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.
Now I Know
Dinah Shore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shining so bright
Now I see the future in your eyes
And it looks alright
Never heard a song so sweet
Like the one I'm hearing now
When you're lying here next to me
What I've been after
Now (now)
I know (I know)
I've never been in love before
Now (now)
I know (I know)
I want to feel it more and more
Like a color that I've never seen
With a touch I've never felt
Love used to be a clouded dream
But now I see it all so well
I can't wait to live another day
To wake and see you again
When I go to sleep I pray
It's gonna last forever
We're gonna be together
It'll never end
Now (now)
I know (I know)
I've never been in love before
Now (now)
I know (I know)
I want to feel it more and more
Now (now)
I know (I know)
I've never been in love before
Oh, now (now)
I know (I know)
I want to feel it more and more
The lyrics of Dinah Shore's song "Now I Know" are about the feeling of falling in love for the first time. The singer describes her newfound appreciation for things she's never noticed before - like the brightness of the moon and the sweetness of a song. She realizes that her previous idea of love was clouded and that she's never truly experienced the feeling until now. The singer hopes that their love will last forever and that time with their partner will increase their happiness.
The first two lines ("Never seen the moon before / Shining so bright") indicate that the singer has never truly appreciated the beauty of the natural world until she fell in love. The future is bright when experienced in the context of love as indicated by the phrase "And it looks alright." Later, when the singer states that "Love used to be a clouded dream / But now I see it all so well" she communicates that the notion of love was previously unclear to her until meeting her love interest. Now that they have found this connection, she can't wait to live another day to spend more time with them.
The overall tone of the song is optimistic and full of wonder, inviting the listener to experience the feeling of new love along with the singer. The lyrics are straightforward, but the emotions behind them are deep and powerful. Dinah Shore's expressive vocals and the uplifting melody further enhance the song's message of joy and discovery.
Line by Line Meaning
Never seen the moon before
I have never experienced this level of beauty before.
Shining so bright
It is radiating brilliantly.
Now I see the future in your eyes
I can perceive a bright and positive future through your eyes.
And it looks alright
It appears to be a positive outcome.
Never heard a song so sweet
This music is the sweetest thing I have ever heard.
Like the one I'm hearing now
The music in this moment is bringing me joy.
When you're lying here next to me
In this moment, while we're together, I feel content.
The world is filled with laughter
The world feels jovial and full of joy.
What I've been after
This is what I have been searching for.
Now (now)
At this moment in time.
I know (I know)
I am finally aware.
I've never been in love before
I have never experienced true love before.
I want to feel it more and more
I want to experience this feeling over and over again.
Like a color that I've never seen
This feeling is new to me, like discovering a new color.
With a touch I've never felt
This sensation is one that I have never experienced.
Love used to be a clouded dream
Prior to this moment, love was a distant and uncertain concept.
But now I see it all so well
I can see love clearly now that I have experienced it.
I can't wait to live another day
I am looking forward towards the future with excitement and anticipation.
To wake and see you again
I cannot wait to see you again.
When I go to sleep I pray
I hope and wish for this feeling to continue.
It's gonna last forever
I believe that this love will last forever.
We're gonna be together
We will remain together in this love.
It'll never end
This love will never come to an end.
Oh, now (now)
At this very moment in time.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Evan A. Rogers, Carl Allen Sturken, Robyn R. Fenty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Trombonology Erstwhile
An extremely impressive performance from Dinah -- beautiful dynamics!
Peter Taylor
This apparently won an Academy Award that year and it deserved it. Was his lovely voice that did it as well? During the 40s, there were wonderful comps. I wish I could find now.
Aragorn Montebello
I had such a crush on Dinah . Even though she was born 40 years before I was. What a voice
Walter Gray
Nice one !!
Thank you for sharing.