June Christy - The Anecdotes - Part 2

  • Amityville,New York - Roberta Paul

    I am happy to have found your site. I just bought some old Christy recordings (CDs) from Music Blvd. Online.
    It's great to hear them again. I had about worn out my LPs.
    My favorites.... "When Sunny Gets Blue" and "Imagination".
    This medium never ceases to amaze me..... we are so far and yet so "near".
    "June Fair & Warmer" IS my favorite album.
    I hope they issue it in CD.
    Keep up the good work....

  • "Stow,OH" - Carolyn Burns

    I am writing from Stow,OH USA (near Akron, OH). I am a jazz singer who loves to sing many of the June Chrisy tunes. I have CD's and most of June's history in the singing biz. I am searching for any films that may be available of June's actual performances. I'm sure that someone sometime must have filmed performances or rehearsals. Since I was born in 1956, I was unfortunately never got to see June perform. I am also still searching for some pictures that might be available for me to purchase. My jazz coach, who has been singing since the early '50s, just idolized June Christy. I'd love to be able to show her what's available on June. She just did a tribute to June in Canton, Ohio on Jan. 10th and had me "sit in" and sing "Midnight Sun". We were surprised and pleased that so many folks still remember June Christy and Stan Kenton and are longing to hear those beautiful tunes once more.

  • "Resting Place" - Thomas Kenton

    I deeply enjoyed your site and all the info of the great June Christy and that era! I live in Northern California and assume that June and Bob are buried in California. If you have any information regarding the resting places I will be glad to send you pictures when I visit their graves.

  • "June's Place" - Dave Olinger

    Many thanks for great site. Will return often. She was special.

  • "Australia" - Paul Tassone

    Just a brief message to let you know how much I enjoyed your June Christy page. I am a fan and have a number of her albums. She was indeed a wonderful singer.

  • "A real treasure of art" - Barry Stein

    Just browsing for June Christy discographies. I had run across your web page on Christy a year or so ago on another computer, but recently gained access to the internet and was delighted to relocate you. I was introduced to her music in college in the 50's and really fell for her voice in the early 60's. It is a delight to see such an extensive listing of her works, and I'm sure I'll be adding to my collection thanks to you. I have copies of most of her 33rpm albums of the 50's which I consider a real treasure of art. Thanks for the discography.

  • "Many happy memories " - Hal A Hill

    I have many happy memories of first hearing June Christy with the Kenton Orchestra, and the superb recordings she made with other people. What a thrill it is to find this site you have created. I remember the big trip to Dublin to hear the Kenton Band live, and later hiring a bus to take fans from Bradford to Sheffield to see the Master. And later in Toronto (at Massey Hall) seeing the Kenton Band, Four Freshmen and June Christy. I will be visiting your site for more memories I can assure you.

  • "Plantation Club" - Nell McBride

    I'm a grandma and a new cyberone at that! Just happened upon one of our very favorites, June Christy. "How High the Moon" by June and Stan is Our song--and we've been married almost 47 years. We saw them at the Plantation Club in Dallas, Texas--in the 40's--can't remember the exact year. My heart is still pounding hearing her beautiful voice. Thank you so much. Of course, we only have 78's of their recordings. No one better than Stan Kenton or June Christy.Thanks.

  • "Iowa City" - Steven Blaski

    Love your June Christy Web site! Thanks for all the fine work you put into it!

  • "Memories" - Bill Hurme

    What a wonderful page. Brings back memories.I saw Kenton many times in person, and June Christy as well.

  • "More Young Blood" - Melissa Bowers

    I was so excited when I came across this web site devoted to my favorite singer, June Christy. I first heard her when I purchased the Capitol sings Rogers and Hart CD a few years ago. On that CD she sings "You Took Advantage of Me". I loved her voice instantly and have since purchased whatever cd's I can get my hands on. I also just purchased a record player just so I can listen to her records which have not been released on CD yet. I sing, too, (hopefully someday professionally) and I look to June Christy as my greatest influence. Being 22, I am one of her younger fans, but I'm getting my even younger siblings to listen to her, too! I would like to hear from other June Christy or Chris Connor Fans. Thanks for a great web site!!

  • "Terrific page" - Joel Falcon

    Glad I found your terrific page on Miss Christy..as a kid I grew up listening to her records with the Kenton Band. Guess what? In those days I thought she was Stan's wife! So little was printed about the individuals (maybe I was just too young to know any better then), that now any chance I have, I'm reading about my favorite jazz musicians. Again, thanks for the memory (and information).

  • "Castro Valley" - Mitchell Lehrman

    I was happy to find your site as I've been a fan of June for a long long time. Although I didn't know her personally I am very intimate with her music as well as Stan Kenton and Pete Rugulo. I would love to share my knowledge with you.

  • "LOVE IN CAPITOLS" - KEN PAYSEUR

    I TOO LOVE JUNE ! HER ALBUMS SELL PRETTY WELL OVER HERE.SOMETHING COOL IS THE ONLY JAZZ ALBUM FROM THE 50'S THAT HAS NEVER WENT OUT OF PRINT IN AMERICA.WAY TO GO JUNE.I'VE BEEN A JUNE JUNKIE FOR 5 YEARS NOW,I'M 30.I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOMEONE TO COMPARE NOTES WITH.MY SNAIL MAIL IS KEN PAYSEUR 2102-A DIAMOND CREEK CIRCLE,CHARLOTTE,NC 28273 USA

    Pt.2 Just wanted to say how much I enjoy your page.I check it every week to see if anything new has been released.Can hardly wait until Fair and Warmer/Gone for the Day has been released.Has anyone written a book about June yet ?Also,I'm looking for information on Mrs.Stan Kenton,wonderful Anne Richards.No one seems to know anything about her.

  • "Pink Thunderbird" - Jack Sandmeier

    What a wonderful site on June. I met June once in the early 70's at Creative World 1012 So. Robertson, L. A. office. The Kenton band was on Christmas break, I was standing outside smoking a cigerette. This 50' s pink thunderbird convertable pulls up. This lady gets out with a scarf around her head, and wide sunglasses. She had come to the office to see Stan. I introduced myself as well as she? "Your JUNE CHISTY?" I was blown away. We had quite a little chat before she went inside. She was there most all afternoon. It was quite a sight to see Stan hanging out with June. Keep up the good work.

    Jack Sandmeier, former road mgr., Stan Kenton Orch.

  • "Betwitched, Bothered & Bewildered" - Noel Wedder

    Trust me, Christy would be extremely pleased with the enormous amount of work you have put into her website.

    It's quite obvious you loved her as much as we all did.

    It was a disc jockey in Chicago who first began calling her "misty".
    I thought you'd like to know it was Daddy O'Daylie, a black disc jockey out of Chicago, who adored her work, who began calling her 'The Misty Miss Christy.'

    Are you aware that the take on 'Betwitched, Bothered & Bewildered' on the 'Road Show' album was done twice before a live audience, who were more than willing to stay at the end of the concert just to hear her sing again?
    Listen again to how sensitively and persuasively Joe Castro's piano work moves ever so gracefully underneath her helping her to achieve a level of perfection that brought the audience to its feet. It was a moment in time I will treasure and never forget.
    Although she was suffering mightly from a bad cold she never sang better, which the audience let her know after each number.

    She was one of the great lights of my life. I miss her. Immensely.

    Visit the newly-designed STAN KENTON ORCHESTRA Website at: http://www.i2k.com/~nwedder/kenton2.htm

  • "Get Happy" - Bob Wright

    Jim, my thanks for all the good work you've put into this web page about June Christy. You've done a super job. I came to your page after searching on June Christy to find out if there was a CD version of her Get Happy. In about 5 minutes, after checking your page, I found that it was on, among other items, the Jazz Sessions album, together with a number of other great hits. One minute later I was on Amazon.com, ordering the CD, which arrived 3 days later. You have inspired me to obtain many more of June's albums and perhaps to start on the path of learning a small part of what you already know about such a fine singer. Thanks again.

  • "Temecula" - Alex R. Lizardo, Lt Col, U.S. Army (Retired)

    Really enjoyed visiting your site and receiving all the information concerning June Christy. To my joy, I found the recording that I wanted most,for too many years ...My Heart Belongs to Only You by June. That song has particular significance to me as I first heard it when I was in the Korean War and serving with Korean Partisans north of friendly forces. I heard the recording on short wave on the Armed Forces network and have never forgotten the song. Unfortunately, I never obtained a record and only until the advent of the Internet did I find easy reference to her work.

  • "Castro Valley - again" - Mitchell Lehrman

    Dear Jim: It has been a while since we corresponded. I'm Mitchell Lehrman a fan from Castro Valley, California. I have something interesting to share. I spoke to Pete Rugulo at his home on Friday and I must tell you, What a treat it was! We talked about everything from June to his current things. He is alive and well and what a nice man. We could have visited for much longer too. Keep up the great great work.

  • "Locked in our hearts" - Ben Friedman

    Thank you for this wonderful tribute to the Godgiven and soulful talents of June Christy. She will be locked in our hearts forever. Why do the moguls of music stand by and refuse to issue and/or drag their feet on talent such as June had? Why must we be forced to scrounge around in garage sales ,used record bins etc. to relive and enjoy the inspired talent that June had? Certainly if you needed any of Ella's or Billie's reissues there appear to be a plethora of them. It is puzzling to me that Capital & Mike Cuscuna have to "starve us out for reissues of a talent such as June's whom a new and younger generation could appreciate and in fact celebrate as we do. Once again many thanks yoU warmed my heart with this web site. I am so glad that I am not alone in my appreciation of June. The review of June's funeral ceremonys was heart breaking. You are helping to keep the flame alive.

  • "Pipe Dream" - Marty(?)

    I can only say that I empathize with your frustration(s) that the Misty Miss Christy's important and marvelous work for Capitol is mostly un-issued on CD. I wrote to Mr. Cuscuna about three years ago asking why Mosaic does no vocal boxes and got an answer that 'record companies don't lease their vocalists' et cetera; but my opinion is that if they're not going to do it themselves, someone has to! I had hope for the twofer series commemorating EMI's 100th in the U.K., but there was not even a single Christy release . I have this pipe dream that Bear Family in Germany will deign to do a box on our Miss Christy, but I don't have much hope as she is not "Americana" enough for them. Maybe if enough of us write to Capitol or Mr. Cuscuna, some of those wonderful Capitol albums will get twoferred up somewhere in the world. Unbelievably, Japan has even been lax in Christy re-issues! Her work is just too important to be ignored this way; 'standards to be' is right on the money. [Mosaic did at least do a Kenton '40's box...but still]

  • "Keeps me company" - Matt Kaye

    Thank you for remembering..She keeps me company many a nights ,as she does now at this very minute. What a sweetheart!!! GOD must have been very lonely to call her when HE did,,,,Thank you again Matt.

  • "A Great June Story" - Jeff Stork

    Wanted to say how much I loved your site. June is my all time favorite female vocalist and I have always thought, the most under appreciated female vocalist of our time. I spent my childhood years listening to "The Misty Miss Christy" and "June, Fair and Warmer" which were my father's favorite albums. I heard a wonderful story lately that I thought you might get a kick out of. Recently, in Monrovia, California, there was the annual Stan Kenton reunion for his former players. I had the good fortune to meet a man named Ed Gabel, who was Stan Kenton's road manager in the 1944-1945 era. At the time, he was just seventeen years old. He told me the story of Anita O' Day's impending departure, and how Anita had suggested Shirley Luster, and that Kenton sent for her and she joined the band in Chicago. Apparently Ed, who was known to the band as Gabe, loved her voice but did not think her name was memorable, and had taken it upon himself to ask the audiences at early performances what they thought of the new singer. He told me that the usual reaction was "She's great- What's her name again?", and decided to approach Kenton. Gabe told me that he had a discussion with Kenton on the tour bus. He said Stan agreed that maybe she needed a new name, and "What do you suggest?" Gabe said he was flabbergasted as he had didn't have a name in mind. He said the thought the name should be short and crisp. He told me that he rummaged through the months, thought May was too "old lady", and came to June, Gabe's own birth month, and the current month at the time. Stan liked June, but then asked Gabe what to do about a last name. Gabe began thinking of crisp, which led him to Christmas, and finally Christy. Stan said he liked the combination, and asked Gabe to go get Shirley, who was dozing a few rows back with her head on Bob Cooper's shoulder. Gabe advised that he went down and told her that Stan wanted to see her. He said that Shirley Luster walked down the aisle to Kenton's seat (always in the second row), but that June Christy walked back. You'd probably like talking to Gabe. He thinks the world of June to this day.

  • "Montpelier" - John Lincoln

    My first exposure to "progressive" jazz was 45 years ago as a member of the 25th Infantry Div. Band in Hawaii...all the cats in the band were blowing records by Kenton, et al, and June Christy was the rage with "Midnight Sun"..."Love Turns Winter to Spring"...and such. Your page is marvelous...many, many thanx for the trip back.

  • "June's warm reassurance" - Wayne A. Rhoades

    I was so thrilled with your site! June has been a favorite since one night in about 1953, when I heard a transcription of her music with paige cavanaugh on an fm station from Crawfordsville, Indiana. I wrote to the station about this, but they said that it was a studio transcription, and highly unavailable. Later, daddy o'daley (sp?), a fine dj on a chicago station spread her work throughout the midwest. It was he who gave her the name "misty miss christy". he was ahead of her time. spoke mostly in verse. like rap, but beautiful and soothing, not the opposite. his theme song was Lionel Hampton's "Midnight Sun". a suberb ending to each hard day! June's warm reassurance helped me through many a rough time at the University of Illinois. nothing quite satisfies the same way since. I saw june perform only once, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in 1956. it was a wonderful concert, indeed. thank you for this nice treat!

  • "Buffalo" - RICK KAYE

    I am an ardent Christy fan from Buffalo, and having recently found the web page I felt compelled to write. I have collected her material for about 15 years now, since "discovering" her. Too bad it was so far after the fact, because it was extremely difficult to get the albums in the 80's. But I did manage to acquire just about all of them, and have since purchased the CD's as they continue to be reissued. I really think the page is great. I am struck by the commentary by her nephew. I had no idea she was performing as recently as 1985... and had reunited with Kenton in the late 70's. Amazing. Does anyone know if any of it was recorded or not? I would LOVE to hear a tape of some of those later sessions. In fact, though I love her early work, my favorite album is IMPROMPTU... That album is just beyond belief. I see in your listings that IMPROMPTU is available now on four different labels... Do you know if any of them are alternate takes or are they just carbon copies of each other? You also may know of other "recent" June that I might be able to obtain - please send me any info! I also see an interesting CD on the list: "A FRIENDLY SESSION VOL I". I know I don't have that one, do you know the approximate date of that recording? I can't believe THE CHRISTMAS SONG is on there! That CD is a must-have for me, so if you know where it is available let me know!! I actually wrote to June on several occasions, but I never got a reply. Then I learned later that she was in ill health. In my letters I tried to persuade her to record again, having liked the IMPROMPTU session so much. I feel to this day that it is a waste not to have more from the mid sixties and on... but again, that's why I ask you what may be out there that I am unaware of. Look forward to your reply.

  • "The Sweetheart of them all" - May Diggs

    It was with some trepidation that I purchased my first computer a couple of weeks ago. I was delighted, however, to find your web page dedicated to June Christy!
    I was most privileged and very blessed to have had her and Coop a part of my life for some 30 years. (Coop gave me away at my wedding back in 1969.)
    Christy was a gal of enormous warmth, compassion, and thoughtfulness. She was a great down-home cook, funny, fiercely loyal, and absolutely intolerant of intolerance.

    Regarding her nephew's letter to you...Yes, she was right-handed -- and I agree 100%, her handwriting is a thing of beauty! And, she was,indeed, a very talented painter. I have several of her paintings hanging in my home.
    As to her height, she stood 5'4" (same as I) and weighed a hundred or so pounds (same as I -- back then). We could and did wear each others clothes.
    One of June's paintings -

    And I know the almanac gives the date of her passing as 6-21-90. But, when Coop phoned me, he said it was in the early morning hours of 6-22. And her memorial cards read 6-22-90. So there you have it!
    It's great to know so many others are keeping her memory alive in their hearts just as she and Coop will always live in mine.

    She was a self-described "homebody" -- always anxious, when the tour was over, to get back to that beloved house in the hills overlooking the San Fernando Valley.
    She loved her Siamese (usually 2 or 3 at a time) cats -- Oh, and once they had a gorgeous Burmese. Broke her heart when he disappeared. Saki was really quick, and sneaky, too; always looking for a chance to zip out an open door to the outside. Many were the days and nights I got a call to come up and help look for that cat. One day we just couldn't find him...

    -- She was happiest just sitting on the floor by the fireside and talking (always with some cool jazz in the background), or working a jigzaw puzzle, or reading (She was an avid reader.), or watching old movies on TV (these were pre-VCR days) -- Roz Russell's "Auntie Mame" was a favorite -- as she waited for Coop to get home. He played for many years with The Tonight Show band on Johnny Carson's show. And, after that taping was done, would often go on to play a club date or do a recording session.

    Someone else they "adopted" was Nana. Christy and Coop wanted a very special person to care for baby Shay when she couldn't be there herself. That was Nana. But Nana had no close family -- so, even after Shay no longer required her care, they kept her on and paid her a salary, though, by this time, it was they caring for Nana -- which they did until her death (picking up the funeral expenses) in the late 1960s. We donī't know how old she was -- Nana had her secrets! We suspect she was 90ish...

    To clarify any doubts -- Christy was born in Springfield, Illinois, but raised in Decatur. Her father owned a gas station and they lived in rooms above it. She graduated from Decatur High School, where she had been on the cheer leading squad. And her mother, by the way, DID NOT want her going off with Kenton. It was one thing to sing with territory bands -- heading out to Lord knows where -- that was entirely another matter! Over Christy's objections, Stan insisted on coming to Decatur himself -- where, turning on the charm, he assured Mrs. Luster he would personally look after her daughter.

    She never appreciated how great a vocalist she was. Sherecounted to me once how thrilled she was when, at a charity concert, Frank Sinatra greeted her backstage. "He knew who I was!" I was dumbfounded,blurting out, "Well, he bloody well better!!!" Her singing idol was Ella.
    I remember her telling me how, early on in her Kenton days, they were sitting in a coffee shop in Chicago and Ella came over to their table and said, "You sing pretty good, kid." She was blown away. Many, many years later, she and I went to see Ella at the Hollywood Bowl. Christy watched her enthralled, tears welling in her eyes...The only time I ever heard her speak well of her own styling was one evening up at the house I insisted she put on one of her own albums. "Well, only to please you. What would you like to hear?" "The Song is June." It did then and still does give me goosebumps and just chokes me up when, in the title song, she goes acappella with, "...Why can't I (in come the violins welling up under) let you know the song my heart would sing..." -- I get teary just writing about it! Slowly shaking her head, she acknowledges, "You know, honey, I DO sound pretty good there." There and everywhere, my friend!!!
    She was for me and always will be, "the sweetheart of them all!"

  • "The greatest singer" - Mike Walsh

    Add my name to your list of fans of the greatest singer.

  • "Woonderful!!" - Albert A.Johnson

    Just found the June Christy Home Page through a jazzlink. I love it. I've enjoyed her singing since I purchased her "Something Cool" album in 1954. I've been buying her CDs the last couple of years. I guess one of my other favorites of June's is "Gone For The Day". Keep up the great work. Thank you, Al

  • "AFN Frankfurt" - Richard Ferguson

    Only recently when I was browsing through the jazz discs in a Toronto record store ,did I get re-acquainted with the work of June Christy.I bought the "SONG IS JUNE" and I then sent away for "SOMETHING COOL" I have been playing them both constantly ever since. I was immediately taken back to my teenage years in Scotland where I listened to the AFN broadcast from Frankfurt, I think. You could definitely say that I lost some sleep over Miss Christy as this always took place at night when everyone else was sleeping. As I recall when she sang with Stan Kenton they did not represent the mainstream and Kenton's music was looked on as a bit loud and avant garde by the teenagers that I went to school with, but I always thought that Miss Christy was special and very different from the pop stars of the 40's and 50's who always sang with supreme optimism and without the detachment and uderlying moodiness of June. Yours Richard Ferguson, Stratford, Ontario,Canada.

  • "Kay Starr Fans?" - Robin Shepard

    I have been reading your web page dedicated to June Christy for some time now. I'm glad to know it exists as I am a great fan of this wonderful singer. I am a record collector and I'm always on the lookout for the Capital recordings of the 50s. I've been buying the CDs of June, but I prefer the records. I have a huge collection of Kay Starr. She is really my favorite singer from this period, but, I can't find a Kay Starr site on the internet. Do you have any suggestions of where I might find other Kay Starr fans? Best wishes!

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