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.
Ring a Merry Bell
June Christy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Make the world seem strange
Wonders must have something to trust
Never let Christmas change
Ring a merry bell at Christmas time
Hang the holly, decorate the tables
I am far from home
Sing a merry song at Christmas time
Please be jolly, tell familiar fables
For the folks who roam
High up, tie up the mistletoe
Tinsel tip the tree
Popcorn and silver on top a star
So bright, that a stranger can see it from afar
Wrap a merry gift at Christmas time
Curl the ribbons, stick on fancy labels
I am far from home
Things I have lost and things I am learning
Make the world seem strange
Wonders must have something to trust
Never let Christmas change
Ring a merry bell at Christmas time
Hang the holly, decorate the tables
Light, the highest, brightest star
It may guide me home
Do-boo-do-boo-do
The lyrics of "Ring a Merry Bell" can be interpreted as a reminder to not lose hope and to hold on to the things that matter during the holiday season. The singer reflects on the things they have lost and the things they are still learning, which make the world feel unfamiliar and strange. However, they find comfort in the wonders of Christmas and the things they can still trust.
The first verse suggests that Christmas decorations and festivities, such as ringing bells, hanging holly, and singing songs, provide a sense of familiarity and comfort to those who are far from home. The second verse describes some classic Christmas traditions such as mistletoe, tinsel-tipped trees, and popcorn and silver ornaments on top of the tree, which can be seen by strangers from afar. These details paint a vivid picture of a festive and inviting holiday scene.
The final verse seems to offer a glimmer of hope and faith that the singer may eventually find their way back home. The mention of the highest and brightest star that may guide them home evokes a sense of guidance and direction to the lost and wandering. Overall, the lyrics of "Ring a Merry Bell" convey a message of hope, joy, and a reminder to hold onto traditions that make the world feel more familiar and comforting in uncertain times.
Line by Line Meaning
Things I have lost and things I am learning
The experiences I've had of both losing and acquiring things have made the world appear unfamiliar and confusing.
Make the world seem strange
The combination of past losses and learning create a new perspective on the world that feels estranging.
Wonders must have something to trust
There must be something trustworthy and dependable about the experiences one has of wonder and beauty, even in the midst of confusion and loss.
Never let Christmas change
Despite everything else changing, it's important to hold onto the unchanging goodness and joy of the Christmas season.
Ring a merry bell at Christmas time
One should welcome and celebrate the Christmas season with vibrant and joyful sound.
Hang the holly, decorate the tables
Making one's surroundings festive and colorful, with traditional Christmas decorations like holly, helps to mark the season.
I am far from home
Being away from home during the holidays can be challenging and make the season feel less familiar and comforting.
Sing a merry song at Christmas time
Music is a powerful way to connect with the joy and camaraderie of the season.
Please be jolly, tell familiar fables
Surrounding oneself with others who are joyful and sharing familiar holiday stories can create a sense of comfortable and happy community.
For the folks who roam
For those who are traveling or otherwise away from their usual surroundings during the holidays.
High up, tie up the mistletoe
Placing mistletoe in a high and noticeable spot is a traditional way of marking the season and creating opportunities for holiday romance.
Tinsel tip the tree
Adding tinsel can make a Christmas tree look especially sparkly and joyful.
Popcorn and silver on top a star
Using festive and creative decorations like popcorn and silver to adorn the top of the Christmas tree can add to the holiday's sense of magic and wonder.
So bright, that a stranger can see it from afar
The beauty and brightness of Christmas decorations can be visible and inviting to all, even those one does not know.
Wrap a merry gift at Christmas time
Taking care and thought in wrapping gifts is a way to express the love and kindness that is central to the holiday season.
Curl the ribbons, stick on fancy labels
Paying attention to the details of gift wrapping can make it feel special and festive.
Light, the highest, brightest star
The traditional story of the Wise Men following the brightest star to find the newborn King is a reminder of the religious significance of the holiday season.
It may guide me home
The hope and faith that the Christmas star represents can offer comfort and reassurance to those who are feeling lost or far from home during the holidays.
Do-boo-do-boo-do
This is a repeated musical phrase that is part of the song's melody and rhythm, and does not have a specific meaning.
Writer(s): Arnold Miller, Claes Pearce
Contributed by Colin J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Dr. Poison II
This is so chill.. I love I love
Danielle Johnson
She has a beautiful voice. Thanks for posting.
sanantoniomimi
love it
superyoshiism
she is so good
Desdemona Gladiola
bittersweet and lovely
Cjguinness
Class
Marcel Audubon
Tinsel, not Tensile ; )