Toni Harper

Toni Harper (June 8, 1937 – February 10, 2023) later Toni Dunlap, was an American former child singer and actress.

Early life and career Toni Harper was born in Los Angeles, California on June 8, 1937 to Fifi and Henry Harper. She began singing dancing, acting, and singing from the age of 4, singing songs such as "Miss In-Between Blues", "Three Blind Mice", "The Muffin Man", and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot".

Harper performed at the third annual Cavalcade of Jazz concert at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles on September 7, 1947. Other performers included Woody Herman, The Valdez Orchestra, The Blenders, T-Bone Walker, Slim Gaillard, The Honeydrippers, Sarah Vaughan and the Three Blazers. Harper also performed at the eighth Cavalcade of Jazz concert on June 1, 1952. Other performers included Roy Brown and His Mighty Men, Anna Mae Winburn and Her Sweethearts, Jerry Wallace, Louis Jordan, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Josephine Baker.

In 1946, Harper recorded "Candy Store Blues", a song about a girl who loves sweets,

On June 11, 1949, Harper was the featured performer in a revue at Carnegie Hall.

In 1954, Harper became an in-demand singer, singing songs such as "Play Me The Blues" and "Taking a Chance on Love" with Dizzy Gillespie and his orchestra. 2014 Lost Voice (CD)

Singles

With Herb Jeffries

"You're Too Tall 'n' I'm Too Small" (1949, Columbia)

"Peppermint Stick" (1949, Columbia)

With Dizzy Gillespie Jazz Recital (Norgran, 1955)

With Harry James "Baby Blues" and "Peculiar Kind Of Feeling" (Columbia 39390, 1951) "Blacksmith Blues" and "Don't Send Me Home" (Columbia 39671, 1952) "Melancholy Trumpet" (Columbia 39846, 1952) "Never Trust a Stranger" / "As Time Goes By" (1965)

Film and television credits

How To Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965) - Barbarette Hollywood A-Go Go (TV series, June 1965, episode 25, performer: "Never Trust a Stranger") Ed Sullivan Show - Self (season 2 episode 40, season 2 episode 43, season 3 episode 43, singer) Shivaree (TV series, episode "Toni Harper, The Temptations, and Steve Alaimo, 1965) (singer) Stars of Jazz (TV series, season 2 episode 7, singer) This is Show Business (TV series, season 3 episode 18, singer) The Frank Sinatra Show (TV series, season 1 episode 12, singer) The Milton Berle Show (TV series, season 3 episode 14, singer) We The People (TV series, season 1 episode 55, singer) Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan (2025 documentary, self, singer, archive footage) Grave Mistake (2008) - Farmer's Daughter Make Believe Ballroom (1949) - self (singer) Manhattan Angel (1949) - Toni