June Christy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids June Christy
Christy at the Club Troubador, New York, c. 1947
Background information
Birth name	Shirley Luster
Also known as	Sharon Leslie
Born	(1925-11-20)November 20, 1925 Springfield, Illinois, U.S.
Died	June 21, 1990(1990-06-21) (aged 64) Sherman Oaks, California, U.S.
Genres	Pop, jazz, cool jazz
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	1938–1988
Labels	Capitol
Associated acts	Pete Rugolo The Stan Kenton Orchestra Boyd Raeburn Benny Strong

June Christy (born Shirley Luster; November 20, 1925 – June 21, 1990) was a famous American singer. She was known for her smooth voice and her work in cool jazz music. June became well-known when she sang with The Stan Kenton Orchestra. Later, she started her own solo career in 1954. Her first album, Something Cool, became very popular. After she passed away, many people said she was one of the best singers of her time.

Biography

Early Life and First Steps in Music

Shirley Luster was born in Springfield, Illinois, USA. When she was three years old, her family moved to Decatur, Illinois. She started singing with the Bill Oetzel Orchestra at just 13 years old.

While she was in high school, she performed with several local bands. After high school, she moved to Chicago. There, she changed her name to Sharon Leslie and sang with a group led by Boyd Raeburn. She later joined Benny Strong's band.

Singing with Stan Kenton's Orchestra

In 1945, June heard that the singer Anita O'Day had left Stan Kenton's Orchestra. June auditioned and was chosen to be their new vocalist. At this time, she changed her name again, becoming June Christy.

With Kenton's orchestra, her voice helped create many hit songs. These included "Shoo Fly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy" and "How High the Moon". Her song "Tampico" sold over a million copies in 1945. It became Stan Kenton's biggest-selling record.

When the Kenton orchestra took a break in 1948, June sang in nightclubs. She rejoined the band two years later. June also appeared as a guest singer on several of Kenton's albums.

In 1959, June Christy went on a big tour called Road Show. She performed with Stan Kenton and The Four Freshmen. They recorded some of these performances, which were later released as an album.

Starting a Solo Career

From 1947, June Christy began working on her own music. She often worked with arranger and bandleader Pete Rugolo. In 1954, she released her first solo album, Something Cool.

This album was recorded with Rugolo and a group of talented jazz musicians. Her husband, Bob Cooper, played many instruments on the album. Something Cool was re-released in 1955 with more songs. It was recorded again in stereo in 1960. June once said this album was "the only thing I've recorded that I'm not unhappy with."

Something Cool was very important for the "vocal cool" style of music in the 1950s. It reached the Top 20 Charts, as did her third album, The Misty Miss Christy.

Bob Cooper and June Christy c. 1947

Television Appearances and Touring

In the 1950s and 1960s, June Christy appeared on many TV shows. These included The Jackie Gleason Show (1953) and The Tonight Show (1955). She also performed on The Nat King Cole Show (1957).

June also sang in the first jazz concert shown on television. This was The Timex All-Star Jazz Show I in 1957. Other famous singers like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington were also on the show.

June toured around the world, performing in Europe, South Africa, Australia, and Japan. However, all the traveling started to affect her marriage. Because of this, she began to tour less in the 1960s.

Music experts R.M. Cook and Brian Morton praised June's singing. They said her voice was "sensuous" and great for long, controlled notes. They felt her performances of songs like "Something Cool" and "Midnight Sun" were truly special.

June Christy c. 1947

Personal Life

June Christy married musician Bob Cooper in 1947. In 1954, they had a daughter named Shay Christy Cooper. June also had an older brother, Jack A. Luster.

Later Years and Passing Away

June Christy mostly stopped working in the music business in 1969.

In 1972, she sang at the Newport Jazz Festival in New York City. There, she performed again with the Kenton Orchestra. She also sang at several jazz festivals in the late 1970s and 1980s. She often played with a group of famous West Coast jazz musicians.

June returned to the recording studio in 1977 to make her last solo album, Impromptu. She also gave an interview in 1987 for an album honoring Stan Kenton.

June Christy went on her final tour in 1988. Her very last performance was sharing the stage with jazz trumpeter Chet Baker.

June Christy passed away at her home in Sherman Oaks, California, on June 21, 1990. She was 64 years old.

Discography

June Christy released many albums during her career. Here are some of her most well-known ones:

Albums

See also

In Spanish: June Christy para niños