Sylvia Syms

born on 2/12/1917 in Brooklyn, NY, United States

died on 10/5/1992 in New York City, NY, United States

Sylvia Syms (singer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Sylvia Syms (December 2, 1917 May 10, 1992) was an American jazz singer.

She was born Sylvia Blagman in Brooklyn, New York, United States. As a child, she had polio. As a teenager, she went to jazz-oriented nightclubs on New York's 52nd Street, and received informal training from Billie Holiday. In 1941 she made her debut at Kelly's Stable.[1]

In 1948, performing at the Cinderella Club in Greenwich Village, she was seen by Mae West, who gave her a part in a show she was doing.[1] Among others who observed her in nightclubs was Frank Sinatra who considered her the "world's greatest saloon singer." Sinatra subsequently conducted her 1982 album, Syms by Sinatra.

She was signed to a recording contract by Decca Records, having her major success with a recording of "I Could Have Danced All Night" in 1956, which sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc.[2] Syms made regular appearances at the Carlyle in Manhattan. At times, impromptu, while enjoying a cocktail in the bar of the Carlyle, she would walk on stage and perform with the cabaret's other regular, Bobby Short.

Sylvia Syms had a lung removed circa 1972 despite which she shortly thereafter performed as Bloody Mary in South Pacific for several months at the Chateau de Ville Dinner Theater - a performance that was well received by reviewers and audiences alike.

She died on stage at the Algonquin Hotel in New York from a heart attack, aged 74.[3][4]

Album discography

Year Title Label
1952 Songs By [10" version] Atlantic
1954 After Dark [10"] Version Records
1955 Songs By [12" version] Atlantic
1956 Sylvia Sings Decca
1957 Songs of Love Decca
1959 Torch Song Columbia
1961 That Man Kapp
1964 Fabulous 20th Century Fox
1965 Sylvia Is! Prestige
1967 For Once in My Life Prestige
1970 Love Lady Stanyan Records
1976 Lovingly Atlantic Records
1978 She Loves to Hear the Music A&M
1982 Syms by Sinatra Reprise
1984 A Jazz Portrait of Johnny Mercer DRG Records
1989 Then Along Came Bill DRG Records
1992 You Must Believe in Spring Elba Records
2004 The Columbia Years Columbia Records

Films

  • The Goldbergs (1950)
  • The Blue Veil (1951)
  • Night Without Sleep (1952)
  • It Happens Every Thursday (1953)
  • Some of My Best Friends Are (1971)
  • Born to Win (1971)

Television

  • The Tonight Show 1955
  • The Tonight Show 1956
  • The VIP Show of the Year Sep 9, 1956
  • Stars of Jazz - Dec 17, 1956
  • Playboys Penthouse Sep 23, 1961
  • Playboys Penthouse Apr 21, 1962
  • The Merv Griffin Show 1962
  • The Merv Griffin Show 1963
  • The Tonight Show Sep 17, 1963
  • The Mike Douglas Show 1965
  • The Merv Griffin Show Jun 29, 1966
  • Donald OConnor Show Oct 21, 1968
  • The Merv Griffin Show 1969
  • The Mike Douglas Show 1969
  • The Mike Douglas Show Aug 9, 1970
  • The Tonight Show - Aug 6, 1972
  • The Mike Douglas Show Aug 11, 1974
  • The Merv Griffin Show 1974
  • The Tonight Show Feb 25, 1975
  • The Merv Griffin Show 1978
  • The Dick Cavett Show Nov 16, 1978
  • Dinah! Nov 17, 1978
  • Over Easy Nov 24, 1978
  • Over Easy May 23, 1980
  • Glenn Miller: A Moonlight Serenade Dec 1, 1984
  • American Masters: The Long Night of Lady Day - Aug 3, 1986
  • Buddy Barnes Live at Studio B 1986

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 People. Pqasb.pqarchiver.com (1979-08-26). Retrieved on 2013-08-14.
  2. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs, 2nd, London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd.
  3. | Archives | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle. Chron.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-14.
  4. Sylvia Syms. Jamesgavin.com (1992-05-17). Retrieved on 2013-08-14.

External links

  • Sylvia Syms biography on oldies.com
This page was last modified 20.04.2014 01:02:38

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