Ginny Simms

Virginia Ellen Simms (May 25, 1913 – April 4, 1994) was an American popular singer and film actress.

Simms sang with big bands and with Dinah Shore, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, and Jo Stafford. She also worked as an MGM and Universal film actress and appeared in 11 movies from 1939 to 1951, when she retired.

Early life Simms was born in San Antonio, Texas. Her family moved to California, where she attended Fresno High School and Fresno State Teachers College, where she studied piano. While there, she began performing in campus productions, singing with sorority sisters and forming a popular campus vocal trio.

Career Radio In 1932, Simms became the vocalist for the Tom Gerun band in San Francisco, working together with other vocalists including a young Tony Martin and Woody Herman. She nearly married Kyser but left his orchestra in September 1941 for her own radio show.

Television In 1951, Simms hosted a local television show on KTTV Channel 11 in Los Angeles that featured dance bands and talent from military bases around Southern California.

Humanitarian work Simms entertained troops during World War II, and after the war, she continued to help servicemen. In 1947, a radio station's newsletter noted: "ow she is helping provide new homes for them. Ginny is sponsoring the construction of 450 homes for vets in Los Angeles."

Awards On June 5, 1993, a Golden Palm Star on the Walk of Stars was dedicated to Simms.

Personal life Simms was married three times. Her first marriage (1945–1951) was to Hyatt Hotels founder Hyatt von Dehn, with whom she had two sons: David (born in July 1946) and Conrad (born December 27, 1949). and her third was to Republican former attorney general of Washington state Don Eastvold from June 22, 1962 until her death in 1994.

Death Simms died after suffering a heart attack in Palm Springs on April 4, 1994 Star-Tone, TOPS, Venise, Vocalion and V-Disc.

Some of these recordings have been rereleased on CD: Ginny Simms: Love Is Here to Stay (1997) Ginny Simms: V-Disc Recordings CD (1998) Gorgeous Ginny Simms (1999) Night and Day (1999) (Soundtrack of the 1946 film Night and Day) Ginny Simms: I'd Like to Set You to Music (2001) Simple & Sweet: The Best of Ginny Simms (2005) Ginny Simms: One More Dream (2006) All Right With Me! – 30 Years of Cole Porter Magic with the Girls! (2010) – Simms sings two Porter songs: "What Is This Thing Called Love?" and "Easy to Love" On the Air With Ginny Simms (2011) The Sentimental Stylings of Ginny Simms (2012)