June Christy

June Christy (born Shirley Luster; November 20, 1925 – June 21, 1990) was an American singer, known for her work in the cool jazz genre and for her silky smooth vocals. Her success as a singer began with The Stan Kenton Orchestra. She pursued a solo career from 1954 and is best known for her debut album Something Cool. After her death, she was hailed as "one of the finest and most neglected singers of her time."

Biography Early life

Shirley Luster was born in Springfield, Illinois, United States.

Work with Stan Kenton's Orchestra

In 1945, after hearing that Anita O'Day had left Stan Kenton's Orchestra, she auditioned and was chosen for the role as a vocalist. During this time, she changed her name once again, becoming June Christy.

Her voice produced hits such as "Shoo Fly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy", the million-selling "Tampico" in 1945, and "How High the Moon". Christy appeared as guest vocalist on the Kenton albums: Artistry in Rhythm (Capitol BD-39, 1946 ), A Presentation of Progressive Jazz (Capitol CD-79, 1947 ), Encores (Capitol CC-113, 1945–47 ), Innovations in Modern Music (Capitol P-189, 1950), Stan Kenton Presents (Capitol L/P-248, 1950), Stan Kenton Classics (Capitol H/T-358, 1944–47 ), and The Kenton Era (Capitol WDX-569, 1940–54, ).

Beginning on September 28, 1959, Christy began a five-week road tour of 38 performances called Road Show. The all-star billing: Stan Kenton and his Orchestra, June Christy, and The Four Freshmen. Capitol recorded highlights on October 10 at Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana, for a two-disc LP, reissued on CD in 1988.

Solo career

From 1947, she started to work on her own records, primarily with arranger and bandleader Pete Rugolo. In 1954, she released a 10-inch LP entitled Something Cool, recorded with Rugolo and his orchestra, Something Cool was also important in launching the vocal cool movement of the 1950s, and it hit the Top 20 Charts, as did her third album, The Misty Miss Christy (1956).

In the 1950s and 1960s, Christy appeared on a number of television programs, including the short-lived CBS show Adventures in Jazz (1949), Eddie Condon's Floor Show (1949), The Jackie Gleason Show (1953), The Tonight Show (1955), The Nat King Cole Show (1957), Stars of Jazz (1958), The Steve Allen Show (1959), The Lively Ones (1963), Not Only But Also (UK 1965), and The Joey Bishop Show (1967). She also appeared on the first sponsored jazz concert on television, The Timex All-Star Jazz Show I (December 30, 1957), which also featured Louis Armstrong, Carmen McRae, Duke Ellington, and Gene Krupa.

Christy played in Europe, South Africa, Australia, and Japan, but the extensive touring eventually began taking a toll on her marriage, and she pulled back from touring by the 1960s.

Richard Cook and Brian Morton, writers of The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings, appreciated the singer's body of work: "Christy's wholesome but particularly sensuous voice is less an improviser's vehicle than an instrument for long, controlled lines and the shading of a fine vibrato. Her greatest momentsthe heartbreaking 'Something Cool' itself, 'Midnight Sun', 'I Should Care'are as close to creating definitive interpretations as any singer can come." She also had an older brother, Jack A. Luster (19202013).

Later years and death

Christy semi-retired from the music business in 1969,

In 1972, she sang at the Newport Jazz Festival in New York City, where she was reunited with the Kenton Orchestra. She also performed at a handful of jazz festivals during the late 1970s and 1980s, playing with a band of all-star West Coast jazz musicians led by Shorty Rogers, as well as taking part in a number of world tours.

Christy died at her home in Sherman Oaks, California, of kidney failure on June 21, 1990, at the age of 64.

Discography Albums

Compilation CDs

Television appearances

DateSeriesSongs 1949 Adventures in Jazz Unknown Art Ford Show Eddie Condon's Floor Show 1950 The Alan Young Show Jack Carter Show September 29, 1950 Penthouse Party December 1, 1951 Penthouse Party July 3, 1953 The Jackie Gleason Show 1955 The Tonight Show with Steve Allen March 9, 1956 Stars of Jazz September 7, 1957 Nat King Cole Show I Want to Be Happy; How High the Moon December 30, 1957 Timex All Star Jazz I Want to be Happy March 3, 1958 Stars of Jazz Get Happy; That's All February 6, 1958 Stars of Jazz I Want to Be Happy; That's All January 10, 1959 Playboy's Penthouse How High the Moon; I Want to Be Happy; Something Cool November 23, 1959 The Steve Allen Plymouth Show Midnight Sun; Medley with Steve and Mel October 9, 1962 The Steve Allen Playhouse Midnight Sun; Willow Weep for Me November 2, 1963 One O'Clock ShowUnknown August 8, 1963 The Lively Ones I'll Take Romance; Midnight Sun October 1, 1964 On Stage Unknown February 24, 1965 The Mike Douglas Show February 6, 1965 Not Only But Also You Came a Long Way From St. Louis; Just in Time; Remind Me; My Shining Hour December 8, 1965 Mike Douglas Show Unknown August 11, 1967 The Joey Bishop Show February 20, 1968 Woody Woodbury Show A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening; My Shining Hour; Midnight Sun (with Stan Kenton) June 30, 1972 The Dick Cavett Show A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening; Remind Me; My Shining Hour 1972 Words & Music by Bobby Troup (with Stan Kenton) The Meaning of the Blues; Hey Daddy; Lonely Girl February 6, 1975 New Morning Unknown