June Christy - The Anecdotes - Part 1
This page will be used to assemble a list of biographical sources and personal stories.
- An interview with June in Lillian Arganian's
book, Stan Kenton: The Man and His Music.
In it she discusses her relationship with Stan, some musical details of how they collaborated together, what he meant to her, and some stories about being on the band. I'm sure Christy fans would find it interesting. There are a few really neat photos that go with that chapter!
The book is available from:
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- Artistry Press, P.O. Box 1571, East Lansing, Michigan, 48823.
- Price: $22.50 (Email: Lillian Arganian for payment details).Some excerpts to enjoy... CHRISTY: Stan and I would sit at the piano and we would find a comfortable key for me to sing a certain tune in.And then he would raise it. At least a tone, where it would be almost uncomfortable for me to sing with just piano. But I learned, after some time, that he knew what he was doing.
L.A.: What was he doing?
CHRISTY: The Kenton band, as everyone knows, was not a subtle band. There were special challenges in singing with the Stan Kenton Orchestra. There was, obviously, a situation with the volume.I think that's one of the reasons that Stan was selecting keys for me to sing in.And, by changing the keys, by raising them that way, he enabled me, when I did hear that tremendous volume behind me, to have the strength to sing up to it, and even sometimes over it ...
L.A.: What was your first meeting with Stan like?
CHRISTY: It's difficult to even say - how do you describe exaltation?..
L.A.: Did he encourage your development as a singer?
CHRISTY: He encouraged me as a singer as he did everyone on the band. He developed a lot of character and a lot of talent in that band, because he wasn't afraid of giving people - their own rope, so to speak, and he encouraged people to be themselves ...
L.A.: Did your association with him affect your musical style and career to any great degree?
CHRISTY: Yes.I was only eighteen when I joined the band. And that was my growing up--I grew up with the band ...
L.A.: What about the direction of your life?
CHRISTY: I met the man that I love on the band - that's Bob Cooper, of course - and we married. And are still married. So the direction of my life was altered by my association with the band too ...
- A Saloonkeeper's Tale by - Jim Chilton.
My life-long thrills of listening, seeing, dancing to the Kenton sounds started in 1941 and I still get goose-bumps when I hear that brass kick in! I had the extreme pleasure of sitting with band members including June Christy during their foray into New York in 1947...(re-reading that..sitting with them while they were taking intermission breaks..I held the table so they'd have a place to sit). In the last few years June and Bob Cooper were frequent diners at a restaurant I also spend time in.."The Valley Inn" in Sherman Oaks, San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles. When she was first pointed out to me, I saw this tiny quiet mousy greying woman...and wouldn't have guessed at being Christy in a million years. The maitr'd was and is a friend of mine and said she was working on an album at that time. It was a few months later that she died..
- Memories from - Jake Seaton.
I always dug the Misty Miss Christy. Daddio Daily(sp?) was the one who coined that description back in Chicago in the 50's. Daddio always talked in rhyme and used "Something Cool" for his theme song.
I first heard June in about 1949 with Kenton's Innovations orch. Later (52 or so) she was with a Kenton show that featured not only June, but Sarah, Nat and others. She skipped out on the stage, hit a cymbal with a slap, tossed her pony tail and knocked me out. In 53 I was dissapointed to attend a dance played by the SK band and June wasn't there. Only Chris Connor, who was good but not 'Misty'.
- A recollection from - Lillian Arganian.
I remember seeing June Christy with the Stan Kenton Orchestra at a college concert many years ago.
Of course, those years are among the most exciting of a person's life, so memories will have a poignant edge.But seeing others talk of their memories brought back this vision. I was up in the balcony, and she came on stage.I think the 'stage' was merely a raised platform set up for the band in a gymnasium, something like that. And she generated such excitement!Some of it would be because of the way Stan introduced people, but a lot of it was just June Christy, whom we all idolized. In those days the band was quite popular - I think this must have been in the fifties somewhere.
I don't recall the songs she sang, but I know she inspired a lot of love and warmth from the audience. She was so pretty! So fresh and sweet. And when she sang, here was this husky sort of jazz voice. It was all just perfect.
Perhaps because of her association with Stan, she will always be my favorite singer. The songs she made famous are classics: 'Something Cool', 'My Heart Belongs To Only You', 'The Night We Called It A Day', 'Midnight Sun', 'This Time the Dream's On Me', to say nothing of the Rugolo Innovations tunes (I love 'Please Be Kind', from one of the albums of that period). They are, quite simply, songs and memories that we carry around with us,like Beethoven's Fifth.
When I met Bob Cooper at the Kenton Rendezvous at Balboa Celebration in 1991 (in California), at the mere mention of his wife's name his eyes misted over. She is the kind of person one cannot forget and will always miss.
- The Ultimate Fan - Sue Few.
To see June's name was a sheer delight - so many memories - I was the ultimate fan - bleached my hair, wore short bangs and sang along when no one was home of course to phrase just like June did.She was a genius - she'll never be matched.
Because I lived near the 'Lighthouse' in Hermosa Beach, I met her husband, Bob Cooper,who was in the house band.We became good friends and June came down one evening to perform and hang out.I felt like a teenager again. She was magic when she performed.Bob was very proud of her. I used to have every LP June ever made - I think I wore them all down!
Wonderful memories.
- "Something Cool" - Loretta Omania.
We had a hot spell here in Oakland for a few days and I couldn't resist playing June's 'Something Cool' album.I always do that when it hits the 90s here.I loved June's foggy F-key voice,and whenever I hear Kathleen Turner's imitation of the Christy voice, it makes me chuckle.In the 50's, in our family we knew all her songs by heart and still do - especially all those arranged by Pete Rugolo and accompanied by her husband,Bob Cooper.
- A sailor remembers - Don Friedlen.
Christy did by far the best recording of "Just a-Sittin' and a-Rockin", surpassing even Ivy Anderson with Duke Ellington.It was a Stan Kenton record on which I dropped endless nickles into juke boxes 50 years ago when I was a sailor in the US Navy.
- "Skip Rope" - Barry Westburg.
Thanks for that discography. Skip Rope I heard in 1945 growing up in Iowa. It was the first recording I can ever remember listening to, and I learnt it by heart and still remember the words. I'd love to know which currently available CD that song is on.
- Sound Images - Cynthia Bozzone.
I love your page!!! I am a huge June Christy fan, and you have accumulated alot of information, some I certainly didn't know. I am currently creating a web page myself and have (I think) the necessary equipment to add "sound" images to this page (i.e, clips off of cds that can be downloaded).
- Directions from Above - Ira Chineson.
I'm afraid I don't have much information to share, but I thought I would write just to thank you for your June Christy page. I stumbled upon it tonight while listening to "Something Cool" on my CD player. It was one of those weird coincidences that sometimes make me believe that there is a God. It's refreshing to see a celebration of genuinely swinging music on the Internet.
DAILY FEATURED ARTIST
Sponsored by
All Music Guide To Jazz
Edited by Ronn Wynn
with Michael Erlewine and Vladimir Bogdanov
July 20, 1995
-
The "Misty" Miss June Christy
b.Nov. 20, 1925, Springfiled, IL,
d.Jun. 21, 1990
Vocals /Big Band, ballad and Blues
Previously unissued June Christy material from late '40s and '50s with a knockoff unit from the Stan Kenton orchestra. It's designed for completists, as its alternate takes and unreleased cuts that were adjudged inferior or left over There's nothing wrong with some of them, but these are not the songs that made Christy famous.-Ron Wynn
Fine "torch" and jazzy pop late-'5Os recording by Christy, backed by a good group with Maynard Ferguson, Laurindo Almeida, Bud Shank, Bob Cooper, and Claude Williamson, among others. - Ron Wynn
- Highland Lakes NJ - Steve Jordan
I saw your page on the Internet on the subject of June Christy. I have been collecting her records for many years, and was pleasantly surpised to see what you have done. Perhaps the following information may be of some use to you: 1. I have a record album on Capitol, ST-1622 called Seasons Greetings. June sings one song on it called "Christmas Heart". 2. I have a video of a half-hour show that appeared on television in the late 1950's called The Nat King Cole Show. It was a musical variety show in black and white, and this particular show had June Christy and Mel Torme as guests. The show opened with June standing in front of a very large blow-up of her album cover of "Fair & Warmer", and she sang "I Want to be Happy" live. Later in the show, Nat Cole played piano, Mel Torme played the drums, & June sang live "How High The Moon" uptempo. I have most of her albums, and also collect Chris Connor. Both were singers with Stan Kenton. Thank you for an excellent web site
- West Virginia - Jack Canfield
My gracious. Does that UK stand for United Kingdom or University of Kentucky? I'm sitting here in Wild, Wonderful West Virginia . . . I've just hung up the telephone from talking with Bob Flanigan in Las Vegas and we're trying to get the Freshmen here in Charleston to sing with our West Virginia Symphony Orchestra on June 2. So I punched up the Four Freshmen page to check dates. Then I saw something "new" added, and there I found -- JUNE CHRISTY!
I can't tell you how much this means to me! She was so damn good. I know every note, every nuance of Midnight Sun and her duet with the Freshmen on September Song. (If I were female, I'd have a new career; as is, I'm not into female impersonation, but what a GREAT VOICE!) Anyway, the discs have helped me refresh my collection. I've just started reading your page; I had to stop and say thanks before I go any further. Like you, I'm a great Kenton-Christy-Freshmen fan, and June was simply the greatest. I look forward to reading further. I've been searching and searching for information on her in her later years, and all I could get until I read her obituary was, "She's living on the west coast." This is just to simply say: THANKS!
- One of the Band - Morrie Trumble
Johnny Carroll, who was lead trumpet on Tampico, and first chair for Kenton from about 1947 to 1951, was my teacher for several years. He told me many stories about the band and about those wonderful days. Johnny died in Denver in the mid 60s at age 47. Through a strange coincidence, I later met Gene Roland, who shared that trumpet section with Johnny. I knew him for the next several years until his death. A close friend of mine, a former disc jockey who later baceme head of the NBC Radio Network, is a terrific fan of June Christy. One rainy night in Detroit, he got a call from her asking if they could sit and talk, which they did for hours. It was one of the highlights of his life. Thanks for the good work you are doing. I have a few stories. If you're interested, drop me a line.
- Rugolo - Ben Glenn II
Great home page! I am, in fact, a good friend of Pete Rugolo, and have talked with him many times about working with June. I only wish that Capitol would reissue what I feel are some of Christy's best albums: "Gone for the Day" and "Ballads for Night People." Did you know that June couldn't read music? She and Pete would rehearse by his piano at home; then, in the studio, many of the tracks were recorded in one or two takes. She was a natural. Thanks for a great resource on June.
- Willow Weep for Me - Alvin Schillinger
Greetings from Tucson,Arizona. I,ve been in love with June since I first heard "Willow Weep for Me" as a university student in 1947. Good to see that she's on the Web
- Impromptu - Alan Weissmann
What a find! Thumbs up to you for doing a June Christy page. I've been a "Misty Miss Christy" fan for ten years now, and through her records was introduced to the whole crowd of often neglected West Coast jazz musicians as well.
I can't say I like her stuff with Kenton nearly as much as the later recordings. For me, she first shows her greatness with "He Can Come Back Anytime He Wants To," (1951?) and her 1977 "Impromptu" album with Lou Levy's group (her last?) is one of my all-time favorite albums of any kind! But such differences of opinion are what make the world go round--and the World Wide Web!
In any case I'm glad that there are other Christy fans out there. At my leisure I'll be looking through the stuff you've placed at the web site. If I can provide any information of my own (though I doubt it--I'm not the most rabid form of collector who has searched high and low for absolutely every item; there are many gaps in my Christy collection), I'll send it along.
With best wishes for successful maintenance of the "Misty Miss Christy" page.
- Embarrasing moment - Richard Popowych.
Back sometime in the '60's, the Kenton Band and June played at the Auditorium in Rochester for a one night gig. After the show my new wife and I went back stage to say hello to Stan and hopefully meet June for the first time. Stan and I saw each other; being 5' 7" I looked way up; my hand got lost in his as we shock hands and exchanged pleasantries. I asked if we could meet June. "Sure," he said as he swung the door open as June was sitting before the mirror with just her bra on. June let out with a scream; Stan closed the door suggesting we wait a few minutes. A few minutes later she invited us in. What a pleasure it was to meet her. I think Stan caught hell after we left.
- "Younger" Generation - Joe Corpus
Your site on June Christy is great! I don't know if there are many fans of her of my age (I'm almost 40), but I'm certainly one of them. My father was an amateur jazz pianist. There was always music in the house. I grew up listening to "Something Cool" and "Midnight Sun." Thankfully it is not difficult to acquire CD's like "Something Cool" and "Misty..." these days. Thanks for the terrific website!!
- Endless Repeat! - Phil Drenth
I just found "The Misty Miss Christy" today and have left the CD on endless repeat. Realized I'd been having trouble finding even her Capitol CDs and thought it'd be a good idea to search the web to see what's available. Discovered June's music while I was working at a "Music of Your Life" radio station, and got started when I found the CD "Something Cool" in the record shop. The great thing is, she's got so much more music that I haven't heard yet. Thanks again for your comprehensive info on the Misty Miss Christy!
- New Orleans - Ethel C. Valz
I just found your "The Misty Miss Christy Home Page" and I just love it. I'm a fan of June's but unfortunately I've just started to get her albums and seem to have a problem finding them. I'm in New Orleans and have tried several record centers. I guess the thing to do is to keep requesting them. Maybe that will stir up an interest in the shops.
- Stereo - 'Something Cool' - Bob Rossi
Love your June Christy home page. I've been a fan of hers for years. Am also a big Four Freshmen fan, naturally, since they appeared with Kenton and June many times over the years. I like the stereo version of "Something Cool" better than the mono one. I have owned both copies of the LP's for years, but they're getting worn out from all the playings. I'll be sure to check in on the June Christy home page often.
- My first look at "The Misty Miss Christy" Home Page! - Eberhard Rittweger
Relatively new to all that Internet stuff, I was just looking at your Home Page for the very first time.
I was really impressed. As a Stan Kenton fan since my teens (now 59!),the fabulous late June Christy is still on my mind, too.
I am German, born in Berlin, now living in Nuremberg, Germany. I saw Miss Christy in 1953 at that famous concert at the "Sportpalast" in Berlin, along with Stanley. It was an event, I would never forget all my life!
Since then I am a fan of the Kenton Band, collecting LPs (about 120 and CDs (60) of this fabulous band.
This year in May I joined the "Rendezvous In Britain" event, a tribute to the music of Stanley Newcomb Kenton, performed at Daventry, UK.
Congratulations to your Webpage! Its great.
- 'Fine Tribute' - Charles P. Travis
What a nice home page and tribute to a fine singer! I have a number of June's lp albums and hope that many of them are on CD now because of the wear and tear of time - and old needles! I don't have anything new to offer on Miss Christy, but just want to tell you how much I appreciate your home page. Am going to come back to visit when I have more time to look around. I am retired but working part time. Am 62 years old, and first heard the Kenton orchestra when I was about 18 I believe. I think June had left the band by then and Kenton's wife was doing the singing. Was saddened by June's early death. Aren't we fortunate her recordings are available!
- 'Informative' - Ethan Silverman
Thank you for a very interesting and informative home page on a great artist.
- 'Excellent web-site' - John G Phillips
First, I want to thank you for such an excellent web-site on June Christy. I had seen her name in music catalogs and in stores, but had never heard her. After seeing your page and the raves of the various fans, I ordered a couple of CDs featuring June. It didn't take long to see (hear) what everyone was raving about! I guess June has a new fan. Thank you for helping me discover a new musical avenue which I am fairly sure I will enjoy tremendously. I reiterate my thanks to you for opening a whole new world of experience to one of the "baby boom" generation. I'll try to induce the wonder of June Christy to some of my friends. Finally, thanks again for assembling such a large amount of information and sharing it on the web.
- Winnipeg, Canada - Ray Maddocks
What a surprise when I came across your address as a June Christy fan. I was lucky enough to see June with the Stan Kenton orchestra in Dublin Ireland, back in 1953 I believe it was. Interestingly I was born and bred in Birkenhead, Cheshire, so when I saw your name and address I felt I should, as a fellow Christy fan, make contact.
- Singapore - Calvin Lee
I have to say that your site is wonderful. I have always been a fan of Ella and have read articles of June Christy. After coming across your site ( by coincedence), I read every article and decided to get a CD of June's. WOW! She is what I have always thought Jazz vocals should be. I am now a great fan. Thank You yery much.
- San Francisco - Larry Dwyer
Thank you so much for your June Christy page.I've been a Christy fan since I was a teenager in the 70s. I now have many albums, some CDs and have been able to introduce this great artist to many friends. I very much enjoyed reading the bio and seeing the pictures. Keep up the good work and good luck in the hunt for memorabilia.
- Evansville - Jack Alexander
Have just discovered your home page and looking forward to exploring it in next few nights. I am a Christy fan who melts for "Something Cool" or "Midnight Sun" etc. I have followed her since early fifties and rejoiced when they reissued so many albums on CDs. Good luck in furthering your collection. Will write if I can help in any way.
- 'Fantastic' - Ray Soo
Fantastic web page on June. Keep up the good work!
- A Site for June Christy - Chuck Berntsen
Never thought I would find a site for June Christy.
Sure wish you had real audio but you have led me to my local CD shop.
Thanks, I'll be back.
- 'This Lady Deserves' - Roy Liddard Romford UK
It was great to search the Web and receive such a positive reply that this lady deserves.I,ve been a fan since the 50's but I don't have easy access to a computer so it was really great to read all that information on the Web page.
- Met Miss Christy - Roy Stephens
Just discovered your great page. I'm an old June Christy fan and have several albums. Something Cool is my all time favorite. Met Miss Christy in 1953. Another time, another world. I still play her and Kenton regularly.
- A Suede Coat - Fred Miller
I had the great pleasure to meet Miss Christy one evening in the fall of 1956 while she was singing in a small club called the Safari Lounge in New Orleans. Someone introduced me to her between sets,I bought drinks and she very graciously consented to autograph a suede coat I happened to be wearing at the time. I kept that coat for many years after it no longer fitted. She was one of the greatest.
- A Real Treat - Ben Glenn II
Visitors to the Museum of Television & Radio in New York City have a real treat awaiting them - One episode of the 1950s NBC show, "Hugh Hefner's Playboy Penthouse," features special guest star June Christy. There, nestled in a bachelor-pad set supposedly overlooking the Sunset Strip, June sits at the bar and performs "Something Cool." To see and hear her sing live is absolutely exquisite. Later in the show, she chats with host Hugh and then, backed by a combo, does her signature version of "How High the Moon."
It's enough to make you melt.The Museum of Television & Radio also had another clip of June appearing with Stan Kenton on an early-to-mid-60s TV variety show. (I think it might have been a local program, because the budget was very low.) Anyway, this clip is in color,and (a noticeably older-looking) June, sporting a rather large "pile" hairdo and dressed in a lipstick-pink full-length gown, does a set of Kenton standards.
Pretty great stuff.
- This Fine Talent - Christopher Milne
I just wanted to say thank you for the June Christy web page. I discovered the Misty Miss Christy about ten years ago when I inherited my dads grand old record collection. I had of course heard her as I was growing up, but I don't count that.
After only a few tunes, I was in love. I am a musician myself, so I can appreciate her wonderful intonation and phrasing. Her voice is warm, intimate and let's face it, sexy.
I have thought several times about simply searching her name on the web, but have always put it off. Now, I have seen your page, I did not know that June had died. What a shame. I was hoping I could have a chance to thank her for her work.
I am amazed by how many people I talk to say June who? It saddens me that so much talent goes past without the attention it deserves.
Thanks again for helping people discover this fine talent.
- Greatest Singer Ever - Neal Smith
Your site about June is sensational!!!!
My wife and I are great fans of June, and we consider her to be the greatest
singer ever. We have a lot of her releases and are entraced by her almost
every day.
Keep up the good work!!!
- Greatest Jazz Singer Of All - Walt Riddell
Your June Christy page is really great. I have been a fan of hers since the
mid 1940's when I first heard her sing with the Kenton band. I have much of
her work that has been recorded, and I am trying to get what has been transfered
to CD.
Once again thanks for the great web page, dedicated to the greatest jazz singer of all................................ I look in on your web page at least twice a week and just want to thank you for all your efforts.I really admire what you have done for all of us June Christy fans................................ I thought I had most of Junes recordings till I saw your web page. You have done a great service for the rest of her fans. I go to your web page at least twice a week and enjoy it more each time. I saw someone mentioned Kentons wife singing with the band after June left for her solo career, wasn't her name Ann Richards? I don't remember much about her.Thanks again for your great efforts................................ It's nice to chat with someone who really knows how great June is, and I don't mean was because she will go on forever. June does get good play on the radio here, but the recordings are difficlut to obtain. Thanks for all your knowledge.
- Greetings - Roy Stephens
Just listening to some Kenton and Christy (just finished "Traveling Man") and thought I would send Greetings across the world (now it's playing "Tampico")
- Simply the Greatest - Bruce Bossie
Thank you so much for bringing back some wonderful memories. June Christy was simply the greatest. Capitol should bring back all of her recordings on CD. Here's hoping.
- "Mistywalker" from Pennsylvania - Johnny Porto
I only recently 'discovered' June Christy and now I've fallen in love with her voice!
I'm sorry she's gone, but I'm happy I found her and I'm thrilled to have found your magnificent site.
I just wanted you to know there's a person in the Appalachian Mountains
who appreciates your effort.
(visit Johnny's web site at http://www.users.fast.net/~jporto)
- Great website! - Woody Firm
Many thanks for your June Christy website -- a lot of work went into that obviously, and all of us June Christy fans should thank you. I just got into June in the last few years and, although it's pretty amazing that Capital has reissued so much of her material on CD, it would be great to have all the albums out or (dare we say) a boxed set of the "cool jazz" albums.
- Springfield, her home town - Timothy J. Osburn
So pleased to find your web site for June Christy. I started living in Springfield, Illinois in the early 1970s and it was here, her home town (Abraham Lincoln and Vachel Lindsay) that I first heard her on record, the Duet album with Kenton. I looked for her records for years, but it wasn't until the mid 80s that I started finding many. lived in New York in 1985 and was so excited the first record store I went in had dozens of Christy lps, six copies of Duet! When June died in 1990 the local paper had no mention of it, but the Chicago Tribune had a lovely piece which I still have up by my desk here. I have written several poems with June as a central theme, but I won't bore anyone with them. But I mention that to underscore the emotional nature of my relationship with this woman's work. I have introduced many people of my generation and those younger than me to June Christy and I wish someone would do a good box set of cds for people to acquire. It should have definitely at least Something Cool, Misty Miss Christy, Duet, and Recalls Those Kenton Days. I actually really prefer her work with Rugulo. Anyway, thanks for letting me speak about JC at all. She is the best of her genre, no doubt at all. I will always play her and love her work. Good luck with the site.
- "I'm Thrilled" - Susan Lindemuth
"I'm Thrilled", to say the least. June Christy was my idol, I know "Something Cool" almost by heart. To this day singing songs from that album puts me in a wonderful mood!
One of her songs popped into my mind while writing E-mail and I said "I wonder?" Searching for music from 1954 was the first question. Then June Christy, what a surprise when her name was listed. It was unbelievable!!!
By the way, she came into my life as a fifteen year old. I am now 58 and the thrill is still there and always will be.
WHAT A VOICE!
Thank you, thank you for being there.
- "Melody-Go-Round" - Mike Longworth
May I just say how much I enjoy your June Christy Page. One of my favourite singers. I was introduced to her (and Stan Kenton, The Freshmen and many others) via the 'Melody-Go-Round' on AFN Frankfurt in the 1950's. It's surprising how much of my LP and CD collection can be traced back to that programme.
- A Young Lady with Good Taste - Tracy Fuehrer
I was looking for sites on June Christy and I really enjoyed your home page!
I also noticed an entry from someone who thought he was quite young (at 40) to be a June Christy fan.I must top that category... I'm 20!
- 'When she had long hair' - Steve Chappell
I "discovered" June Christy only about 3 years ago on a "soundie" on cable TV.
I am 47 years old and never heard of her when I saw her performing with the Stan Kenton Band singing "It's been a long long time".
I was struck by her looks and then by her voice and singing style.
Since then I have been to many record conventions and bought many albums.
I would like to find some pictures of her from the 40's especially when she had long hair.
I appreciate the Christy Home Page.
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