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Joni James on the cover of her 2002 collection Platinum & Gold: The MGM Years

Joni James (born Giovanna Carmella Babbo, on September 22, 1930) is an American singer of traditional pop music.

She was born in Chicago, Illinois of Italian extraction in 1930. As an adolescent, she studied drama and ballet, and on graduating from high school, went with a local dance group on a tour of Canada. She then took a job as a chorus girl in the Edgewater Beach Hotel in her native Chicago. After doing a fill-in in Indiana, she decided to pursue a singing career. Some executives at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) spotted her in a television commercial, and she was signed by MGM in 1952. Her first hit, "Why Don't You Believe Me?" sold over a million copies. She had a number of hits following that one, including "Your Cheatin' Heart" (a cover of Hank Williams' hit) and "Have You Heard."

She was reportedly the first American to record at London's Abbey Road Studios, and recorded five albums there.

In 1964 she retired from music, in part also because her husband, Anthony Acquaviva (a music director) was in bad health and needed her attention. For many years she was out of the public eye, but began touring again in the mid-1990s following Acquaviva's death.

On October 5 1997 she married retired Air Force General Bernard Adolph Schriever, 20 years her senior, and an extremely important figure in post-war U.S. ballistic missile development. They honeymooned in France and the Greek Isles. Gen. Schriever died on June 20 2005.

For her contribution to the recording industry, Joni James has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Hit songs

External references

[http://jonijames.com/ Joni's World - her official site
[1] - the Iceberg biography site

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 [[Image:Joni James-Platinum & Gold.jpg|frame|right|Joni James on the cover of her [[2002]] collection ''Platinum & Gold: The MGM Years'']]
 '''Joni James''' (born '''Giovanna Carmella Babbo''', on [[September 22]], [[1930]]) is an [[United States|American]] singer of [[traditional pop music]].
-She was born in [[Chicago, Illinois]] of Italian extraction in [[1930]]. As an adolescent, she studied [[drama]] and [[ballet]], and on graduating from high school, went with a local [[dance]] group on a tour of [[Canada]]. She then took a job as a chorus girl in the Edgewater Beach Hotel in her native Chicago. After doing a fill-in in Indiana, she decided to pursue a [[singing]] career. Some executives at [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] (MGM) spotted her in a [[television]] commercial, and she was signed by MGM in [[1952]]. Her first hit, "Why Don't You Believe Me?" sold over a million copies. She had a number of hits following that one, including "Your Cheatin' Heart" (a cover of [[Hank Williams]]' hit) and "Have You Heard."
+She was born in [[Chicago, Illinois]] of Italian extraction in [[1930]]. As an adolescent, she studied [[drama]] and [[ballet]], and on graduating from high school, went with a local [[dance]] group on a tour of [[Canada]]. She then took a job as a chorus girl in the Edgewater Beach Hotel in her native Chicago. After doing a fill-in in Indiana, she decided to pursue a [[singing]] career. Some executives at [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] (MGM) spotted her in a [[television]] commercial, and she was signed by MGM in 1952. Her first hit, "Why Don't You Believe Me?" sold over a million copies. She had a number of hits following that one, including "Your Cheatin' Heart" (a cover of [[Hank Williams]]' hit) and "Have You Heard."
 She was reportedly the first American to record at London's [[Abbey Road Studios]], and recorded five albums there.
-In [[1964]] she retired from music, in part also because her husband, Anthony Acquaviva (a music director) was in bad health and needed her attention. For many years she was out of the public eye, but began touring again in the mid-[[1990s]] following Acquaviva's death.
+In 1964 she retired from music, in part also because her husband, Anthony Acquaviva (a music director) was in bad health and needed her attention. For many years she was out of the public eye, but began touring again in the mid-[[1990s]] following Acquaviva's death.
 On [[October 5]] [[1997]] she married retired Air Force General [[Bernard Adolph Schriever]], 20 years her senior, and an extremely important figure in post-war U.S. ballistic missile development.  They honeymooned in [[France]] and the [[Greek Isles]]. Gen. Schriever died on [[June 20]] [[2005]].
@@ Line 29: / Line 30: @@
 ==External references ==
-*[http://jonijames.com/ Joni's World], her official site
+*[http://jonijames.com/ Joni's World - her official site
-*Biography on [http://www.theiceberg.com/artist/1215/joni_james.html the Iceberg] site
+*[http://www.theiceberg.com/artist/1215/joni_james.html] - the Iceberg biography site
 [[Category:1930 births|James, Joni]]
 [[Category:Living people|James, Joni]]
 [[Category:American female singers|James, Joni]]
-[[Category:Traditional pop music singers|James, Joni]]
 [[Category:Hollywood Walk of Fame|James, Joni]]
+[[Category:Italian-Americans|James, Joni]]
 [[Category:People from Illinois|James, Joni]]
+[[Category:Roman Catholic musicians|James, Joni]]
+[[Category:Traditional pop music singers|James, Joni]]