Jo (the Jo was either for Jocinta or Josephine; accounts differ) Stafford (1917-2008) was one of the most successful pop singers of the mid-Twentieth century. Her recording of "You Belong to Me" was a huge hit in 1952. By 1955, she had more record sales than any other female singer. She was the lead singer for The Pied Pipers when Tommy Dorsey hired them for his orchestra, where Stafford became a solo vocalist. Her work with the USO during World War II brought her the nickname "GI Jo."
The link below takes you to more than 150 recordings, including some with Frank Sinatra, Gordon Macrae, Gene Autry, Frankie Laine, Dick Haymes, Ella Fitzgerald, and Bing Crosby, among others. The link is set up so you can pick and choose the numbers you want to hear. Sample a few songs from this great talent and you find yourself listening to many more.
https://archive.org/details/JoStafford-29-190
One of the greats, all right. A much younger colleague at the college where I taught had an autographed photo of her hanging on his office wall.
ReplyDeleteI own seven of her albums. Billie Holiday no less praised Stafford. I've loved her voice since I was a tot back in the war years.
ReplyDeleteOne of the best, Jerry. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteA week early, but noted!
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