Childhood and rise to success
Born to Solomon and Anna Stein Shore, Jewish immigrants from Russia, she lived in Winchester, Tennessee. When she was two years old, she was stricken with polio (infantile paralysis), a disease that was not handled well at the time. Thankfully, her parents cared enough to provide intensive care for her, and she recovered and overcame the disease. However, she suffered from having a slightly deformed foot and limp, which did not physically impede her. She performed at a night club when she was only 14 years old.
When her mother died unexpectedly of a heart attack, Dinah went to Vanderbilt University, where she participated in many events and activities. She graduated from the university in 1938. She decided to get back into pursuing her career in singing, so she went to New York to audition for orchestras and radio stations. In many of her auditions, she sang the popular song "Dinah." When disc jockey Martin Block could not remember her name, he called her the "Dinah girl," and soon after the name stuck, becoming her stage name. She eventually was hired as a vocalist at radio station WNEW, where she sang with Frank Sinatra. She also recorded and performed with the Xavier Cugat orchestra. Eventually, she got her recording contract with RCA Victor records in 1940.
Career in the 1940s and 1950s
While recording on RCA Victor's Bluebird label, she released her first recording, "Yes, My Darling Daughter" and it became a major hit for her. Dinah's singing came to the attention of Eddie Cantor, and he signed her as a regular on his popular radio show, "Time to Smile", in 1940. Dinah credits him for teaching her self-confidence, comedic timing and the ways of connecting with an audience.
She was a featured vocalist on The Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street and soon became a successful radio and music star with her own radio show in 1943, "Call to Music". Also in 1943, she appeared in her first movie, "Thank Your Lucky Stars". The movie starred Eddie Cantor, and she soon went to another radio show, "Paul Whiteman Presents". During this time, America had been actively involved in World War 2 and Dinah became a popular favorite with the troops, similar to the popularity of Bing Crosby. She was having major record hits, like "I will Walk Alone" and "Blues In the Night", one of her first of many number-one hits to come. To support the troops overseas, who adored her singing, she participated in USO tours to Europe. She met a young actor ready to go into military service named George Montgomery. They married on December 3, 1943. Despite their marriage, Montgomery soon went into service. When he returned from the service, they settled in San Fernando, California. In 1948, their first child was born, a daughter named Messina, and they also adopted a son in 1954 named John David and then moved to Beverly Hills.
Dinah continued appearing in radio shows throughout the 1940s. She performed in radio shows like "Birds Eye-Open House" and "Ford Radio Show". One of her most popular recordings was "Baby It's Cold Outside" with Buddy Clark. The song was covered by many other artists, Ella Fitzgerald for example. Other hits followed this success like "Buttons and Bows" and "The Gypsy". She was a regular with Jack Smith on his radio show on CBS, which ran for 15 minutes. She went into many more movies. As an actress, Shore appeared in many musical films, such as "Belle of the Yukon" and "Up in Arms" (both in 1944), and "Till the Clouds Roll By" (1946). She was also featured in numerous TV movies and series. She lent her musical voice to two Disney films: "Make Mine Music" (1946) and "Fun and Fancy Free" (1947). In early 1946, she moved to another label, Columbia Records. In 1950 she made her television show debut on "The Ed Wynn Show" and also made a guest appearance on Bob Hope's first television show. After being on many other people's television shows, she got her own, "The Dinah Shore Show" in 1951. She did two fifteen minute shows a week for NBC. She won her first Emmy for the show in 1955. The show was sponsored by Chevrolet automobiles. The sponsor's theme song ("See the USA in your Chevrolet") became the singer's signature piece. She continued to appear in Chevrolet advertising through the 1950s.
Later career
From 1970 through 1980, Shore hosted two daytime programs, "Dinah's Place" (1970-1974) on NBC and "Dinah!" (later "Dinah and Friends") in syndication from 1974 through 1980. On her show "Dinah!", she once had the misfortune of interviewing the comedian Andy Kaufman in his Tony Clifton guise. He took deliberate offense at her questions and eventually tipped a pan of eggs over her head. This happened live on the air in front of a huge TV audience and Shore's producers cut to an impromptu commercial as Kaufman was escorted out of the studio.
TV screenshot image
Shore, with her Dixie drawl and demure manner, was always identified with the South, and guests on her shows often commented on it.
Shore won nine Emmys, a Peabody Award and a Golden Globe.
Shore guest starred on "Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special", calling Pee-wee on his picturephone and singing "The 12 Days of Christmas". Throughout the special, Pee-wee walks past the picture phone, only to hear her going past the original 12 days ("...on the 500th day of Christmas...")
Personal life
Shore was married to actor George Montgomery from 1943 to 1962 and had a daughter, Melissa Ann (known today as Melissa Montgomery-Hime, executor of the Dinah Shore Trust and the owner of the rights to most of Shore's television series). Shore later adopted a son, John David 'Jody' Montgomery. After her divorce from Montgomery, she briefly married Maurice Smith. In the early 1970s, Shore had a long and happy public romance with actor Burt Reynolds, who was 20 years her junior. The relationship gave Shore an updated, sexy image, and took some of the pressure off Reynolds in maintaining his image as a ladies' man.
Death and legacy
Dinah Shore died in Beverly Hills, California of ovarian cancer at age 77 (5 days before her 78th birthday). Her ashes were divided and she has two burial sites. Half were interred in the Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California and the other half interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery (Cathedral City) near her beloved second home in Palm Springs, California.
Shore's legacy resonates posthumously, with a 1998 album featuring the arrangement skills of Andre Previn combined with the re-releasing of some of her classic recordings like 'April in Paris', and 'My Funny Valentine', garnering moderate success.
Anniversary Song
Dinah Shore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
we vowed our true love though a word wasn't said.
The world was in bloom, there were stars in the skies
except for the few that were there in your eyes.
Dear, as I held you so close in my arms,
angels were singing a hymn to your charms,
Two hearts gently beating were murmuring low,
The night seemed to fade into blossoming dawn;
the sun shone anew but the dance lingered on.
Could we but relive that sweet moment sublime,
we'd find that our love is unaltered by time.
The Anniversary Song by Dinah Shore brings to life the romance of a couple on their wedding night. The opening verse describes the scene of the couple dancing together, immediately following their vows. The lyrics paint a picture of a world bursting with life, but the only thing that mattered was being lost in each other's eyes. The couple's love is so powerful that words are unnecessary. The second verse is just as tender as the first, highlighting the pure love between the two newlyweds. The couple was wrapped up in each other's arms, and the world around them seemed to sing of their love. The two lover's hearts beat as one, whispering "My darling, I love you so."
The final verse reflects on the night, one of love and passion, and how the moment seems as though time has stood still. As the night fades away, the sun rises in the sky, and the couple's love still lingers. The nostalgia of that special night is overwhelming; it speaks to the depth of a relationship that is truly powerful. The couple holds the memory of that night dear and still would "relive that sweet moment sublime" to feel that love again. The beauty of this song lies in its simplicity and captures the essence of true love.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, how we danced on the night we were wed;
On the night of our wedding, we danced with exhilaration.
we vowed our true love though a word wasn't said.
Although we didn't say it, we made a promise to each other that we would love truly.
The world was in bloom, there were stars in the skies
The world was lively, and the sky was illuminated with stars.
except for the few that were there in your eyes.
The only missing stars were in your eyes, which were shining the brightest.
Dear, as I held you so close in my arms,
My beloved, while holding you tightly and closely to me,
angels were singing a hymn to your charms,
Angels were singing praises for your alluring qualities.
Two hearts gently beating were murmuring low,
Our hearts were beating gently while whispering softly to each other.
"My darling, I love you so."
My dear, I love you very much.
The night seemed to fade into blossoming dawn;
The night gradually transitioned into the morning, colorful and vibrant.
the sun shone anew but the dance lingered on.
The sun rose freshly, but the memory of our dance stayed with us.
Could we but relive that sweet moment sublime,
If only we could experience that beautiful moment again,
we'd find that our love is unaltered by time.
We would realize that our love is unwavering, unaffected by time.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SAUL CHAPLIN, AL JOLSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Karen Baker
Beautiful voice.
Pedro Paulo Salomão
Maravilha!!!! Beautiful...
Raćel B
The melody is from the Serbian composer Josif Ivanovic, who studied and lived in Bucharest. . The original title of the composition is "The Danube Waves" and is composed in the rhythm of the Waltz! Ektraordinario!
gilberto reyes
I THOUGHT THAT THE MELODY WAS TE CREDIT OF JOHAN STRAUSS. ARE THE LYRICS BY CHARLES CHAPLIN?
Teri Wells
that's interesting thanks
Sol Sartin Gomez
Unforgetable song.
Tonysandrussi
What a sweet voice that's what you call a lady
VealParmigiana
In my opinion, Anne Shelton recorded the best version of this song.
dvilt
I met with Dinah, just she and I, about 1986. We talked for several minutes when I recorded her as part of a wedding video I was making for one of her friend. I was having equipment problems. She was kind and gracious. Couldn't be nicer and or more understanding. What a fine lady!
Classic Yeah
I knew she was a kind person.