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
-
Happy Birthday Jeri (All Tracks Remastered)
Jazz - Paru chez Millennium Digital Remaster le 5 août 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Meets Johnny Smith (Album of 1958)
Jeri Southern, Johnny Smith Quartet
Pop - Paru chez Vocal Classics le 30 avr. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Very Thought of You (All Tracks Remastered 2018)
Jazz - Paru chez Millennium Digital Remaster le 11 août 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
At the Crescendo
Lounge - Paru chez Ancien Prodige le 4 avr. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Coffee, Cigarettes & Memories
Lounge - Paru chez Ancien Prodige le 23 févr. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Southern Hospitality
Lounge - Paru chez Ancien Prodige le 6 janv. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Prelude to a Kiss: The Story of a Love Affair
Lounge - Paru chez Ancien Prodige le 16 sept. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Southern Breeze
Lounge - Paru chez Ancien Prodige le 6 janv. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Remasters (All Tracks Remastered)
Jazz - Paru chez Millennium Digital Remaster le 4 sept. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes / I Remember You (Remastered 2019)
Pop - Paru chez Hit Singles Records le 29 août 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Autumn In My Heart / That Ole Devil Called Love (All Tracks Remastered)
Pop - Paru chez Hit Singles Records le 14 juin 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
When Your Heart's On Fire - Part 1 (All Tracks Remastered)
Pop - Paru chez Hit Singles Records le 8 janv. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
-
Deep In A Dream
Jeri Southern, Lennie Hayton Orchestra
Jazz - Paru chez Absolute Music le 19 juin 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -