Role

:

Performer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

November 12, 1917 in Coalinga, CA

Death

:

July 16, 2008 in Century City, CA

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Jo Stafford was an American singer and songwriter who was born on November 12, 1917, in Coalinga, California. She was the third of four children born to parents who were both musicians. Her father, Grover Cleveland Stafford, was a classically trained musician who played the violin, while her mother, Anna York Stafford, was a pianist and singer. Stafford grew up in a musical household and began singing at a young age. She was encouraged by her parents to pursue a career in music, and she began taking voice lessons when she was just 12 years old. She attended Hollywood High School, where she was a member of the school's choir and performed in school musicals. After graduating from high school, Stafford began performing professionally. She sang with various bands and orchestras, including the Benny Goodman Orchestra and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. She also worked as a session singer, recording backup vocals for other artists. In 1944, Stafford signed a contract with Capitol Records, where she would remain for the rest of her career. Her first hit single, "Old Acquaintance," was released in 1945 and reached number 10 on the Billboard charts. She went on to have a string of hits throughout the 1940s and 1950s, including "I'll Be Seeing You," "Long Ago (And Far Away)," and "You Belong to Me." Stafford was known for her smooth, velvety voice and her ability to sing in a variety of styles, including jazz, pop, and classical. She was also a talented songwriter and wrote many of her own songs, including "No Other Love" and "Make Love to Me." In addition to her successful recording career, Stafford also appeared in several films and television shows. She made her film debut in the 1948 musical comedy "Words and Music," and went on to appear in several other films, including "The Glenn Miller Story" and "The Long, Long Trailer." She also had her own television show, "The Jo Stafford Show," which aired from 1954 to 1955. Throughout her career, Stafford received numerous awards and accolades. She won a Grammy Award in 1961 for Best Comedy Performance for her album "Jonathan and Darlene Edwards in Paris." She was also inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001. Despite her success, Stafford was known for her humility and her dedication to her family. She retired from the music industry in the 1960s to focus on raising her two children with her husband, Paul Weston, who was also a musician and arranger. She continued to perform occasionally, but her family always came first. Stafford passed away on July 16, 2008, at the age of 90. She left behind a legacy as one of the most talented and versatile singers of her time, and her music continues to be beloved by fans around the world.

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