London's 35-year acting career began in films in 1944 and included playing opposite Gary Cooper in Man of the West (1958) and Robert Mitchum in The Wonderful Country (1959). She achieved continuing success in the TV medical drama Emergency! (1972–1979), co-starring her real-life husband, Bobby Troup, and produced by her ex-husband, Jack Webb, in which London played the female lead role of nurse Dixie McCall. She and Randolph Mantooth, who played one-half of her medical students, a paramedic, in the series, were very close to her family, until her death in 2000.
Born in Santa Rosa, California, she was the daughter of Jack and Josephine Peck, who were a vaudeville song-and-dance team. When she was fourteen the family moved to Los Angeles. Shortly after that, she began appearing in movies. She graduated from the Hollywood Professional High School in 1945.
London began singing under the name Gayle Peck in public in her teens before appearing in a film. She was discovered by talent agent Sue Carol (wife of actor Alan Ladd), while working as an elevator operator. Her early film career, however, did not include any singing roles.
London recorded 32 albums in a career that began in 1955 with a live performance at the 881 Club in Los Angeles. Billboard named her the most popular female vocalist for 1955, 1956, and 1957. She was the subject of a 1957 Life cover article in which she was quoted as saying, "It's only a thimbleful of a voice, and I have to use it close to the microphone. But it is a kind of oversmoked voice, and it automatically sounds intimate."
London's debut recordings were for the Bethlehem Records label. While shopping for a record deal, she recorded four tracks that would later be included on the compilation album Bethlehem's Girlfriends in 1955. Bobby Troup backed London on the album, for which London recorded the standards "Don't Worry About Me", "Motherless Child", "A Foggy Day", and "You're Blasé".
London's most famous single, "Cry Me a River", was written by her high-school classmate Arthur Hamilton and produced by Troup. The recording became a million-seller after its release in December 1955 and also sold on reissue in April 1983 from the attention brought by a Mari Wilson cover. London performed the song in the film The Girl Can't Help It (1956), and her recording gained later attention in the films Passion of Mind (2000) and V for Vendetta (2006). The song "Yummy Yummy Yummy" was featured on the HBO television series Six Feet Under and appears on its soundtrack album. London's "Must Be Catchin'" was featured in the 2011 premiere episode of the ABC series Pan Am. Her last recording was "My Funny Valentine" for the soundtrack of the Burt Reynolds film Sharky's Machine (1981).
Other popular singles include "Hot Toddy", "Daddy", and "Desafinado". Recordings such as "Go Slow" epitomized her career style: her voice is slow, smoky, and playfully sensual.
She was married to Jack Webb, of Dragnet fame. Her obvious beauty and self-poise (she was a pinup girl prized by GIs during World War II) contrasted with his pedestrian appearance and stiff-as-a-board acting technique (much parodied by impersonators). This unlikely pairing arose from his and her love for jazz; their marriage lasted from July 1947 to November 1953. They had two daughters, one who was killed in a traffic accident in the 1990s and one who survived London. In 1954, having become somewhat reclusive after her divorce from Jack Webb, she met jazz composer and musician Bobby Troup at a club on La Brea Blvd. They married on December 31, 1959 and remained married until Troup's death in February 1999. Together, they had one daughter and twin sons.
London suffered a stroke in 1995, and was in poor health until her death in Encino, California, at the age of seventy-four, survived by four of her five children. She died on18th October 2000, and was buried in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Give A Little Whistle
Julie London Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't know right from wrong
Give a little whistle!
Give a little whistle!
When you meet temptation and the
Urge is very strong give a little whistle!
Give a little whistle!
Not just a little squeak pucker up and blow
And if your whistle's weak
Yell "Jiminy Cricket!"
Take the straight and narrow path
And if you start to slide
Give a little whistle!
Give a little whistle!
And always let your conscience be your guide
In Julie London's song "Give A Little Whistle," the lyrics delve into the concept of moral guidance and staying true to one's principles in times of difficulty and temptation. The song suggests that when faced with trouble and uncertainty, one should rely on their intuition and inner voice to determine right from wrong. The act of giving a little whistle serves as a metaphorical representation of seeking guidance and seeking help.
The lyrics also touch upon the idea of resisting temptation and the immense strength required to do so. When faced with strong urges, one is encouraged to give a little whistle, indicating the need for a form of self-control or seeking advice from others. The phrase "Not just a little squeak pucker up and blow" emphasizes the need to be assertive and resolute in making the right decisions. Additionally, the lyrics mention "Jiminy Cricket," a reference to the character in Disney's Pinocchio, known for his wise and moral counsel.
Line by Line Meaning
When you get in trouble and you
When you find yourself in a difficult situation and you
Don't know right from wrong
Are unsure about what is morally correct
Give a little whistle!
Give a small signal to help you find guidance
Give a little whistle!
Give another small signal to emphasize the importance
When you meet temptation and the
When you encounter a strong desire and the
Urge is very strong give a little whistle!
When the temptation's allure is overwhelming, give a small signal for support
Give a little whistle!
Once again, give a small signal as a reminder
Not just a little squeak pucker up and blow
Not just a weak sound, but purse your lips and blow with conviction
And if your whistle's weak
And if your signal is feeble
Yell "Jiminy Cricket!"
Exclaim loudly for the help of your conscience
Take the straight and narrow path
Follow the righteous and virtuous route
And if you start to slide
And if you begin to deviate
Give a little whistle!
Give a small signal once more
Give a little whistle!
Emphasize the need to signal for help
And always let your conscience be your guide
And always allow your inner sense of right and wrong to lead you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Leigh Harline, Ned Washington
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind