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.
Chloe
Dinah Shore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someone's calling, no reply
Nightshade's falling, hear him sigh
Chloe! Chloe!
Empty spaces in his eyes
Through the black of night
I've got to go where you are
If it's dark or bright
I've got to go where you are
I'll go through the dismal swampland
Searching for you
For if you are lost there
Let me be there, too
Through the smoke and flame
I've got to go where you are
For no ways can be too far
Where you are
Ain' no chains can bind you
If you live, I'll find you
Love is calling me
I've got to go where you are
The song Chloe by Dinah Shore seems to be a story about someone desperately searching for their loved one, who may be lost or gone missing. The repeated lines of "Chloe! Chloe!" make it feel like a cry for help or a call out to the missing person. The first verse mentions "nightshade's falling" and "empty spaces in his eyes", which could be references to darkness or death. It seems as if the person is crying out for their loved one who has left them alone in their sorrowful state, with "empty arms outstretched".
The chorus of the song emphasizes the singer's determination to find their loved one no matter the circumstances. They are willing to go through "dismal swampland" and "smoke and flame" just to find Chloe. The lyrics also suggest that the singer believes that love is so strong that there is no distance too great to keep them apart. They say that no chains can bind Chloe and that they will find her no matter what.
Overall, Chloe is a song about the power of love and the lengths that someone is willing to go through to find their lost or missing loved one. It's a story that is filled with heartache and desperation, but also hope and determination.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone's calling, no reply
He hears someone calling out for Chloe, but there is no response from her.
Nightshade's falling, hear him sigh
As the night falls, he hears the sighs of someone who is missing Chloe.
Empty spaces in his eyes
His eyes have a vacant look, indicating his overwhelming sense of loss.
Empty arms outstretched, he's crying
He is crying with outstretched arms, longing to embrace the person he loves.
Through the black of night
Even if it's dark, he will go get Chloe.
I've got to go where you are
He is determined to find Chloe and be where she is.
I'll go through the dismal swampland
He is willing to go through any difficulties or hardships to find Chloe.
For if you are lost there
He acknowledges that Chloe might be lost and seeks to join her in that difficult situation.
Let me be there, too
He wants to be with Chloe, so he can provide comfort and support.
Through the smoke and flame
Even in the midst of danger or crisis, he will find a way to be with Chloe.
For no ways can be too far
He is willing to travel any distance to reach Chloe.
Ain' no chains can bind you
No force can separate them or keep them apart.
If you live, I'll find you
If Chloe is alive, he will find her no matter what.
Love is calling me
His love for Chloe is so strong that it is compelling him to go the extra mile to find her.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELTON JOHN, GARY ANTHONY OSBORNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind