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.
Blues in the Night
Dinah Shore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I was in knee pants,
My mama done tol' me, Son!
A woman'll sweet talk
And give ya the big eye;
But when the sweet talkin's done,
A woman's a two face
A worrisome thing
The blues in the night
Now the rain's a-fallin',
Hear the train a-callin'
Whoo-ee (my mama done tol' me)
Hear that lonesome whistle
Blowin' `cross the trestle,
Whoo-ee (my mama done tol' me)
A whoo-ee-duh-whoo-ee, ol' clickety clack's
A-echoin' back the blues in the night
The evenin' breeze'll start the trees to cryin'
And the moon'll hide its light
When you get the blues in the night
Take my word, the mockin' bird'll
Sing the saddest kind o' song
He knows things are wrong and he's right
From Natchez to Mobile,
From Memphis to St. Jo,
Wherever the four winds blow,
I been in some big towns,
An' heard me some big talk,
But there is one thing I know
A woman's a two face,
A worrisome thing
Who'll leave ya t'sing the blues in the night.
My mama was right,
There's blues in the night.
The lyrics of Dinah Shore's "Blues in the Night" perfectly describe the feeling of hopelessness and sadness that one feels when they are let down or hurt by a loved one. The song starts with a warning from the singer's mother, telling him about the untrustworthy nature of some women who will use sweet words and deceptive gestures, but will ultimately disappoint you, leaving you to sing the blues in the night. From here, the singer laments about how the rain is falling and the train is calling, and how all she is left with is the sound of the lonesome whistle, blowing across the trestle, echoing back the blues in the night. The sad mood sets in, making the trees cry and the moon disappears, increasing the sentiment of loneliness, leaving the singer to wallow in their misery.
The song expresses how the singer has heard big talk in some of the biggest towns around, but he knows one thing for sure - women are two-faced and can leave you singing the blues in the night. It's a song about broken promises, shattered dreams, and deceit, which leave a person feeling vulnerable and alone. In a way, it's a song of warning to never be too trusting in love, as one can never be too careful.
Line by Line Meaning
My mama done tol' me
My mother taught me
When I was in knee pants
When I was a child
My mama done tol' me, Son!
My mother told me, Son!
A woman'll sweet talk
A woman will speak flattering words
And give ya the big eye;
And look at you seductively
But when the sweet talkin's done,
But when the flattery ends,
A woman's a two face
A woman has a dual nature
A worrisome thing
Something to be cautious about
Who'll leave ya t'sing
Who will make you sing
The blues in the night
Songs of blues to be sung during the night
Now the rain's a-fallin',
Now that it is raining
Hear the train a-callin'
Hear the sound of the train
Whoo-ee (my mama done tol' me)
Sound of surprise or excitement
Hear that lonesome whistle
Hear the sound of the lonely train whistle
Blowin' `cross the trestle,
Blowing across the bridge
Whoo-ee (my mama done tol' me)
Sound of surprise or excitement
A whoo-ee-duh-whoo-ee, ol' clickety clack's
Onomatopoeic sounds of the train
A-echoin' back the blues in the night
Echoing the sadness of the night
The evenin' breeze'll start the trees to cryin'
The evening breeze makes the trees sway and weep
And the moon'll hide its light
The moon will be obscured
When you get the blues in the night
When you are feeling blue in the night
Take my word, the mockin' bird'll
Believe me, the mockingbird will
Sing the saddest kind o' song
Sing the saddest song
He knows things are wrong and he's right
He understands that things are not right
From Natchez to Mobile,
From Natchez to Mobile
From Memphis to St. Jo,
From Memphis to St. Jo
Wherever the four winds blow,
Wherever the winds may blow
I been in some big towns,
I've been in some big cities
An' heard me some big talk,
And heard some boasting
But there is one thing I know
But there is one thing I am certain of
A woman's a two face,
A woman has two sides
A worrisome thing
Something to be cautious about
Who'll leave ya t'sing the blues in the night.
Who will make you sing the songs of blues during the night.
My mama was right,
My mother was correct,
There's blues in the night.
The night is filled with the songs of blues.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@karunahum1465
My momma don't told me
When I was in pigtails
My momma don't told me, hon
A man's gonna sweet talk
And he will give you the big eye
But when that sweet talking's done
A man is a two-faced, a worrisome thing
Who'll leave you to sing the blues in the night
Now the rain's are fallin'
I hear the trains are callin', hooey
My momma don't told me
Hear that lonesome whistle
A blowing across the trestle, hoo hooey
My momma don't told me, a hooey, a hooey
Old clickety clack is echoing back the blues in the night
The evenin' breeze will start the trees to cryin'
And the moon will hot its light
When you get the blues in the night
Oh, take my word the Mockingbird
Who'll sing the saddest kind of song
He knows things are wrong
And he's right
From Natchez to Mobile
From Memphis to St. Joe
Wherever the four winds blow
I've been to some big towns
I've heard me some big talk
But there is one thing I know
A man is a two faced, a worrisome thing
Who'll leave you to sing the blues in the night
My momma don't told me there's blues in the night
@SteffiReitsch
1942. She was a rising star. Great song! And that fine orchestra really enhances it with a great arrangement.
@jaimedesouza2138
Excepcional cantora, infelizmente pouco divulgada no Brasil.
@SuperHartline
the best of all the many renditions of this song. Dinah owned Blues in the Night.
@johnjarou2357
rueben hart beg to differ. rosemary clooney had the best version.
@danielstanwyck2812
The 'best" version? The "best" version. There is no 'best' VERSION. They are ALL the "best" version. Depends on the day and your mood. And I know what I'm talking about as much as you know what you're talking aboutZ!
@johnjarou2357
daniel stanwyck. nonsense. don't agree with you at all.
'
@ericdreizen1463
Dinah sang this w/ Duke Ellington on television's Bell Telephone Hour. Louie Bellson on drums. Two & a half minutes of pure heaven. There's no replacing her. The greatest ever.
@dtedfontenot
Stafford's version has more feeling. And the Mercer-Stafford is aces, too. But this is good. I believe it was the most popular at the time.
@normagilpin7841
A really talented singer with a great technique.
@ericdreizen1463
Oh GOD, YES!!