| Revision as of 19:52, 9 July 2015 edit64.183.48.206 (talk) →Life and career← Previous edit | Revision as of 16:25, 17 August 2015 edit undoDerek R Bullamore (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers341,564 edits Added reference(s) and minor clean-upNext edit → | ||
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| Grant was born '''Myrtle Audrey Arinsberg''' in ]. At the age of 12, she moved to ], where she attended ]. In ], she won a teenage singing contest and appeared on ] talent shows. She worked as a car salesperson in the early 1950s.In 1952 she began to record, using first the name "Audrey Brown" and later "Audrey Grant." She was given the name "Gogi" by Dave Kapp, the head of ] at ], who liked to patronize a restaurant called "Gogi's LaRue." | Grant was born '''Myrtle Audrey Arinsberg''' in ]. At the age of 12, she moved to ], where she attended ]. In ], she won a teenage singing contest and appeared on ] talent shows. She worked as a car salesperson in the early 1950s.In 1952 she began to record, using first the name "Audrey Brown" and later "Audrey Grant." She was given the name "Gogi" by Dave Kapp, the head of ] at ], who liked to patronize a restaurant called "Gogi's LaRue." | ||
| In 1955 Grant signed with a small record company, ], and had her first ] ] with "]." ], she had an even bigger hit, reaching '']'' 's No. 1 position, with "]" and holding there for a then-record eight weeks. The song sold over one million copies in the ] alone, |
In 1955 Grant signed with a small record company, ], and had her first ] ] with "]." ], she had an even bigger hit, reaching '']'' 's No. 1 position, with "]" and holding there for a then-record eight weeks. The song sold over one million copies in the ] alone,<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book | ||
| | first= Joseph | |||
| | last= Murrells | |||
| | year= 1978 | |||
| | title= The Book of Golden Discs | |||
| | edition= 2nd | |||
| | publisher= Barrie and Jenkins Ltd | |||
| | location= London | |||
| | page= 82 | |||
| | isbn= 0-214-20512-6}}</ref> and peaked at No. 9 in the ].<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book | |||
| | first= David | | first= David | ||
| | last= Roberts | | last= Roberts | ||
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| | location= London | | location= London | ||
| | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | ||
| | page= 234}}</ref> She was voted the most popular female vocalist by ''Billboard'' magazine. This single returned to the ] in 1961.<ref>{{ |
| page= 234}}</ref> She was voted the most popular female vocalist by ''Billboard'' magazine. This single returned to the ] in 1961.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/302984/gogi+grant/biography|title=Gogi Grant|publisher=Billboard.com|accessdate=2015-08-17|quote= "The same year, Grant was voted Most Popular Female Vocalist by Billboard magazine. But despite all the accolades, Grant was unable to follow up her lone hit despite releasing five albums in a two-year span, between 1957 and 1959. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide"}}</ref> | ||
| In 1957, she supplied the vocals for ]'s portrayal of ] in the biographical ], '']''. The ] occasioned her return to RCA (the soundtrack album climbed to No. 25 in the Billboard ]), where she had a minor hit the following year with "Strange Are the Ways of Love." Moreover, she was signed to star in ''The Big Beat'' in the spring of 1957. The film, which featured musical performances by the ] Quintet, ], and the ], was produced and directed by William Cowan and released in February 1958. | In 1957, she supplied the vocals for ]'s portrayal of ] in the biographical ], '']''. The ] occasioned her return to RCA (the soundtrack album climbed to No. 25 in the Billboard ]), where she had a minor hit the following year with "Strange Are the Ways of Love." Moreover, she was signed to star in ''The Big Beat'' in the spring of 1957. The film, which featured musical performances by the ] Quintet, ], and the ], was produced and directed by William Cowan and released in February 1958. | ||
| In 1958, Grant was one of the three solo singers featured in the first stereo LP of the classic musical '']''. The other solo singers were ], who had appeared in the ], and ].<ref> |
In 1958, Grant was one of the three solo singers featured in the first stereo LP of the classic musical '']''. The other solo singers were ], who had appeared in the ], and ].<ref>http://www.castalbumdb.com/rec.cfm?RNumber=1042</ref> | ||
| Although she made ]s and appeared on ] into the 1960s, her popularity declined and she initially retired from singing in 1967 after a final US chart single, "The Sea" (top 20 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart). An album of hers was released in ] some ]. Grant survived Cancer surgery and is currently in remission. In 2004, aged 80, she made an appearance on the PBS 1950s pop music special ''Magic Moments'' and sang "The Wayward Wind." | Although she made ]s and appeared on ] into the 1960s, her popularity declined and she initially retired from singing in 1967 after a final US chart single, "The Sea" (top 20 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart). An album of hers was released in ] some ]. Grant survived Cancer surgery and is currently in remission. In 2004, aged 80, she made an appearance on the PBS 1950s pop music special ''Magic Moments'' and sang "The Wayward Wind." | ||
Revision as of 16:25, 17 August 2015
Gogi Grant (born September 20, 1924) is an American popular singer. She is best known for her long-running classic No. 1 hit, "The Wayward Wind".
Life and career
Grant was born Myrtle Audrey Arinsberg in Philadelphia. At the age of 12, she moved to Los Angeles, where she attended Venice High School. In California, she won a teenage singing contest and appeared on television talent shows. She worked as a car salesperson in the early 1950s.In 1952 she began to record, using first the name "Audrey Brown" and later "Audrey Grant." She was given the name "Gogi" by Dave Kapp, the head of Artists and Repertory at RCA Records, who liked to patronize a restaurant called "Gogi's LaRue."
In 1955 Grant signed with a small record company, Era Records, and had her first top ten hit with "Suddenly There's a Valley." The next year, she had an even bigger hit, reaching Billboard 's No. 1 position, with "The Wayward Wind" and holding there for a then-record eight weeks. The song sold over one million copies in the United States alone, and peaked at No. 9 in the UK Singles Chart. She was voted the most popular female vocalist by Billboard magazine. This single returned to the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961.
In 1957, she supplied the vocals for Ann Blyth's portrayal of Helen Morgan in the biographical film, The Helen Morgan Story. The soundtrack occasioned her return to RCA (the soundtrack album climbed to No. 25 in the Billboard album chart), where she had a minor hit the following year with "Strange Are the Ways of Love." Moreover, she was signed to star in The Big Beat in the spring of 1957. The film, which featured musical performances by the Cal Tjader Quintet, George Shearing, and the Del Vikings, was produced and directed by William Cowan and released in February 1958.
In 1958, Grant was one of the three solo singers featured in the first stereo LP of the classic musical Show Boat. The other solo singers were Howard Keel, who had appeared in the 1951 film version of the show, and Anne Jeffreys.
Although she made albums and appeared on television into the 1960s, her popularity declined and she initially retired from singing in 1967 after a final US chart single, "The Sea" (top 20 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart). An album of hers was released in UK some 20 years later. Grant survived Cancer surgery and is currently in remission. In 2004, aged 80, she made an appearance on the PBS 1950s pop music special Magic Moments and sang "The Wayward Wind."
Grant is still performing as of 2013 - at the age of 89. She recently headlined with The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies in Palm Springs, California. One of her more notable appearances of more recent years was with the Follies on December 31, 2006.
Hit recordings
- "Suddenly There's a Valley" (1955)
- "The Wayward Wind" (1956)
- "When The Tide Is High" (1956)
- "Who Are We" (1956)
- "You're In Love" (1956)
- "Strange Are the Ways of Love" (1958)
Album discography
- Suddenly There's Gogi Grant (Era US, London UK, 1957)
- The Helen Morgan Story (original soundtrack - RCA Victor, 1958)
- Welcome To My Heart (RCA Victor, 1958)
- Torch Time (RCA Victor, 1958)
- Show Boat & Howard Keel, Anne Jeffreys (RCA Victor, 1958)
- Kiss me Kate & Howard Keel, Anne Jeffreys (RCA Victor 1959)
- Granted it's Gogi (RCA Victor, 1959)
- If You Want To Get To Heaven, Shout (Liberty, 1960)
- City Girl In The Country (CRC-Charter, 1964)
References
- Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 82. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 234. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- "Gogi Grant". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
The same year, Grant was voted Most Popular Female Vocalist by Billboard magazine. But despite all the accolades, Grant was unable to follow up her lone hit despite releasing five albums in a two-year span, between 1957 and 1959. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
- http://www.castalbumdb.com/rec.cfm?RNumber=1042
External links
- Gogi Grant at IMDb
- Gogi Grant bio on The Iceberg site
- Gogi Grant bio on Tom Simon site