Shirley Luster was born in Springfield, Illinois, and moved with her family to Decatur, Illinois, when she was three years old. She began to sing with the Decatur-based Bill Oetzel Orchestra at thirteen. While attending Decatur High School she appeared with Oetzel and his society band, the Ben Bradley Band, and Bill Madden's Band. After high school she moved to Chicago, changed her name to Sharon Leslie, and sang with a group led by Boyd Raeburn. Later she joined Benny Strong's band. In 1944, Strong's band moved to New York at the same time Christy was quarantined in Chicago with scarlet fever.
In 1945, after hearing that Anita O'Day had left Stan Kenton's Orchestra, she auditioned and was chosen for the role as a vocalist. During this time, she changed her name once again, becoming June Christy.
Her voice produced successful hits such as "Shoo Fly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy," the million-selling "Tampico" in 1945, and "How High the Moon". "Tampico" was Kenton's biggest-selling record. When the Kenton Band temporarily disbanded in 1948, she sang in nightclubs for a short time, and reunited with the band two years later in 1950.
Beginning Sept. 28, 1959, Christy began a five-week road tour of 38 performances called "Road Show". The all-star billing: Stan Kenton and his orchestra, June Christy, The Four Freshmen. Capitol recorded highlights on October 10 at Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana, for a two-disc LP, reissued in 1991 on CD.
From 1947, she started to work on her own records, primarily with arranger and bandleader Pete Rugolo. In 1954, she released a 10" LP entitled Something Cool, recorded with Rugolo and his orchestra, a gathering of notable Los Angeles jazz musicians that included her husband, multi-instrumentalist Bob Cooper and alto saxophonist Bud Shank. Something Cool was re-released as a 12" LP in 1955 with additional selections, and then entirely rerecorded in stereo in 1960 with a somewhat different personnel. Christy would later say that the album was "the only thing I've recorded that I'm not unhappy with." Something Cool was also important in launching the vocal cool movement of the 1950s, and it hit the Top 20 Charts, as did her third album, The Misty Miss Christy.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Christy appeared on a number of television programs, including the short-lived CBS show Adventures in Jazz (1949), Eddie Condon's Floor Show (1949), The Jackie Gleason Show (1953), The Tonight Show (1955), The Nat King Cole Show (1957), Stars of Jazz (1958), The Steve Allen Show (1959), The Lively Ones (1963). and The Joey Bishop Show (1967). She also appeared on the first sponsored jazz concert on television, The Timex All-Star Jazz Show I (December 30, 1957), which also featured Louis Armstrong, Carmen McRae, Duke Ellington and Gene Krupa.
Christy embarked on dozens of concert tours, playing in Europe, South Africa, Australia and Japan. She toured to such an extent that eventually it began taking a toll on her marriage. She began to pull back from touring in the early 1960s.
R.M. Cook and Brian Morton, writers of The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings, appreciated the singer's body of work: "Christy's wholesome but particularly sensuous voice is less an improviser's vehicle than an instrument for long, controlled lines and the shading of a fine vibrato. Her greatest moments—the heartbreaking 'Something Cool' itself, 'Midnight Sun,' 'I Should Care'—are as close to creating definitive interpretations as any singer can come."
Christy semi-retired from the music business in 1969, in part due to her battle with alcoholism.
In 1972, she sang at the Newport Jazz Festival in New York City, where she was reunited with the Kenton Orchestra. She also performed at a handful of jazz festivals during the late 1970s and 1980s, playing with a band of all-star West Coast jazz musicians led by Shorty Rogers, as well as taking part in a number of world tours.
Christy returned to the recording studio in 1977 to record her final solo LP, Impromptu. She recorded an interview for a Paul Cacia produced an album in 1987 called "The Alumni Tribute to Stan Kenton" on the Happy Hour label. A number of other Kenton the alumni-Shorty Rogers, Lee Konitz, Jack Sheldon, among them, plus Mort Sahl - interspersed their tunes with reminiscences of the man and the years on the road.
Christy toured one final time in 1988, again with Shorty Rogers. Her final performance was sharing the stage with Chet Baker.
Christy died at her home in Sherman Oaks, California of kidney failure on June 21, 1990, at the age of 64. Her remains were cremated and scattered off the coast of Marina Del Rey.
Christmas Heart
June Christy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A friend to every lonely heart
A peaceful country stream
To the folks afraid to dream
That would be a start
For Christmas, I would like to share
The hope that comes when life is rough
Turning tears to smiles and yet
That wouldn't be enough
To little people, I would offer
Gold doubloons in a pirate coffer
Furry friends to share their sleep
And a prayer for love, their dreams to keep
For Christmas, I would like to send
My thanks to lovers everywhere
And music soft and clear
To all who choose to hear
Any little part
Of a song that comes from a really, Christmas heart
The song "Christmas Heart" by June Christy is a heartfelt Christmas tune that expresses the desire to share love and kindness during the holidays. The lyrics speak of the wish to give to the less fortunate; to offer friendship to those who are lonely and to give hope to those going through difficult times. The song paints a picture of a peaceful, idyllic world; one in which all people are happy and fulfilled.
The first two verses of the song set the theme for what the singer would like to give for Christmas. She wants to spread love, happiness and hope to those who need it most: lonely hearts, people who are afraid to dream and those who are going through tough times. She also wants to offer a little bit of joy to children by giving them gold doubloons in a pirate coffer, furry friends to sleep with and a prayer for love to keep their dreams alive. The last verse of the song is a dedication to all the lovers in the world, and how their love inspires kindness in others. The singer concludes by sending her thanks to them and by offering a message of peace and joy to anyone who chooses to listen.
Overall, "Christmas Heart" is a beautiful and emotional song that conveys the true message of Christmas: love, charity, and kindness. The song's gentle melody and the heartfelt lyrics will surely touch the hearts of anyone who listens to it during the holiday season.
Line by Line Meaning
For Christmas, I would like to give
I want to give something meaningful for Christmas
A friend to every lonely heart
I want everyone to have a supportive friend during Christmas
A peaceful country stream
I wish for a serene and harmonious environment for those who are feeling troubled and restless during Christmas
To the folks afraid to dream
I want to instill hope and confidence to those who are feeling discouraged or unsure during Christmas
That would be a start
These gifts are just the beginning of what I wish forChristmas
For Christmas, I would like to share
I want to share something valuable with others during Christmas
The hope that comes when life is rough
I want to give hope and encouragement to those who are struggling during Christmas
That special kick you get
I wish for others to feel that spark of joy and motivation during Christmas
Turning tears to smiles and yet
I want to help those who are sad to find happiness during Christmas
That wouldn't be enough
Even though these gifts are important, I know there's more I can do during Christmas
To little people, I would offer
I want to make Christmas special for children
Gold doubloons in a pirate coffer
I wish to give children presents that will make them feel special and valued
Furry friends to share their sleep
I want children to have a companion during Christmas - something that can provide comfort and support
And a prayer for love, their dreams to keep
I hope to bring love and comfort to children's hearts and allow them to dream big during Christmas
For Christmas, I would like to send
I wish to send a message of gratitude during Christmas
My thanks to lovers everywhere
I want to express my gratitude and love to people who are in love during Christmas
And music soft and clear
I want to provide beautiful and peaceful music during Christmas
To all who choose to hear
I want to bring pleasant sounds to those who desire it during Christmas
Any little part
Even the smallest gesture can make a difference during Christmas
Of a song that comes from a really, Christmas heart
I hope to sing with joy and kindness, and bring warmth and comfort to others during Christmas
Writer(s): Pearce Connie, Miller Arnold
Contributed by Hunter V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@librarybob1958
A beautiful, beautiful Christmas song that hardly anyone else knows, but that I love. Bravo to the Misty Miss Christy for stating, in one song, what it's all about.
@tholu67
Outstanding singer and musicians, outstanding songs, outstanding arrangements. The whole album is a rare Christmas gem.
@63LAURIE
Lovely I have the album. truly lovely.
@carpenteranita
Thank you for posting - just beautiful!
@georgehewett6243
Never heard this one before day; saw the title on the 1961 compilation album and was intrigued by it. I'd like to find the sheet music.
@goldens5753
I wish taehyung can hear this 💜