dog and Glory (1993)
- Cobb (1994)
- Destiny Turns on the Radio (1995)
- Casino (1995)
- Big Night (1996) Soundtrack CD TVT 8040-2 (TVT Soundtrax) US
- Blast From the Past (1999)
- The Out-of-Towners (1999)
- Amy's Orgasm (2001)
- Don't Say a Word (2001)
- Deuces Wild (2002)
- Take the Lead (2006)
- The Sopranos-Walk Like a Man (2007)
- We Own the Night (2007) CD (Lakeshore)
- Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (2007)
- Igor (2008)
- Johnny Mercer: The Dream's On Me (2009)
- How to Make it in America-Crisp (2010)
Keely Smith
- I Wish You Love (1957) LP Album T-914 (Capitol) US
- Politely! (1958) LP Album T-1073 (Capitol) US
- Swingin’ Pretty (1959) LP Album T1145 (Capitol) UK
- Little Girl Blue, Little Girl New (1961) R-6086 (Reprise)
- That Old Black Magic (1965) R 6165 (Reprise) UK reissue Valiant VS113
- Sings the John Lennon-Paul McCartney Songbook (1965) EP R 30042 (Reprise) UK
- You’re Breaking My Heart/Crazy (1965) single R 20346 (Reprise) UK
- Your Love/The Loving Set (1971) single promo 74-0543 (RCA) US
- I Wish You Love (1982) LP Album APCL 3325 (Applause) US
- The Best of the Capitol Years (1990) CD (EMI)
- What Kind of Fool Am I (1994) CD (Jasmine)
- 1963 Live Guard Sessions (1994) CD (Jazz Band)
- I'm In Love Again (1995) Vinyl F-9639 (Fantasy)
- Spotlight on Keely Smith (1995) CD (Capitol)
- Be My Love (1999) CD (Jasmine)
- Because You're Mine (1999) CD (Jasmine)
- Swing, Swing, Swing (2000) CD (Concord)
- Keely Sings Sinatra (2000) CD (Concord)
- Politely!/ Swinging Pretty (2000) CD (Concord)
- Keely Swings Basie Style with Strings (2002) CD (Concord)
- Absolutely the Best (2002) CD (Varese Sarabande)
- I Wish You Love (2003) CD (Collector's Choice)
- Swing You Lovers (2004) CD (Jasmine)
- Cherokeely Swings (2004) CD (Jasmine)
- Dearly Beloved (2004) CD (Jasmine)
- Vegas '58 -- Today Recorded Live at Feinsteins at the Regency (2005) CD (Concord)
- Essential Capitol Collection (2007) CD (Capitol)
- The Very Best of Keely Smith (2008) CD (EMI)
- A Keely Christmas (2009) CD (Jasmine)
- Little Girl Blue/Little Girl New (unknown date) LP Album R-6086 (Reprise) US
- Somethin’ Wonderful Happened/Have You Ever Been Lonely (unknown date) single R 0374 (Reprise) US
Keely Smith with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra
- It’s Magic (1959) EP EAP 1-20629 (Capitol) UK
- The Surfboard (2006) CD DR 635 (Drive) Italy
Louis Prima and Keely Smith
- Louis Prima -The Wildest! (1957) LP Album T 755 (Capitol) US
- Louis Prima – The Wildest Show at Tahoe (1958) LP Album T 908 (Capitol) US
- Louis and Keely (1959) LP Album DLP 25210 (Dot) US
- When My Baby Smiles at Me/Paradise (1960) single 45-16060 (Dot) US
- Begin the Beguine/Surprise Package (1961) single 45-16192 (Dot) US
- Breaking It Up! (1998) CD CK 65259 (Columbia) US
- Box of Oldies (unknown date) LP Album S-74 (Spin-O-Rama) US
- Greatest Hits (unknown date) CD 66096 CeDe International) Europe
- Louis Prima – Capitol Collectors Series (1991) CD P 7 94072 2 (Capitol) UK, Europe, US
- The Best of Louis Prima-Just a Gigolo (1996) CD 07243 8 52866 2 (EMI) France
- Louis Prima-The Original (1996) CD TO 864682 (Disky) Europe
- Louis Prima-Beepin’ and Boppin’ (1999) CD HIPD-40160 (Hip-O) US
- Louis Prima (2001) CD FG004 (Forever Gold) UK
Louis Prima and Keely Smith with Sam Butera and the Witnesses
- Las Vegas Prima Style (1958) LP Album T1010 (Capitol) US
- That Old Black Magic/And You Are My Love (1958) single 45-CL 14948 (Capitol) UK
- Bueno Sera-The Best, The Wildest (1999) CD RMB 75076 (Remember) Portugal
- Ultra Lounge-Wild, Cool and Swingin’ (1999) 2xCD 7243 5 20437 2 9 (Capitol) US
Appears on (various artist compilations)
- From the Sound Capitol of the World (1961) Promo LP PRO 1759/1760 (Capitol) US
- Sophisticated Ladies (1987) 2xCD VSOP LP 102 (Connoiseur Collection) UK
- EMI Hot Shots Nr 7 (1991) CD CDP 519 105 (EMI Electrola) Germany
- Memories Are Made of This (1992) CD CDP 7 98670 2 (Capitol) US
- Sweet and Lovely-Capitol’s Great Ladies of Song Vol 1 (1992) CD CDP 7 97802 2 (Capitol) US
- Sentimental Journey-Capitol’s Great Ladies of Song Vol 2 (1992) CD CDP 7 98014 2 (Capitol) US
- Cocktail Mix Vol 3 (1996) CD R2 72239 (Rhino) US
- Mega Jukebox Hits (1996) CD HR 871792 (Disky) UK
- Ultra Lounge Part 1-The Leopard Skin Sampler (1996) CD P 7243 8 38376 2 5 (Capitol) US
- Ultra Lounge Vol 5-Wild, Cool and Swingin’ (1996) CD (Capitol) US
- Ultra Lounge Vol 15-Wild, Cool and Swingin’ Too! (1997) CD 7243 8 53411 2 0 (Capitol) US
- Chart Breaker: Greatest Hits of the 50’s and 60’s CD 3 (1997) CD BX 884532 (Disky) Netherlands
- Jazz Club (1997) CD BX 884532 (Weton-Wesgram) Netherlands
- Greatest Voices of the World (1997) 3xCD SP311 (Weton-Wesgram) Netherlands
- Loud, Fast and Out of Control: The Wild Sounds of 50’s Rock (1999) 4xCD Box Set R2 75704 (Rhino) US
- Girl Watching (2000) 3xCD BX 996812, BX 996822, BX 996832 (Disky, Disky, Disky) Netherlands
- The Greatest Voices and Unforgettable Evergreens (2000) 10xCD Box set DB 998242 (Disky) Europe
- Lounge It – What’s The Trouble (2001) CD 724357635820 (EMI) Netherlands
- Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings-Double Bill (2001) 2xCD 22 200862 (Roadrunner Arcade) Europe
- Fly Right (2005) CD 09463-46776-2-2 (EMI Music Special Markets) US
- Slynne Duety (2006) CD 6024 983 707 0 4 (Universal Music Polska) Poland
- Las Vegas Legends (2007) CD 40430 024286 2 1 (EMI) Germany
- Magic Moments-The Definitive Burt Bacharach Collection (2008) 3xCD 2564 69219 1 (Rhino) UK, Europe
- The Greatest Hits of the 50’s and 60’s (unknown date) 2xLP Album SLB-6718, SLB-6718 (Capitol) US
[edit] Film and television appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | The Dinah Shore Chevy Show | Self | Episode 2.5 |
| 1958 | Universal Special: The Wildest | Self | Musical short |
| 1958 | Thunder Road | Francie Wymore | |
| 1958 | Senior Prom | Self | |
| 1958 | The Dinah Shore Chevy Show | Self | Episode 2.26 |
| 1959 | The Dinah Shore Chevy Show | Self | Episode 3.27 |
| 1959 | Sunday Showcase | Self | 1st Annual Grammy Awards |
| 1959 | Hey Boy! Hey Girl! | Dorothy Spencer | |
| 1959- 1960 |
The Ed Sullivan Show | Self | Episodes: 12.34, 12.35, 13.36 and 13.37 |
| 1961 | Loretta Young Show | Cathy Sands | Episode: "Not in Our Stars" |
| 1962 | Stump the Stars | Self | Episode: "Keely Smith v Barry Sullivan" |
| 1962 | The Ed Sullivan Show | Self | Episode 15.18 |
| 1962 | The Garry Moore Show | Self | Episode 5.1 |
| 1962 | What's My Line? | Mystery Guest | March 18, 1962 |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Self | Nov 28, 1962 |
| 1963 | The Garry Moore Show | Self | Episodes 5.19 and 5.23 |
| 1963 | Red Skelton Hour | Daisy June | "A Midsummer Nut's Dream" |
| 1963 | The Andy Williams Show | Self | Jan 10, 1963 |
| 1964 | The Ed Sullivan Show | Self | Episode 17.4 |
| 1966 | Mister Roberts | Kueen Konah | Episode: "Son of Eight in Every Port" |
| 1966 | The Dean Martin Comedy Hour | Self | Mar 17, 1966 |
| 1966 | Mickie Finn's | Self | Episode 1.6 |
| 1967 | The Dean Martin Comedy Hour | Self | Mar 2, 1967 |
| 1967 | You Don't Say! | Self | May 1, 1967 |
| 1968 | The Dean Martin Comedy Hour | Self | Feb 22, 1968 |
| 1974 | The Merv Griffin Show | Self | May 30, 1974 |
| 1977 | The Merv Griffin Show | Self | Nov 18, 1977 |
| 1983 | Juke Box Saturday Night | Self | |
| 1984 | DTV: Golden Oldies | Self | Archive footage |
| 1996 | The Real Las Vegas | Self | Archive footage |
| 1999 | The Rat Pack | Self | TV Documentary |
| 1999 | Louis Prima: The Wildest! | Self | TV Documentary |
| 2000 | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Self | Mar 25, 2000 |
| 2007 | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Self | June 26, 2007 |
| 2007 | Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project | Self | TV Documentary |
| 2008 | 50th Annual Grammy Awards | Self | |
| 2009 | Johnny Mercer: The Dream's On Me | Self | Archive Footage-Documentary |
[edit] References
- ^ "Keely Smith". IMDB.com. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0808906/bio. Retrieved March 4 , 2011.
- ^ "Keely Smith". AllMusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/keely-smith-p9696. Retrieved March 4 , 2011.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 509. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Keely Smith Granted Default Divorce". The Palm Beach Post. 30 July 1969.
- ^ "Keely Smith". Herald Journal. 25 January 1975.
