Greta Keller-Bacon (February 8, 1903 – November 11, 1977) Vienna-born cabaret … Read Full Bio ↴Greta Keller-Bacon (February 8, 1903 – November 11, 1977) Vienna-born cabaret singer and Hollywood actress.
Born Margaretha Keller, she studied dance from the age of 8 followed by acting classes. Her début was in "Pavillon" in Vienna. She also appeared on Stage with Marlene Dietrich in "Broadway", in which she sang and danced. A recording contract with Ultraphon in 1929 her singing took her from Vienna to Prague and Berlin, where she had a big success with Peter Igelhoff and Peter Kreuder. For over 45 years, through a life of triumphs and tragedies, her voice a legend-in radio shows, films, revues, concerts and musicals, but above all her records circled the globe. First called 'The Great Lady Of Chanson' in her native Vienna, it followed her to London and America.
Career
Her lieder voice carried the charm of the Parisian women but never lost the heart of the girl from Vienna. Greta's singing in what some call "a style reminiscent of Marlene Dietrich" comes from the fact she was the model for how Marlene Dietrich developed her own voice. Greta Keller made recordings throughout the world and from the earliest days of "schellack" to the dawn of CDs. She spent many years in the United States, notably in hotel club rooms at the Waldorf and (later) the Stanhope in New York, where her show always included "My Way", composed by Paul Anka, and a number of Noel Coward numbers. A 'singer's singer', Keller often drew other performers to the room, including the Nordstrom Sisters, Beverly Sills and Hildegarde. Other regulars would book the same table most nights that she was performing which included photographer Edgar de Evia. Favorites of the Stanhope crowd were the songs of Cole Porter and Noel Coward, for their sexual innuendo and double entendres. These included "Miss Otis Regrets" and "I'm the Other Woman in His Life" by her close friend Elisse Boyd. She regularly returned to Vienna. The poet and singer Rod McKuen was introduced by her to an audience in Vienna. McKuen, in turn ,hosted a concert presenting her at Lincoln Center in the 1970s, and wrote the lyric "If You Go Away" to Jacques Brel's "Ne Me Quitte Pas", which she always sang.
Greta's greatest strength was in her adaptability. Each song, took the caress in her voice in a unique way. Her repertoire included songs from the 1930s through the war years as well as popular songs of the day. A few years before her death, her voice appeared in the Academy Award-winning movie, Cabaret (1972), for which she sang the song, "Heirat" (Married). The last years of her life, from 1973 to her death in November 1977 Greta lived, worked, and traveled with the last great love of her life, Wolfgang Nebmaier, who now lives in Southern Oregon.
Filmography
• Mann, der seinen Mörder sucht, Der (1931) (uncredited) .... Singer... aka Jim, der Mann mit der Narbe (Germany)... aka Looking for His Murderer
• Lied vom Leben, Das (1931) .... Singer... aka Song of Life (USA: informal literal English title)
• Melodie der Liebe (1932) .... Singer... aka Right to Happiness (USA)
• Abenteurer von Paris, Der (1936) .... Cabaret Singer... aka The Paris Adventure (USA)
• Reunion in France (1942) (uncredited) .... Baroness von Steinkamp... aka Mademoiselle France (UK)... aka Reunion
• Herz spielt falsch, Ein (1953) .... Chansonniere/Cabaret Singer ... aka A Heart's Foul Play (International: English title)
• Blaue Stunde (1967) .... Singer
• Cabaret (1972) her voice was heard on a record as the singer of: "Heirat"
Born Margaretha Keller, she studied dance from the age of 8 followed by acting classes. Her début was in "Pavillon" in Vienna. She also appeared on Stage with Marlene Dietrich in "Broadway", in which she sang and danced. A recording contract with Ultraphon in 1929 her singing took her from Vienna to Prague and Berlin, where she had a big success with Peter Igelhoff and Peter Kreuder. For over 45 years, through a life of triumphs and tragedies, her voice a legend-in radio shows, films, revues, concerts and musicals, but above all her records circled the globe. First called 'The Great Lady Of Chanson' in her native Vienna, it followed her to London and America.
Career
Her lieder voice carried the charm of the Parisian women but never lost the heart of the girl from Vienna. Greta's singing in what some call "a style reminiscent of Marlene Dietrich" comes from the fact she was the model for how Marlene Dietrich developed her own voice. Greta Keller made recordings throughout the world and from the earliest days of "schellack" to the dawn of CDs. She spent many years in the United States, notably in hotel club rooms at the Waldorf and (later) the Stanhope in New York, where her show always included "My Way", composed by Paul Anka, and a number of Noel Coward numbers. A 'singer's singer', Keller often drew other performers to the room, including the Nordstrom Sisters, Beverly Sills and Hildegarde. Other regulars would book the same table most nights that she was performing which included photographer Edgar de Evia. Favorites of the Stanhope crowd were the songs of Cole Porter and Noel Coward, for their sexual innuendo and double entendres. These included "Miss Otis Regrets" and "I'm the Other Woman in His Life" by her close friend Elisse Boyd. She regularly returned to Vienna. The poet and singer Rod McKuen was introduced by her to an audience in Vienna. McKuen, in turn ,hosted a concert presenting her at Lincoln Center in the 1970s, and wrote the lyric "If You Go Away" to Jacques Brel's "Ne Me Quitte Pas", which she always sang.
Greta's greatest strength was in her adaptability. Each song, took the caress in her voice in a unique way. Her repertoire included songs from the 1930s through the war years as well as popular songs of the day. A few years before her death, her voice appeared in the Academy Award-winning movie, Cabaret (1972), for which she sang the song, "Heirat" (Married). The last years of her life, from 1973 to her death in November 1977 Greta lived, worked, and traveled with the last great love of her life, Wolfgang Nebmaier, who now lives in Southern Oregon.
Filmography
• Mann, der seinen Mörder sucht, Der (1931) (uncredited) .... Singer... aka Jim, der Mann mit der Narbe (Germany)... aka Looking for His Murderer
• Lied vom Leben, Das (1931) .... Singer... aka Song of Life (USA: informal literal English title)
• Melodie der Liebe (1932) .... Singer... aka Right to Happiness (USA)
• Abenteurer von Paris, Der (1936) .... Cabaret Singer... aka The Paris Adventure (USA)
• Reunion in France (1942) (uncredited) .... Baroness von Steinkamp... aka Mademoiselle France (UK)... aka Reunion
• Herz spielt falsch, Ein (1953) .... Chansonniere/Cabaret Singer ... aka A Heart's Foul Play (International: English title)
• Blaue Stunde (1967) .... Singer
• Cabaret (1972) her voice was heard on a record as the singer of: "Heirat"
Mad About the Boy
Greta Keller Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Mad About the Boy' by these artists:
Anita O'Day I'm mad about the boy And I know it's stupid to…
Ava Can't make up my mind, about the boy Sometimes he brings…
Ava Leigh Can't make up my mind, about the boy Sometimes he brings…
Beatrice Lillie Mad about the boy, it's pretty funny But I'm mad a…
Ben Selvin & His Orchestra Mad about the boy I know it's stupid to be mad…
Benny Golson Quartet I'm mad about the boy And I know it's stupid to…
Billy May and His Orchestra Mad about the boy I know it's stupid to be mad…
Carmen McRae & Ray Bryant Mad about the boy I know it's stupid to be mad…
Caro Emerald I'm mad about the boy And I know it's stupid to…
Coward Mad about the boy I know it's stupid to be mad…
Dinah Shore I'm mad about the boy And I know it's stupid to…
Dinah Washington Mad about the boy I know it's stupid to be mad…
Dinah Washington浯 Mad about the boy I know it's stupid to be mad…
Duke Ellington I'm mad about the boy And I know it's stupid to…
Easy Virtue Orchestra (The) Jessica Biel I'm mad about the boy And I know it's stupid to…
Elaine Paige I met him at a party just a couple of…
Gertrude Lawrence I'm mad about the boy And I know it's stupid to…
Helen Forrest I'm mad about the boy And I know it's stupid to…
Helen Forrest & Carmen Dragon and His Orchestra Mad about the boy I know it's stupid to be mad…
Helen Forrest (Fallout New Vegas Mafia 2 SoundTrack) I'm mad about the boy And I know it's stupid to…
Ilse Huizinga I'm mad about the boy And I know it's stupid to…
Irene Kral I'm mad about the boy And I know it's stupid to…
Jack Pleis and His Orchestra Mad about the boy I know it's stupid to be mad…
Jackie Gleason I'm mad about the boy And I know it's stupid to…
Jessica Biel The Easy Virtue Orchestra I'm mad about the boy And I know it's stupid to…
Julie London Mad about the boy It's pretty funny But I'm mad about the…
Julie London With Walter Rodell And His Orchestra Mad about the boy I know it's stupid to be mad…
Laura Zakian I'm mad about the boy And I know it's stupid to…
Lena Horne I'm mad about the boy And I know it's stupid to…
Lena Horne & Lennie Hayton & His Orchestra I'm mad about the boy And I know it's stupid to…
Lena Horne with Lennie Hayton and His Orchestra Mad about the boy I know it's stupid to be mad…
Lennie Hayton and His Orchestra I'm mad about the boy And I know it's stupid to…
Marianne Faithfull I met him at a party just a couple of…
Maxine Sullivan Mad about the boy I know it's stupid to be mad…
Morgana King I'm mad about the boy And I know it's stupid to…
Patti Page Mad about the boy I know it's stupid to be mad…
Ray Noble Mad about the boy, I know it's stupid to be mad…
Sheridan Smith Mad about the boy I know it's stupid to be mad…
Status Quo She never has to worry and she never has to…
The Easy Virtue Orchestra I'm mad about the boy And I know it's stupid to…
The Easy Virtue Orchestra & Jessica Biel I'm mad about the boy And I know it's stupid to…
The Ink Spots & Ella Fitzgerald I'm mad about the boy And I know it's stupid to…
Washington Dinah Mad about the boy I know it's stupid to be mad…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Greta Keller:
A Ghost Of A Chance I need your love so badly, I love you, oh,…
Blue Moon Blue moon you saw me standing alone Without a dream in…
Goodbye To Summer Too soon the sun will seize to shine Too soon the…
Hold My Hand When the day fades away into twilight The moon is my…
I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You I need your love so badly, I love you, oh,…
I'm Gonna Lock My Heart She got the keys, she's got the keys She got the…
If I Had A Talking Picture Of You I could show the world how to smile I could be…
Just Friends Just friends, lovers no more Just friends, but not like befo…
Lights Out Now that it's gone this beautiful day There's nothing to do…
Once In A While Once in a while will you try to give One little…
Paradise And then she holds my hand, mm And then I understand.…
Say It Isn't So Say it isn't so Say it isn't so Everyone is saying you…
September Song Oh, it's a long, long while from May to December But…
Take My Heart She got the keys, she's got the keys She got the…
Thanks for the Memories Thanks for the memory Of sentimental verse, Nothing in my pu…
These Foolish Things Oh! Will you never let me be? Oh! Will you never…
Time On My Hands When the day fades away into twilight The moon is my…
Wenn Die Sonne Hinter Den Dächern Versinkt Ich kenne das Leben von unten bis oben. Ich habe gelacht;…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Marc Antoine Scotoni
Hearing Greta again touches my heart, and I miss this dear friend of my Family, she was such a heartful being. Her voice comes from deep within and tells from the depth of her soul. Thanks for the memory.
XXXXX
You've made a beautiful piece of work here, constantly moving and surprising, thanks a million for posting it !
ascenbach1
I just discovered Greta Keller through this video and am awe-stricken by her artistry and the beautiful piano accompaniment. The video that you put together is a masterpiece.
jurek46pink
ascenbach1 So pleased ! There are still 3 songs of her from that LP on my channel , their titles starts from: Greta Keller - In a midnight mood.....1/2/3. You may like them too...:)
ascenbach1
Thank you. I will listen to them. I subscribed to your channel so that I can explore your many videos.
tiamacheta
Impressive and expressive voice! Wise choice of photos. Excellent, as always. Thanks!
Goat Za
might be my most favourite rendition of this Coward classic ever. smokey, sultry, beguiling and smooth as silk. what a Talent! thank You jurek46pink for the wondrous treat!!
Redcoat‘s Return
A rarer performance in perfect English! Beautiful and exquisite as she was!
Hyramess
Such wonderful, evocative style! Noel Coward,Greta Keller, Gertrude Lawrence, Marlene DIetrich, Blossom Dearie, Cole Porter, Nat King Cole, Lena Horne! Gone but one hopes and prays their likes will never be not forgotten. Thank you so much for this brief return to richer, more sophisticated, more rewarding times. I loved it.
grai
This really catches what the song is about - other interpretations emphasise the great melody and clever lyrics - but she brings manages to show how layered the various meanings of it are