Teresa Brewer

Teresa Brewer (born Theresa Veronica Breuer; May 7, 1931 – October 17, 2007) was an American singer whose style incorporated pop, country, jazz, R&B, rock 'n roll, musicals, and novelty songs. She was one of the most prolific and popular female singers of the 1950s, recording around 600 songs.

Early life Brewer was born in Toledo, Ohio, the eldest of five siblings. Her father Ludwig Breuer, a German immigrant, was a glass inspector for Libbey-Owens-Ford (later acquired by Pilkington Glass), and her mother Helen (nee Kasap) Breuer, a housewife, was of Polish ancestry. The family were practicing Catholics, and she was a member of the Roman Catholic Church most of her life.

Career 1933–1948: Early singing and first appearances Her singing career began almost as soon as she was able to walk and talk. When Brewer was two years old, her mother entered her in The Uncle August Kiddie Show on Toledo's WSPD and she was a hit with audiences. At the age of seven, Brewer entered The Major Bowes Amateur Hour and was soon touring around the country with them. When she was 12, her mother pulled her from the road to finish school.

As she progressed through high school she was able to skip a grade. She would have graduated from grade 12 in 1948 at age 17, a year early. Around January 1948 she won a contest in Toledo that led her to the Stairway To The Stars contest show in New York. There she was a winner and the prize was a week's performance at the Latin Quarter club. It was there that she met her first husband, Bill Monahan. Accompanied by her aunt Mary, she decided to stay in New York and do more performing. Being the legal age of 16 she was able to leave school, which she had disliked, and she did not receive a graduation diploma.

1949–1969: Commercial success An agent, Richie Lisella, heard her sing and took her career in hand, and in 1949 she was signed to a contract with London Records. Another novelty song, "Choo'n Gum", hit the top 20 in 1950, followed by "Molasses, Molasses". Like many singers, she preferred ballads as they offered more opportunity to show off her vocal abilities, but the only ballad she recorded to make the charts was "Longing for You" in 1951.

In 1951 Brewer switched labels, going to Coral Records. and "Empty Arms".

Teresa Brewer Showcase was the first LP she released; it was a collection of several of her early recordings with London Records but did not include her two hits "Music! Music! Music!" or "Choo 'n Gum." Most of the albums she released with Coral over the 1950s were typical LPs of the era, featuring more collections of songs and cover versions rather than thematic ideas – one exception was the Catholic-flavored Christmas album At Christmas Time (1957). She had natural brown hair, but had it dyed red for the role. She then kept it colored red for many years for her performances.

1970–1996: Later career and recordings

Brewer re-emerged as a jazz vocalist on Bob Thiele's Amsterdam label in the 1970s and 1980s, recording a number of albums including tribute albums to Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller and Irving Berlin. She also recorded with such jazz musicians including Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Earl Hines, Svend Asmussen, and Bobby Hackett.

Her rendition of "Danny's Song" for the 1972 album Singin' a Doo Dah Song would return on subsequent compilations, including Her Greatest Hits (1975), Portrait (1986), and Sixteen Most Requested Songs (1991). Brewer sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the 1968 MLB All Star Game.

One of her later singles, "Another Useless Day", was written by Chas Hodges (later one half of "rockney" British duo Chas & Dave) with Albert Lee featuring on guitar. Hodges's band Oily Rags (also signed up by Bob Thiele) provided backing for Brewer's album Teresa Brewer in London (1973), as well as many songs for Teresa Brewer's New Album (1977).

She appeared on television as a guest star on such series as Ed Sullivan, Perry Como, Jimmy Dean, The Muppet Show in 1977, Sha Na Na, and The Statler Brothers Show in 1993.

Thiele, whom she had married, died in 1996, and Brewer never recorded after that. They eventually separated, and the marriage was dissolved in 1972 shortly before she married Bob Thiele.

Honors For her contribution to the recording industry, Teresa Brewer has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1708 Vine Street. In 2007, she was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.

Death Brewer died of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a neuromuscular disease, at her home in New Rochelle, New York, aged 76. Her funeral was held at New Rochelle's Holy Name of Jesus Roman Catholic Church, where she was a member. Her ashes were given to her daughter.

Discography The list below shows the singer's singles only. Her full discography, singles, albums, and other releases are described in a separate article.