On a 1937 recording with Artie Shaw, she was credited as Beatrice Wayne, which led some to assume that was her real name. On record labels, her name was shortened (without her permission) to "Bea" by the record company, ostensibly for space considerations. As she explained, "They cut it to 'Bea' Wain. They cut the 'Beatrice' out to 'Bea.' I was just a little old girl singer, but that's the truth. So that's how my name became 'Bea Wain'."
She led the vocal group Bea and the Bachelors (with Al Rinker, Ken Lane, and John Smedberg) and the V8 (seven boys and a girl) on the Fred Waring show. In 1937, Wain joined former Tommy Dorsey arranger Larry Clinton and His Orchestra, which she joined after doing chorus work with Fred Waring and Ted Sttraeter. Her debut with Clinton was made in the summer of 1938 at the Glen Island Casino, New York. She was featured with Clinton on a number of hit tunes, including "Martha" and "Heart and Soul". In 1939, she was voted the most popular female band vocalist in Billboard annual college poll, and that same year she began her solo career. Her first theater tour as a solo led to her being signed for the Your Hit Parade and RCA Victor records.
Wain made her debut on radio at age six as a "featured performer" on the NBC Children's Hour.
Wain had four No. 1 hits: "Cry, Baby, Cry", "Deep Purple", "Heart and Soul", and her signature song, "My Reverie".
On May 1, 1938, Wain married radio announcer André Baruch. Their honeymoon in Bermuda was cut short when Fred Allen called Baruch asking him to return to New York to substitute for his ailing announcer, Harry von Zell. They were married for 53 years. Baruch died in 1991. The couple had two children, Bonnie and Wayne.
Following her musical career, the couple worked as a husband-and-wife disc jockey team in New York on WMCA, where they were billed as "Mr. and Mrs. Music". In 1973, the couple moved to Palm Beach, Florida, where for nine years they had a top-rated daily four-hour talk show from 2 pm - 6 pm on WPBR before relocating to Beverly Hills. During the early 1980s, the pair hosted a syndicated version of Your Hit Parade, reconstructing the list of hits of selected weeks in the 1940s and playing the original recordings.
In a 2004 interview with Christopher Popa, Wain reflected: "Actually, I've had a wonderful life, a wonderful career. And I'm still singing, and I'm still singing pretty good. This past December, I did a series of shows in Palm Springs, California, and the review said, "Bea Wain is still a giant." It's something called Musical Chairs. I did six shows in six different venues, and I was a smash. And I really got a kick out of it."
On a Wing and a Prayer
Bea Wain Lyrics
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Comin' in on a wing and a prayer
With our one motor gone
We can still carry on
Comin' in on a wing and a prayer
What a show, what a fight
Boys, we really hit our target for tonightHow we sing as we limp through the air
Look below, there's our field over there
With our one motor gone
We can still carry on
Comin' in on a wing and a prayer
Comin' in on a wing and a prayer
Comin' in on a wing and a prayer
With our full crew on board
And our trust in the Lord
We're comin' in on a wing and a prayer
The song "Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer" was written by Harold Adamson and Jimmie McHugh in 1943 during the Second World War. The lyrics convey the story of a military aircraft that is severely damaged, with only one working engine left, and the crew is uncertain of whether they will make it back home safely. The lyrics express the crew's hope and faith in their abilities and a higher power as they come in to land on a "wing and a prayer". The song became very popular during the war years and was performed by many artists, such as Bea Wain.
The opening line of the song, "comin' in on a wing and a prayer," is a reference to the idea of flying on the edge, with little margin for error. The song is a tribute to the bravery and dedication of the men and women who served in the military during the Second World War. The song was popular because its message resonated with the audiences who themselves were affected by the war.
Line by Line Meaning
Comin' in on a wing and a prayer
We are coming in despite great odds and with little hope of success.
Comin' in on a wing and a prayer
We are putting all our hope and faith into this one attempt.
With our one motor gone
Despite losing one of our engines, we refuse to give up.
We can still carry on
We are determined to finish what we started, no matter the cost.
What a show, what a fight
We have been through an incredible battle to get here.
Boys, we really hit our target for tonight
We achieved our goal despite the difficult circumstances.
How we sing as we limp through the air
We are making the best of a bad situation and finding joy in the midst of hardship.
Look below, there's our field over there
We have a glimmer of hope in sight, a place to safely land.
With our full crew on board
We have every member of our team with us, united in our goal.
And our trust in the Lord
We have faith that a higher power is with us and will guide us to safety.
We're comin' in on a wing and a prayer
We are defying the odds and trusting in something greater than ourselves to bring us through.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HAROLD ADAMSON, JIMMY MC HUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind