Nancy Holloway facts for kids

Nancy Holloway (born Nancy Brown; December 11, 1932 – August 28, 2019) was an American singer and actress. She became very popular in France during the 1960s. Nancy was known for her jazz, pop, and soul music. She lived and performed in France for most of her life.

Nancy Holloway: A Star in France

Early Life and Journey to Paris

Nancy Brown was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1932. She was one of ten children in her family. As a teenager, she got married, but the marriage did not last long. She kept her husband's last name, Holloway.

Nancy then moved to New York City. She worked different jobs before becoming a dancer. She was part of a dance group called the Beige Beauties. In 1954, Nancy traveled to Paris, France. There, she was asked to sing on stage at a club called the Mars Club. People loved her performance! She soon became a regular singer there. Nancy toured around Europe before returning to Paris. In 1959, she began singing at the famous Moulin Rouge nightclub.

Becoming a Singing Sensation

In 1961, actor André Pousse encouraged Nancy to appear on French television. That same year, she released her first song, "Le Boogie du bébé." This was a French version of an American song. Nancy became a successful pop singer, known for the "yé-yé" style. People in France loved her unique American accent when she sang American songs in French.

She released many popular songs in the 1960s. Some of these included "Dernier baiser" (a version of "Sealed with a Kiss") and "Fich’ le camp Jack" (a version of "Hit the Road Jack"). She also sang "Bye Bye" (a version of "My Guy") and "Elle t’aime" (a version of "She Loves You"). Nancy even sang a duet with French singer Nino Ferrer.

Acting and Later Career

Nancy Holloway also appeared in several films in the early 1960s. These included Ballade pour un voyou, Le bluffeur, and Cherchez l'idole. For a while, her acting work was more well-known than her singing. However, she continued to record music.

She became a respected performer in nightclubs. Nancy shared the stage with famous stars like Sammy Davis Jr., Quincy Jones, and Dizzy Gillespie. In 1969, her album Hello Dolly showed a change in her music style. She started singing more show tunes.

Nancy Holloway took a break from performing for some time. But she returned to concerts in the 1980s. In her later years, she actively supported charities that helped people with AIDS. Nancy retired from performing in 2008. She passed away in Paris in 2019, at the age of 86.

Nancy Holloway's Filmography

Nancy Holloway appeared in these films and TV shows:

• Ballade pour un voyou, directed by Claude-Jean Bonnardot (1963)
• Le Bluffeur directed by Sergio Gobbi (1964)
• Cherchez l'idole, directed by Michel Boisrond (1964)
• Le Gentleman de Cocody, directed by Christian-Jaque (1965)
• Corsaires et Flibustiers, directed by Claude Barma (1966)
• Jeu de massacre, directed by Alain Jessua (1967)
• Les Enfants de Caïn, directed by René Jolivet (1970)
• Le Cri du cormoran le soir au-dessus des jonques, directed by Michel Audiard (1970)
• Boulevard du rhum, directed by Robert Enrico (1971)