Joan Wheatley

Joan Wheatley is an American mezzo-soprano singer who performed in personal appearances, on radio, and on Broadway.

Early years Born in Artesia, New Mexico, Wheatley is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rex Wheatley. She first studied piano when she was five years old. She gave piano recitals while she was a high school student, and in the New Mexico Junior High and High School Orchestra.

At Occidental College Wheatley studied flute, piano, and voice, was president of her sophomore class, and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She also went on to earn a master's degree in sociology from Columbia. In 1942, Wheatley received a scholarship funded by Mary Martin through Paramount Studios. Wheatley was selected from 50 young women who auditioned out of 250 initial applicants.

Career In May 1940, Wheatley was singing on a weekly variety program on WNYC radio in New York City. She also sang on the RCA Victor Show and on An Invitation to Music, a symphony program on CBS. On Broadway, she performed in The Merry Widow (1942) and Rosalinda (1942).

After Fred Waring heard Wheatley sing in 1945, she became a featured soloist with his Pennsylvanians musical group. and she went on to sing solos regularly on his broadcasts on radio and television.

In July 1953, Wheatley began singing nightly in the Pagoda Room of the Saxony Hotel in Miami.