Blossom Dearie

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Blossom Dearie
Background information
Birth name	Blossom Dearie
Born	April 28, 1926
Origin	East Durham, New York, United States
Genre(s)	Vocal jazz, Cabaret
Years active	1952–present
Website	Official website

Blossom Dearie (born on April 28, 1926) is an American jazz singer.

Dearie (who performs under her birth name) is known for her distinctive, high-pitched voice.

Contents 1 Early career 2 The 1960s 3 1970s 4 Discography 4.1 First album, as member of vocal group 4.2 Solo albums 4.3 Compilation albums 4.4 With other artists 5 External links

[edit] Early career

Dearie was born in East Durham, New York, and as a child she studied classical piano but switched to jazz as a teenager. After high school Dearie moved to New York City to pursue her music career. Here she began singing in groups such as the Blue Flames (with the Woody Herman Orchestra) and the Blue Reys (with Alvino Rey's band) before launching her own solo career. In 1952, she moved to Paris and formed a vocal group, The Blue Stars. In 1954, the group had a hit in France with a French-language version of "Lullaby of Birdland". While in Paris, she met her future husband, the Belgian flutist and saxophonist Bobby Jaspar. On her first solo album, released two years later, she plays the piano but does not sing.

One of her most famous songs from that period is "The Riviera", written and composed by Cy Coleman and Joseph McCarthy, Jr. in 1956.

[edit] The 1960s

Dearie's first recordings as a singer and pianist were made for Verve Records in the late 1950s and early 1960s, most often in a small trio or quartet setting. In 1962, she recorded a song for a radio commercial for Hires Root Beer. It proved very popular, so the LP Blossom Dearie Sings Rootin' Songs was released as a premium item that could be ordered for one dollar and a proof-of-purchase. In 1964, she recorded her best known album for Capitol Records, May I Come In?, recorded, atypically for her, with an orchestra. During this same period Blossom performed frequently in New York supper clubs and honed her own distinctive style. In 1966, she made her first appearance at Ronnie Scott's club in London and quickly became a popular act.

[edit] 1970s

In 1974, Dearie established her own label, Daffodil Records, to allow her full control in the recording and distribution of her albums.

Throughout her career, Dearie has appeared on television, most notably giving her voice to the children's educational series Schoolhouse Rock! Many of her pieces in this series were written by her good friend, the jazz singer and composer Bob Dorough. Her voice can be heard on the tracks "Mother Necessity", "Figure Eight", and "Unpack Your Adjectives".

Her distinctive voice and songs have been featured on the soundtracks of many films including Kissing Jessica Stein, The Squid and the Whale and The Adventures of Felix. She has also recorded with various musicians including Bob Dorough and Lyle Lovett.

Dearie has continued to perform in clubs. As one of the last remaining supper club performers she still performs regular engagements in London and New York City.

[edit] Discography

[edit] First album, as member of vocal group

• The Blue Stars of France: Lullaby In Birdland and Other Famous Hits (EmArcy / Mercury, 1954)

[edit] Solo albums

• Blossom Dearie Plays "April in Paris" (Barclay, 1956) — piano only
• Blossom Dearie Verve, 1956
• Give Him The Ooh-La-La (Verve, 1957)
• Once Upon a Summertime (Verve, 1958) MGVS-6020
• Sings Comden and Green (Verve, 1959)
• My Gentleman Friend (Verve, 1959)
• Soubrette Sings Broadway Hit Songs (Verve, 1960)
• Blossom Dearie Sings Rootin' Songs (DIW, 1963)
• May I Come In? (Capitol, 1964)
• Blossom Time At Ronnie Scott's (Fontana, 1966)
• Sweet Blossom Dearie (Fontana, 1967)
• Soon It's Gonna Rain (Fontana, 1967)
• That's Just The Way I Want To Be (Fontana, 1970)
• Blossom Dearie Sings (Daffodil, 1974)
• 1975: From The Meticulous to the Sublime (Daffodil, 1975)
• My New Celebrity Is You (2 LPs, Daffodil, 1976)
• Winchester In Apple Blossom Time (2 LPs, Daffodil, 1977)
• Needlepoint Magic (Daffodil, 1979)
• Simply Vol. 6 (Daffodil, 1983)
• Positively Vol. 7 (Daffodil, 1983)
• Et Tu Bruce (Daffodil, 1984)
• Chez Wahlberg (Daffodil, 1985)
• Songs Of Chelsea (Daffodil, 1987)
• Tweedledum & Tweedledee (Daffodil, 1991)
• Christmas Spice So Very Nice (Daffodil, 1994)
• Me and Phil (EMI, 1994)
• Blossom's Planet (Daffodil, 2000)
• "It's Alright to Be Afraid" — single (Daffodil, 2003)

[edit] Compilation albums

• Our Favorite Songs (Daffodil, 1996)
• I'm Hip (Daffodil, 1998)

[edit] With other artists

• Rodgers & Hart Revisited Volume III
• Kurt Weill Revisited Volume II
• Frank Loesser Revisited
• Cole Porter Revisited Volume IV
• Irving Berlin Revisited
• Hold On To Your Hats (Complete Score)
• Unpublished Cole Porter Volume II
• Rodgers & Hart Revisited Volume IV
• Harold Arlen & Vernon Duke Revisited Volume II
• Ira Gershwin Revisited
• Oscar Hammerstein Revisited
• Arthur Schwartz Revisited
• Vernon Duke Revisited
• Rodgers & Hart Revisited Volume II
• Alan Jay Lerner Revisited
• Vincent Youmans Revisited
• DeSylva, Brown & Henderson Revisited Volume I
• Harold Arlen Revisited

[edit] External links

• Official Website
• Blossom Dearie at the Internet Movie Database
• Daffodil Records — (her record label)
• detailed discography
• Google Music: Blossom Dearie
• Blossom Dearie at All Music Guide
• Destinyland — podcast biography with songs