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.
My Romance
Dinah Shore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My romance doesn't need a blue lagoon standing by
No month of May, no twinkling stars
No hideaway, no soft guitars
My romance doesn't need a castle rising in Spain
Nor a dance to a constantly surprising refrain
Wide awake, I can make my most fantastic dream come true
My romance
My romance
Wide awake, I can make my most fantastic dream come true
My romance doesn't need a thing, but you
The lyrics of Dinah Shore’s My Romance are a beautiful expression of love where the singer reveals that she needs nothing but her beloved to be happy. The song starts by stating that she does not need a beautiful celestial setting to experience love or a picturesque natural spot. She does not even need special moments or accessories like twinkling stars, hiding places, or soft guitars to kindle her romance. She is satisfied with just being in the presence of her beloved, and his love is enough to ignite her passion. The lyrics suggest that her feelings are deep and genuine.
Further, the singer asserts that she does not need materialistic expressions of love like the castles of Spain or the constantly changing dance refrain, which are commonly associated with romantic tales. Rather, she believes that her dreams can come true as long as she has her love by her side. The singer asserts that her relationship is unique and unconventional, and it does not need any of the traditional symbols associated with love to survive. Instead, her love is based solely on the connection that exists between her and her beloved.
In conclusion, the lyrics of My Romance by Dinah Shore depict an unconventional form of love that is based solely on the connection between the two lovers. The song suggests that love needs no external stimulus, and the presence of the beloved is enough to kindle the passion and create a deep and lasting bond.
Line by Line Meaning
My romance doesn't have to have a moon in the sky
I don't need a cliched setting with a romantic backdrop.
My romance doesn't need a blue lagoon standing by
I don't need a picturesque beach with clear water.
No month of May, no twinkling stars
I don't need to follow the traditional signs of romance.
No hideaway, no soft guitars
I don't need a cozy spot or the music to create a romantic moment.
My romance doesn't need a castle rising in Spain
I don't need a grandeur place to enhance my romantic experience.
Nor a dance to a constantly surprising refrain
I don't need to follow the conventional steps of a romantic dance.
Wide awake, I can make my most fantastic dream come true
I can create my own version of a perfect romantic world.
My romance doesn't need a thing, but you
All I need for a romantic experience is to be with you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LORENZ HART, RICHARD RODGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@albertk6
What a fine duet both young both with wonderful voices that stayed with time.
@danilocayton3315
This is probably the kinds of song we'll probably enjoy in Heaven.
@trombonerist2856
this song is beautiful combine it with My Funny Valentine and God Bless The Child it's a pretty trio of songs
@onderbilalgelgor9394
masterpiece
@MarkBlackburnWPG
Dinah & Frank -- still my favorite duet (518 NFF shows after the first one):
Love that the opening "Dinah Shore" segment on today's latest Nancy For Frank 3-hour show (#519) on Siriusly Sinatra satellite radio: featuring her duet with Frank on the most popular song (most recordings) of any by my favorite composer, Richard Rodgers.
Track 5 -- Dinah and Frank -- MY ROMANCE
Coincidentally (or not) I'd just been re-reading my real-time 'liner notes' for Nancy Sinatra's very first "Nancy for Frank -Show No. 1” (05/27/2007) and wondering: Was it really THAT good? Frank's duet with Dinah Shore on MY ROMANCE? Oh yes! This is the version Bob in Boston was praising to me (recently) and I simply can’t imagine any duet more beautiful than this.
[Can't you almost hear a little Love, not just mutual respect, in their voices?]
Thanks for sharing, Catman916. Celebrated this night at Sinatra Family - Forum - "Siriusly Sinatra" - NFF SHOW #519: https://sinatrafamily.com/forum/showthread.php/50924-NFF-SHOW-519-Week-of-August-23-2020-SFF-Member-Andrew-Trager-Playlist-1/page2
@MarkBlackburnWPG
Still my favorite 'Duet' – FRANK & DINAH : Just re-reading, thanks to a link from Sinatra Family 'wise man' Bob in Boston, my real-time 'liner notes' for NFF “Show No. 1” (05/27/2007) and wondering: Was it really THAT good? Frank's duet with Dinah Shore on MY ROMANCE? [Back on May 27, 2007 re three tracks by Rodgers & Hart]
"LITTLE GIRL BLUE – A woman’s ballad, yet Sinatra delivers the finest reading by ANY singer, ever! And the audio quality is astonishing – like hearing this one for the first time. Is this a new digital take on a black vinyl original copy? Honestly, the high point of the show, so far!
SPRING IS HERE --- No, THIS is the high point. It must be a late 40s version; how can it sound this good? Much better sounding than my CD version. ‘Scuse me, I have something in my eye. So beautiful.
MY ROMANCE --- No, no – THIS is the highlight of hour three. This is the version Bob in Boston was warning me about the other day. With Dinah Shore. I simply can’t imagine any duet more beautiful than this. The best possible rendition of possibly Rodgers & Hart’s greatest ballad!
Nancy returns for a voice-over . . . "
So, do we feel the same way, 13 years on? Yes, indeed! The first version offered this day at YouTube? This one -- with lovely slide show and (deservedly) most “views” too -- 37,785.
Thanks for sharing catman916. Celebrated this day at Sinatra Family - Forum - "Siriusly Sinatra" - MY FAVORITE VERSION, YOURS TOO? https://sinatrafamily.com/forum/showthread.php/50225-My-Favorite-Version-(yours-too-)?p=1285670#post1285670
@catman916
Yes, she was. Even when she got older, she remained a very attractive woman.
@PurpleCorcra
2:38 ahh nice panda tie:-) haha
@robertenders9190
Dinah can sing with the best.