Carol Richards

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Carol Swiedler (Stage name Carol Richards), born 6 June 1922 in Harvard, Illinois, was a singer, radio and television performer, well-remembered for her duet with Bing Crosby on the hit single "Silver Bells", died in Vero Beach, Florida on March 16, 2007. She was 84.

At the start of her career in her early 20s, Carol Richards won a Bob Hope talent contest, moved to Hollywood and appeared on numerous TV shows including I Love Lucy, Name That Tune, The Saturday Night Review, and variety shows hosted by Ralph Edwards, Dennis Day, Pinky Lee, Edgar Bergen, and Ezio Pinza. For four years (1953-1957), she was a regular cast member on the Bob Crosby Show. She was the movie singing voice for Vera Ellen in Call Me Madam, for Cyd Charisse in Silk Stockings, Brigadoon, Deep in my Heart, and It's Always Fair Weather, and for Betta St. John in The Robe. She worked frequently with Danny Kaye, Jerry Lewis, and Bob Hope, and sang with the Russ Morgan and Desi Arnez Bands. In the 1960s after moving to Chicago, Richards performed at numerous club dates, and appeared frequently on Don McNeil's famous radio show, The Breakfast Club.

Following her performing career, Richards continued her work as an artist, completing numerous sculptures, pastels, and oil paintings as well as publishing a book with her husband.^{[citation needed]}

Richards had 13 children, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.^{[citation needed]} She was survived by her beloved husband of 40 years, Edward B. Swiedler who died of lung cancer on August 9, 2007.^{[citation needed]}

Carol Richards at the Internet Movie Database