Ethel Merman (January 16, 1908 – February 15, 1984) was an American actress… Read Full Bio ↴Ethel Merman (January 16, 1908 – February 15, 1984) was an American actress and singer. Known primarily for her belting voice and roles in musical theatre, she has been called "the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage." Among the many standards introduced by Merman in Broadway musicals are "I Got Rhythm", "Everything's Coming Up Roses", "Some People", "Rose's Turn", "I Get a Kick Out of You", "It's De-Lovely", "Friendship", "You're the Top", "Anything Goes", and "There's No Business Like Show Business", which later became her theme song.
Ethel Agnes Zimmerman was born in the third floor bedroom of her grandmother's house at 359 4th Avenue in Astoria, Queens. Growing up near Famous Players-Lasky's Astoria Studios, young Ethel often watched the silent movie stars drive by in their massive cars, and she dreamed of joining their ranks one day. Her powerful voice won attention when her family worshipped at Holy Redeemer Episcopal Church, and she began making local concert appearances. She also frequently attended vaudeville performances at The Palace Theater in Manhattan, watching great stars like Fanny Brice and Sophie Tucker.
Ethel's parents Edward (an accountant) and Agnes (a school teacher) understood Ethel's love of singing, but they did not see show business as a reliable career choice for a woman. They insisted that she get a solid education with thorough training in secretarial skills, so she would have something to fall back on if her dreams of stardom didn't pan out. After Ethel graduating William Cullen Bryant High School, she earned a respectable $28 a week as a stenographer for the owner of a local factory. She picked up extra money by singing at private parties and in night clubs. Ethel was so efficient that her indulgent boss (who only came in two days a week) overlooked her taking nap breaks at the office after late night performances. When Ethel's gigs multiplied, her parents accepted the inevitable and allowed her to give up the day job and sing full-time.
Ethel Agnes Zimmerman was born in the third floor bedroom of her grandmother's house at 359 4th Avenue in Astoria, Queens. Growing up near Famous Players-Lasky's Astoria Studios, young Ethel often watched the silent movie stars drive by in their massive cars, and she dreamed of joining their ranks one day. Her powerful voice won attention when her family worshipped at Holy Redeemer Episcopal Church, and she began making local concert appearances. She also frequently attended vaudeville performances at The Palace Theater in Manhattan, watching great stars like Fanny Brice and Sophie Tucker.
Ethel's parents Edward (an accountant) and Agnes (a school teacher) understood Ethel's love of singing, but they did not see show business as a reliable career choice for a woman. They insisted that she get a solid education with thorough training in secretarial skills, so she would have something to fall back on if her dreams of stardom didn't pan out. After Ethel graduating William Cullen Bryant High School, she earned a respectable $28 a week as a stenographer for the owner of a local factory. She picked up extra money by singing at private parties and in night clubs. Ethel was so efficient that her indulgent boss (who only came in two days a week) overlooked her taking nap breaks at the office after late night performances. When Ethel's gigs multiplied, her parents accepted the inevitable and allowed her to give up the day job and sing full-time.
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Classic Years of Ethel Merman
Ethel Merman Lyrics
An Earful of Music There is a ??? In my ears And it's awful nice…
Anything You Can Do Anything you can do, I can do better than You…
Dearie Dearie, do you remember when we Waltzed to the Sousa band My…
Doin' What Comes Naturally Folks are dumb where I come from, They ain't had…
Eadie Was A Lady Maud and Mabel, seated at a table Talking over bygone days M…
Friendship If you're ever in a jam, here I am If…
Heat Wave We're having a heat wave, A tropical heat wave, The temperat…
How Deep Is the Ocean How much do I love you? I'll tell you no…
I Get a Kick out of You My story is much too sad to be told But practically…
I Got Rhythm Days can be sunny, with never a sigh Don't need what…
I Got the Sun in the Morning Taking stock of what I have and what I haven't What…
I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues I got a right to sing the blues I got a…
It's De-Lovely The night is young, the skies are clear So if…
Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries People are queer, they're always crowing, scrambling and rus…
Red Hot And Blue Due to the tragic lowness of my brow, All music that's…
Ridin' High Life's great, life's grand, Future all planned, No more clou…
The Hostess with the Mostes' on the Ball I was born on a thousand acres of Oklahoma land Nothing…
The Lady in Red I've never seen you looking so lovely as you did…
The Say It's Wonderful They say that falling love is wonderful It's wonderful, so t…
You Can't Get a Man with a Gun Oh, my mother was frightened by a shotgun, they say That's…
You're Just in Love I hear singing and there's no one there I smell blossoms…
You're the Top At words poetic, I'm so pathetic That I always have…