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.
Summertime
Julie London Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin'
And the cotton is high
You're daddy's rich
And your mom is good lookin'
So hush little baby
One of these mornings
You're gonna rise up singing
Then you spread your wings
And fly to the sky
But 'till the mornin'
There's nothing can harm you
With mama and daddy
Standing by
One of these mornings
You're gonna rise up singing
Then you spread your wings
And fly to the sky
But 'till that morning
There's nothing can harm you
With mama and daddy
Standing by
In the song "Summertime," which was originally part of George Gershwin's opera "Porgy and Bess," Julie London sings of the laid-back, carefree nature of summertime. The opening line "Summertime and the livin' is easy" sets the tone for the whole song. The fish are jumping, the cotton is high, and the singer paints a picture of a lazy, southern summer day. The second verse introduces the idea that the baby being sung to has wealthy parents who will take care of them. This is meant to suggest that the baby has nothing to worry about and can enjoy life. The chorus is a repeated refrain that emphasizes the idea that nothing can harm the baby as long as their parents are present. The final verse reminds the baby that one day they will be able to fly away and spread their wings, but until that day comes, they are protected and safe in the care of their parents.
Line by Line Meaning
Summertime
This is the season marked by warmth, fun, and relaxing activities.
And the livin' is easy
Living during summertime is effortless, carefree, and relaxed.
Fish are jumpin'
Fish are leaping out of water with joy and excitement.
And the cotton is high
The cotton crop has fully matured and is ready for harvest, symbolizing abundance and prosperity.
You're daddy's rich
Your family is wealthy and can afford to enjoy the luxuries of life.
And your mom is good lookin'
Your mother is beautiful, adding to your family's overall charm and confidence.
So hush little baby
Be quiet, my child, and don't worry because everything will be alright.
Don't you cry
Don't shed tears or be upset because there is no reason to worry.
One of these mornings
In the near future, you will have a transformative experience.
You're gonna rise up singing
You will become joyful and empowered, and your entire life will change for the better.
Then you spread your wings
You will become bold, confident, and assertive, and will take risks to achieve your dreams.
And fly to the sky
You will experience unbridled freedom and achieve success beyond your wildest dreams.
But 'till the mornin'
Until this moment of transformation arrives,
There's nothing can harm you
You are completely safe and protected.
With mama and daddy
Your parents will always be there to provide love and support.
Standing by
Ready to help you through any difficulty or challenge.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, ACUM Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dorothy Heyward, Du Bose Heyward, George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
holditagainstme hjkl
Summertime
And the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin'
And the cotton is high
You're daddy's rich
And your mom is good lookin'
So hush little baby
Don't you cry
One of these mornings
You're gonna rise up singing
Then you spread your wings
And fly to the sky
But till the mornin'
There's nothing can harm you
With mama and daddy
Standing by
One of these mornings
You're gonna rise up singing
Then you spread your wings
And fly to the sky
But till that morning
There's nothing can harm you
With mama and daddy
Standing by
Karlschtejn
Never heard of this singer before, now I´m sitting here with a stupid smile, blown away and lost in time and space.
Jay H.
She was one of the primary actors on the hit 70's tv series, "Emergency!"
John Accurso
For more female vocalist fun from the same era try Katherine Sherwood, Frances Faye, Jo Stafford, Nancy Wilson...
Roger Roger
I can relate. Although I've been knowing this standard composition for a few years now - this is the first time for hearing JL sing it. Oh my! Subdued and restrained elegance shared freely with her band members. So silver smooth and delicate with a constant foundation.
I wish I could sing just this way. Did anyone notice how low JL's register goes?
nick cmelody
Sorry to be boring, but surely it's all about the music! Julie London once again gives a wonderful, soulful performance, and the arranger has done an excellent job as well.
holditagainstme hjkl
Summertime
And the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin'
And the cotton is high
You're daddy's rich
And your mom is good lookin'
So hush little baby
Don't you cry
One of these mornings
You're gonna rise up singing
Then you spread your wings
And fly to the sky
But till the mornin'
There's nothing can harm you
With mama and daddy
Standing by
One of these mornings
You're gonna rise up singing
Then you spread your wings
And fly to the sky
But till that morning
There's nothing can harm you
With mama and daddy
Standing by
Daniel Horacio Saucedo
Increíble interpretación, como me hubiera haber sido contemporáneo para escucharla en vivo.
LIA GREEN
Oh yes. This is eargasmic. Probably one of the best woman singing voices ever.
Miss Dee
This might be my new favorite version!
alba bl
Me too , people might not agree but I prefer her version over Ella Fitzgerald's and Billie Holliday, though I like theirs greatly too