Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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CHRISTY, June

(b Shirley Luster, 20 Nov. '25, Springfield IL; d 21 June '90 LA CA) Jazz singer, popular and infl. in '40s--50s. Worked as Sharon Leslie in early days. With local bands '38, then Chicago; joined Stan Kenton '45 replacing Anita O'Day, sounding like her until she developed a more personal style; had hits with Kenton 'Tampico', 'Shoo-Fly Pie', 'How High The Moon'. Also known for 'Across The Alley From The Alamo', 'Lonely Woman', 'He Was A Good Man', etc. Won down beat and Metronome polls late '40s (LP later issued on CBS Harmony label, Nat Meets June with Metronome All Stars). Married Kenton's tenor soloist Bob Cooper '46; when Kenton disbanded '49 she went solo, stayed on Capitol label, often appeared with Kenton. Toured with Ted Heath show, with Cooper; LPs incl. Duet with Kenton; own albums: Fair And Warmer, The Misty Miss Christy, This Is June Christy, The Song Is June, Those Kenton Days, Cool School, Off Beat; also Something Cool with Pete Rugolo (b 25 Dec. '15, Sicily; Kenton arranger, later freelance, turned to TV scoring '60s e.g. The Fugitive). The Best Thing For You reissued '86 on Affinity UK. Semi-retired '60s but recorded with Kenton on his label; also Impromptu '77 on Discovery with Lou Levy Sextet. Through The Years on Hindsight '46--65 incl. tracks with Les Brown, Jerry Gray, Shelly Manne.