Teresa Brewer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Teresa Brewer
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Teresa Brewer in the trailer for the film Those Redheads from Seattle
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Theresa Veronica Breuer |
| Born | May 7, 1931 Toledo, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | October 17, 2007 (aged 76) New Rochelle, New York, U.S. |
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| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1949–1999 |
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Teresa Brewer (born Theresa Veronica Breuer; May 7, 1931 – October 17, 2007) was a famous American singer. She was known for her many styles of music, including pop, country, jazz, and R&B. Teresa was one of the most popular female singers in the 1950s. She recorded almost 600 songs during her career!
Contents
Early Life
Teresa Brewer was born in Toledo, Ohio. She was the oldest of five children in her family. Her father, Ludwig Brauer, came from Germany. Her mother, Helen, had Polish family roots. Teresa and her family were Catholic.
Her Amazing Career
Teresa's journey in show business began very early. When she was just 2 years old, her mom entered her in a show called The Uncle August Kiddie Show. Audiences loved her right away!
At age 7, Teresa joined The Major Bowles Amateur Hour. This show helped her travel and perform all over the country. When she was 12, her mother wanted her to finish school. So, Teresa took a break from touring.
Starting in New York
In 1947, at age 16, Teresa went to New York City. She started singing in nightclubs there. This is where she met her first husband, Bill Monahan.
An agent named Richie Lisella heard her sing. He helped her get a contract with London Records. In 1949, she recorded a jazz song called "Copenhagen".
Her Biggest Hit
For the other side of the record (called the B-side), she recorded "Music! Music! Music!". Surprisingly, this B-side song became a huge hit! It sold over a million copies. "Music! Music! Music!" became Teresa's most famous song.
She also had other fun songs like "Choo'n Gum" in 1950. Teresa liked singing slower songs called ballads. But her only ballad to become a hit was "Longing for You" in 1951.
Changing Record Labels
In 1951, Teresa moved to a new record company, Coral Records. She couldn't read music, so she listened to demo recordings to learn new songs. She had many more hits with Coral Records.
In 1953, her song "Till I Waltz Again with You" became her best-selling hit. She also sang many cover versions of popular R&B and country songs. These included "Pledging My Love" and "Tweedle Dee".
In 1956, Teresa co-wrote a song called "I Love Mickey". It was about the famous baseball player Mickey Mantle. He even appeared on the record with her! Another hit that year was "A Sweet Old Fashioned Girl". This song showed off both her ballad and rock-style singing.
Later Years in Music
Teresa kept releasing albums in the 1960s. However, new music styles like the British Invasion changed what people wanted to hear. Her record sales slowed down.
She appeared on TV shows like The Muppet Show in 1977. She also sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at a major baseball game in 1968.
Exploring Jazz Music
In the 1980s and 1990s, Teresa started singing jazz music. She recorded many albums that honored famous jazz artists. She worked with jazz legends like Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Dizzy Gillespie.
One important album was Softly I Swing in 1992. She recorded nearly 600 songs in total during her long career.
Personal Life
Teresa married William "Bill" Monahan in 1949. They had four daughters: Kathleen, Susan, Megan, and Michelle. Later, she married Bob Thiele in 1972.
Honors and Recognition
Teresa Brewer has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This honor celebrates her contributions to the music industry. In 2007, she was also added to the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
Her Passing
Teresa Brewer passed away on October 17, 2007, at her home in New Rochelle, New York. She was 76 years old. She died from a health condition called progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).
Her Influence on Others
Teresa's music even inspired other famous singers. For example, Elvis Presley performed her song "Till I Waltz Again with You" when he was in 12th grade. It was one of his first public singing experiences!
See also
In Spanish: Teresa Brewer para niños
