Jeri Southern
A converted piano player and vocal coach, Jeri Southern became one of the most underrated jazz vocal interpreters of the 1950s despite a voice regarded as subpar. Transforming a potential failing into her prime strength, Southern was devastatingly effective at delivering songs charting the downhill romantic life of world-weary everywoman characters. After recording for Decca, Roulette, Capitol and Jasmine during the 1950s though, she abruptly retired after growing tired of the music industry.
Born in rural Nebraska, Jeri Southern played piano by ear at the age of three and began formal lessons three years later. She studied classical piano and voice at a school in Omaha, but after an introduction to jazz at a local nightclub, Southern quickly changed her focus. After graduation, she moved to Chicago and began making appearances at clubs during the late '40s, occasionally supporting Anita O'Day. Convinced to begin singing as well, Southern abandoned her classical training and began singing in a voice just several steps removed from her speaking voice.
After signing to Decca in 1951, her first hit, "You Better Go Now," established her style -- lyrically focused, somewhat desultory, and definitely lovesick, the style of singing often called (for better or worse) torch songs. Her decidedly unflashy voice lent additional weight to the lyrical concerns of other Southern favorites like "I Don't Know Where to Turn," "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye," "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "If I Had You." She also had a moderate hit in 1954 with "Joey" and toured with the Birdland Jazz Stars of 1957. Southern's LPs of the '50s for Decca utilized mostly small groups in an era of large orchestras, including top-flight jazz-pop names like Ralph Burns, Dave Barbour and Marty Paich.
After Southern recorded two LPs for Roulette during 1958, she moved to Capitol for her most celebrated album, 1959's Jeri Southern Meets Cole Porter, arranged by Billy May. She recorded only one additional LP for Capitol (live at the Crescendo) before retiring in 1961, disgusted at the state of traditional pop. She married several times, raised a family and worked as a piano/vocal coach in Hollywood until her death (from double pneumonia) in 1991. She was booked for her first studio time in years at the time of her death.
© John Bush /TiVo
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Happy Birthday Jeri (All Tracks Remastered)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Millennium Digital Remaster am 05.08.2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Very Thought of You (All Tracks Remastered 2018)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Millennium Digital Remaster am 11.08.2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
At the Crescendo
Lounge - Erschienen bei Ancien Prodige am 04.04.2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Meets Johnny Smith (Album of 1958)
Jeri Southern, Johnny Smith Quartet
Pop - Erschienen bei Vocal Classics am 30.04.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Coffee, Cigarettes & Memories
Lounge - Erschienen bei Ancien Prodige am 23.02.2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Southern Hospitality
Lounge - Erschienen bei Ancien Prodige am 06.01.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Prelude to a Kiss: The Story of a Love Affair
Lounge - Erschienen bei Ancien Prodige am 16.09.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Southern Breeze
Lounge - Erschienen bei Ancien Prodige am 06.01.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Remasters (All Tracks Remastered)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Millennium Digital Remaster am 04.09.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
An Occasional Man
Jazz - Erschienen bei CTS Digital am 11.03.2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes / I Remember You (Remastered 2019)
Pop - Erschienen bei Hit Singles Records am 29.08.2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Autumn In My Heart / That Ole Devil Called Love (All Tracks Remastered)
Pop - Erschienen bei Hit Singles Records am 14.06.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
When Your Heart's On Fire - Part 1 (All Tracks Remastered)
Pop - Erschienen bei Hit Singles Records am 08.01.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Deep In A Dream
Jeri Southern, Lennie Hayton Orchestra
Jazz - Erschienen bei Absolute Music am 19.06.2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Whats My Name
Jazz - Erschienen bei Absolute Music am 19.06.2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo