Judy Johnson (singer)

Judy Johnson (born Betty Bonney;[1] March 8, 1928 in Norfolk, Virginia, USA) is an American pop singer most notable for her regular appearances on the NBC television series Your Show of Shows in the 1950s. Early in her career, she was billed under her birth name.

Judy Johnson c. 1945

Early years

In the late 1930s, Johnson and her family moved to Nutley, New Jersey, and while there she learned tap dancing. After two years, they moved back to Norfolk. There she began singing on a radio station and began singing with a band at age 11.[1] She performed at age 14 as a dancer and singer in a tent show headed by Gene Austin.[2] When she was 18, she moved to New York to study musical comedy. In addition to studying, she traveled on USO tours and appeared in night clubs, including the Copacabana in New York.[1]

Career

In the early 1940s, she sang with the Les Brown Orchestra. In 1941, she had a hit of "Joltin' Joe DiMaggio" with Brown's group.[3] She later sang with Frankie Carle and his orchestra.[4] Her biggest hit was "How Little We Know", written by Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer for the character played by Lauren Bacall in the film To Have and Have Not.

In 1943, Johnson sang with Jan Savitt and his orchestra[5] and Jerry Wald and his orchestra.[2]

Johnson's TV appearances included singing on the syndicated game show Hidden Treasure,[6] the NBC game show Judge for Yourself,[6]:546 and the NBC variety show Tonight! America After Dark.[6]:1094 On old-time radio, she was a regular on The Robert Q. Lewis Show.[7]

Most of the kinescopes of Your Show of Shows were discarded by NBC,[8] so few video appearances of Johnson remain. In one remaining film clip Johnson sings a cover of the Four Lads song "No, Not Much!".[9] Her last television singing appearance was on The Arthur Murray Party in 1959.

In 1950, Johnson joined Sammy Kaye as a singer with his orchestra.[10] In 1952, she signed a contract with MGM Records to join Bill Hayes, with whom she sang on Your Show of Shows, to record duets.[11] In 1955, she performed on Broadway as Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls.[12]

Personal life

Johnson married composer and conductor Mort Lindsey in 1954.[3]

References
  1. Frank, Gordon (May 17, 1954). "In the Essex County Corner". The Herald-News. New Jersey, Passaic. p. 19. Retrieved September 7, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "She Vocalizes". The Gazette. Iowa, Cedar Rapids. October 31, 1943. p. 19. Retrieved September 7, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. McLellan, Dennis (May 10, 2012). "Mort Lindsey dies at 89; Judy Garland's musical director". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 7, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  4. Simon, George T. (2012). The Big Bands. Schirmer Trade Books. ISBN 9780857128126. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  5. "Chicago, Chicago". Billboard. March 27, 1943. p. 16. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  6. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 458. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  7. Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 286. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
  8. "Your Show of Shows". Archive of American Television.
  9. Fifties Television: Obscure 1950s pop singer sings " No, Not Much!". YouTube. 5 June 2010.
  10. "(untitled brief)". Billboard. June 24, 1950. p. 19. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  11. "MGM Signs Pact for TVs Judy Johnson". Billboard. March 8, 1952. p. 43. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  12. "Judy Johnson". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on September 8, 2019. Retrieved September 8, 2019.

Judy Johnson at IMDb


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