Teddi King

Here is a season song by the great jazz singer Teddi King.
Teddi King (1929-1977) was an American jazz and pop vocalist. Born Theodora King in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1929, she won a singing competition hosted by Dinah Shore at Boston's Tributary Theatre, later beginning work in a touring revue involved with "cheering up the military in the lull between the Second World War and the Korean conflict". Improving her vocal and piano technique during this time, she first recorded with Nat Pierce in 1949, later recording with the Beryl Booker trio and with several other small groups from 1954-1955 (recordings which were available on three albums for Storyville). She then toured with George Shearing for two years beginning in the summer of 1952, and for a time was managed by the famed George Wein. King later began performing for a time in Las Vegas. Ultimately signing with RCA, she recorded three albums for the label, beginning with 1956's Bidin' my time. Her critically praised 1959 album All the kings' songs found her interpreting the signature songs of contemporary male singers like Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole (the "kings" of the title). In the 1960s, she opened the Playboy Club, where she often performed. She retired because of wealth problems and made a brief comeback with a 1977 album featuring Dave McKenna, and with two more albums recorded for Audiophile released posthumously. King's style, influenced by Lee Wiley, Mildred Bailey and Mabel Mercer, has won her a devoted cult following.

Enjoy Teddi King's style!

April showers

Another live performance by the great Teddi King: Here I come (on Playboy after dark, circa 1959).