Born in Gillespie, Illinois, to Navyman-turned-coalminer Homer Keel and his wife, Grace Osterkamp Keel, young Harry spent his childhood in poverty. After his father's death in 1930, he and his mother moved to California, where he graduated from Fallbrook High School at the age of 17 and took various odd-jobs until finally settling at Douglas Aircraft Company, where he became a traveling representative.
At the age of twenty, he was overheard singing by his landlady, Mom Rider, and was encouraged to take vocal lessons. One of his musical heroes was the great baritone Lawrence Tibbett and Howard would later say that finding out that his own voice was a basso cantante was one of the greatest disappointments of his life. Nevertheless, his first public performance came in the summer of 1941 when he played the role of Samuel the Prophet in Handel's oratorio Saul and David (singing a duet with bass-baritone George London).
Just a couple years after this, in 1943, Harold met and married his first wife, actress Rosemary Cooper. In 1945 Harold briefly understudied for John Raitt in the Broadway hit Carousel, before being assigned to Oklahoma! by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. It was during this time, he accomplished a feat that has never been duplicated. He performed the leads in both shows on the same day.
In 1947 Oklahoma! became the first American musical, post-war, to travel to London, England, and Harold went with it. Opening night , 30th April, at the Drury Lane Theatre, the capacity audience (which included the Queen) demanded fourteen encores. Harold Keel was hailed as the next great star and was the toast of the West End.
During the London run, the marriage of Harold and Rosemary ended in divorce, and Harold fell in love with a young member of the show's chorus, dancer Helen Anderson. They married in January 1949 and, a year later, Harold - now called Howard - became a father for the first time to daughter Kaija.
While living in London, Keel made his film debut as Howard Keel at the British Lion studio in Elstree, in The Small Voice (1948), released in the US as Hideout, playing an escaped convict, holding up a playwright and his wife in their English country cottage.
Additional Broadway credits include Saratoga, No Strings, and Ambasador. He appeared at The Muny in St. Louis, MO as General Waverly in White Christmas (2000), Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady (1996); Emile de Becque in South Pacific (1992), and Adam in Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (1978).
From London's West End, Howard ended up at MGM making his film musical debut as Frank Butler in Annie Get Your Gun.
Howard's MGM career was to be a frustrating business. MGM never seemed to know quite what to do with him and, outside of plum roles in the films Show Boat, Kiss Me, Kate and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, he was forced into a stream of worthless musicals and B-films. On loan-out at Warner Bros., he played Wild Bill Hickok in Calamity Jane, a highly popular, Oscar-winning musical filmed in 1953, starring Doris Day in one of her most famous screen roles. This was Warner's answer to Annie Get Your Gun, and the film that produced the smash hit number, "Secret Love".
There were two more children born to Howard and Helen, daughter Kirstine in 1952 and son Gunnar in 1955. Soon after, Howard was released from his contract and returned to his first love, the stage.
Sadly, as America's taste in entertainment changed, finding jobs became harder and harder for Howard. The 1960s held little chance for career advancement with a round of nightclub work, b-Westerns and summer stock. Under the strain, Howard began to drink heavily, and his marriage to Helen crumbled. They divorced in 1970.
But 1970 proved to be fortuitous for Howard after all. He was set up on a blind date with airline stewardess Judy Magamoll who was twenty-five years his junior and had never even heard of him. They were married in December 1970 and his drinking problem soon ceased.
By 1980 he had had enough of struggling to find work and he moved his family to Oklahoma, intending to join an oil company. They had barely settled there when Howard was called back to California to appear with Jane Powell on an episode of The Love Boat. While he was there, he was told that the producers of the smash hit television series Dallas wanted to talk to him. After several cameo appearances, Howard joined the show permanently as the dignified, if hot tempered, oil baron Clayton Farlow and his career reached heights it had never seen before.
With his renewed fame, Howard began his first solo recording career at age sixty-four, as well as a wildly successful concert career in the UK. He released an album in 1984 called "With Love", that sold poorly, thus indicating that though the American public were happy to see him as a supporting actor on hit TV show, they were not prepared for a full resumption of his previous stardom.
Even after Dallas he continued to sing, and kept his voice in remarkable shape. In 1994, he and Judy moved to Palm Desert, CA. The Keels were always active in charity events, helping their community and were well loved amongst the residents. In particular, Howard and Judy attended the annual Howard Keel Golf Classic at Mere Golf Club in Cheshire, England, which raised money for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). He attended for many years, up until the year of his death.
Howard died at his home in Palm Desert on November 7, 2004, six weeks after being diagnosed with colon cancer. He is survived by Judy, his wife of thirty-four years, his four children, ten grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. He was cremated and his ashes scattered at various favorite places including Mere Golf Club, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, and in Tuscany, Italy.
Bless Your Beautiful Hide
Howard Keel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wherever you may be
We ain't met yet but I'm a'willin' to bet
You're the gal for me
Bless yore beautiful hide
You're just as good as lost
I don't know your name but I'm a'stakin' my claim
Oh, I'd swap my gun 'n' I'd swap my mule
Though whoever took it would be one big fool
Or pay yore way through cookin' school
If 'n' you would say, "I do"
Bless yore beautiful hide
Prepare to bend yore knee
And take that vow 'cause I'm a'telling you now
You're the gal for me
Pretty and trim but kinda slim
Heavenly eyes
But, oh, that size
She's gotta be right, to be the bride for me
Bless yore beautiful hide
Wherever you may be
Pretty and trim but not too slim
Heavenly eyes, and just the right size
Simple and sweet
And sassy as can be
Bless her beautiful hide
Yes, she's the girl for me
The song "Bless Your Beautiful Hide" by Howard Keel is a playful and flirtatious Western-style ballad that captures the spirit of courting and pursuing a woman. The song opens with the singer expressing his admiration for the beauty of a woman he has not yet met, but confidently declares that she is the one for him. He promises to do whatever it takes to win her affection, even offering to swap his possessions or pay for her schooling. The catchy refrain "Bless yore beautiful hide" is repeated throughout the song, reinforcing the singer's infatuation with the mysterious woman.
The lyrics use vivid descriptions and playful rhyme schemes to convey the singer's intentions. He portrays the woman as physically attractive with "heavenly eyes," but also emphasizes the importance of her being the right size and temperament to be his bride. The jaunty melody and upbeat tempo give the song a lighthearted and humorous tone, highlighting the singer's enthusiasm and determination to win the woman over.
Overall, "Bless Your Beautiful Hide" is an entertaining and charming song that captures the excitement and anticipation of pursuing a romantic interest. It showcases Howard Keel's smooth and captivating vocals, while also featuring catchy lyrics and a memorable melody that will have listeners tapping their toes and singing along.
Line by Line Meaning
Bless yore beautiful hide
Expressing admiration for the person's beauty
Wherever you may be
Addressing the person regardless of the location
We ain't met yet but I'm a'willin' to bet
Confidently assuming that the person is the right one
You're the gal for me
Expressing strong interest in the person
You're just as good as lost
Feeling possessive despite not knowing the person
I don't know your name but I'm a'stakin' my claim
Asserting ownership over the person
Lest yore eyes is crossed
Making sure the person is available
Oh, I'd swap my gun 'n' I'd swap my mule
Willingness to do whatever it takes to win the person over
Though whoever took it would be one big fool
Describing the value of what is being offered
Or pay yore way through cookin' school
Suggesting alternative ways to invest in the person
If 'n' you would say, "I do"
Asking for the person's commitment
Prepare to bend yore knee
Demanding submission and obedience
And take that vow 'cause I'm a'telling you now
Demanding a public declaration of commitment
Pretty and trim but kinda slim
Describing the ideal physical attributes of the person
Heavenly eyes
Complimenting the person's beautiful eyes
But, oh, that size
Expressing concern over the person's physical size
She's gotta be right, to be the bride for me
Stating the requirement for the person to be fit as a spouse
Simple and sweet
Preferring a humble and gentle person
And sassy as can be
Preferring a lively and charming person
Bless her beautiful hide
Reiterating admiration for the person's beauty
Yes, she's the girl for me
Asserting the decision to pursue the person
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Gene De Paul, Johnny Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Manny535
Here are the lyrics of the song if anyone is interested (or would like to sing along with):
Bless your beautiful hide, wherever you may be
We ain't met yet but I'm a-willing to bet
You're the gal for me
Bless your beautiful hide
You're just as good as lost
I don't know your name but I'm a-stakin' my claim
Lest your eyes is crossed
Oh, I'd swap my gun and I'd swap my mule
Though whoever took it would be one big fool
Or pay your way through cookin' school
If'n you would say I Do
Bless your beautiful hide, prepare to bend your knee
And take that vow 'cause I'm a-tellin' you now
You're the gal for me
Pretty and trim but kinda slim
Heavenly eyes but, oh, that size
She's gotta be right to be the bride for me
Bless your beautiful hide, wherever you may be
Pretty and trim but not too slim
Heavenly eyes and just the right size
Simple and sweet, and sassy as can be!
Bless her beautiful hide
Yes, she's the gal for me
@daveconleyportfolio5192
Howard Keel had a unique gift: he could burst into song like it was the most natural thing in the world, and it never seemed corny or fake. He just seemed to have an ocean of music in him, and it would come rolling out two or three times a movie.
@ladyasriel7874
This made me laugh but only because it's true lol
@how2wingdxd872
Best musical of all times.
@eddiebronston6639
What a voice. Damn.
@mdflorida1233
It's almost as if he's having a conversation with himself.
@TheMusicalJourneys
True! Just walkin' down the street, totally natural: nothing showy or fake. His voice lifts my spirits! Always loved his movies on TV . I think I may have even seen him in summer stock but I'm not sure. My grandmother would take me to anything that was around. I loved it but SO took for granted that we could see the great stars of the golden era live on stage! Good times! Howard Keel made it look easy and I think there will never be anyone better for this type of role!
@loulie1997
I love Adam’s growth. He had a lot to learn about what it means to be a husband and to cherish his wife as opposed to just living with her.
@CavegirlMelanieHobby
We all think we're a catch 😉😅😅
@julietcapulet6193
I agree! It was great to see his character change and grow to something better than where it started.
@4713Caine
and most importantly when he finally came full circle and had to re-examine his own behavior after becoming a father "if someone else had kidnapped her like a thieving fox, I'd string him up!"