So ... I was thinking today about Keely Smith. I accidentally discovered her music when I met my friend Harry from Texas. As we got to know each other, he told me his favorite style of music was an offshoot of Big Band Era music that call "The Rat Pack" style (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr. and their contemporaries who performed similar types of music). At the time I subscribed to Yahoo music and I found a few "stations" that played that style of music. I found that I really enjoyed it myself!
One of the female vocalists that I frequently heard, sometimes solo and sometimes with Louis Prima, was Keely Smith. She has a very clear voice, an easy style and just a great sound. She came into the limelight when she worked with Louis Prima, and eventually married him. According to what I've read online (I'll find it and cite it soon), he was abusive and the marriage didn't last - but she remained in the music industry, although she did take some time out to raise a family. While she never achieved the fame of Ella Fitzgerald or other contemporaries, she performed for years - and, last I read online, still does. Keely will be 78 on March 9, 2010, according to this Wikipedia article, and still sounds as good as ever.
You can find a few Keely Smith songs in my playlist above - take a little listen!
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