Muriel Smith (singer) facts for kids

Muriel Smith

Muriel Burrell Smith (born February 23, 1923 – died September 13, 1985) was an American singer. She became famous in the 1940s and 1950s. Muriel was a star in both musical theater and opera. She was also a "ghost singer" for several popular movies. This means she sang the songs, but another actor appeared on screen.

Muriel Smith is well-known in the UK for her 1953 hit song, "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me." This song reached number 3 on the music charts. Later, other artists like Mel Carter (in 1965) and Gloria Estefan (in 1994) also sang their own versions of the song.

Muriel Smith's Early Life and Training

Muriel Smith was born in New York City. We don't know much about her very early life. In 1937, she appeared on a popular radio show called Major Bowes' Amateur Hour.

In 1939, Muriel sang at a party. One of the guests, Elizabeth Westmoreland, was very impressed. She helped Muriel get a scholarship to the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Muriel was the first African-American student to study at Curtis. While she studied, she worked in a factory to support herself. She earned $15 each week. Muriel graduated in 1946. Famous musicians like Leonard Bernstein and Isaac Stern were in her graduating class.

Starting Her Career on Stage

Muriel Smith made her first appearance on Broadway in December 1943. She played the main character in Carmen Jones. This show was a modern version of the famous opera Carmen by Georges Bizet. Billy Rose and Oscar Hammerstein created this new version. The cast was made up entirely of African-American performers.

At that time, opera companies in the US often kept people of different races separate. Out of 115 actors in Carmen Jones, only one had worked on Broadway before. Carmen Jones was a big success. It ran on Broadway for 14 months. Muriel toured with the show until 1947. She also performed in two more Broadway revivals of the show.

In 1947, Muriel starred as Delphine in a play called 'Our Lan. She performed with William Veasey. Later, in 1947 and 1948, she appeared in Marc Blitzstein's opera The Cradle Will Rock. She also performed with the American Negro Theatre in 1948.

Moving to London and More Success

Muriel Smith moved to London in 1949. She performed in two shows called Sauce Tartare (1949) and Sauce Piquante (1950) at the Cambridge Theatre. These were Cecil Landeau revues, which are like musical shows with different acts.

After that, she performed in two Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals in London. She played Bloody Mary in South Pacific in 1951. Then, from 1953 to 1955, she played Lady Thiang in The King and I. Lady Thiang was the King's head wife in the show. She performed alongside Herbert Lom and Valerie Hobson.

In 1955, Muriel gave a special concert at the Wigmore Hall. Then she returned to the US. She appeared in another revival of Carmen Jones at the New York City Center. On December 17, 1956, she performed in a serious opera for the first time. She starred as Carmen at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Her performance on December 27, 1956, was even broadcast live on BBC radio.

Singing in Movies

Muriel Smith was also a "ghost singer" for several movies. This means she sang the songs, but another actor appeared on screen.

For example, she sang for Zsa Zsa Gabor in the 1952 movie Moulin Rouge. This film was about the artist Toulouse-Lautrec. Muriel also appeared in the movie as a character named Aicha. She also sang for April Olrich in the 1956 film The Battle of the River Plate.

Even more famously, she was the ghost singer for two songs in the 1958 Hollywood film South Pacific. She provided the singing voice for actress Juanita Hall for the songs "Bali Ha'i" and "Happy Talk".

Muriel was offered a role in the 1959 movie version of George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess. However, she turned down the part. She felt that the movie "doesn't do the right thing for my people."

Later Life and Legacy

Later in her life, Muriel Smith worked for a group called Moral Re-Armament. This group aimed to promote good values and understanding between people. She also taught voice lessons at Virginia Union University.

In 1984, she received an arts award from the National Council of Negro Women. She also appeared in several plays in different parts of the country. These included Equus in Richmond, Virginia, and the first performance of Sojourner Truth ... Ain't I a Woman? in 1985.

Muriel Smith passed away from cancer in 1985. She was 62 years old. She had moved to Richmond, Virginia, in 1974.

Muriel Smith's Movies