June Christy (November 20, 1925 – June 21, 1990), born Shirley Luster, was … Read Full Bio ↴June Christy (November 20, 1925 – June 21, 1990), born Shirley Luster, was an American singer, known for her work in the cool jazz genre and for her silky smooth vocals. Her success as a singer began with The Stan Kenton Orchestra. She pursued a solo career from 1954 and is best known for her debut album Something Cool. After her death, she was hailed as "one of the finest and most neglected singers of her time."

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.

Sorry to See You Go
June Christy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Midnight will sound
And we'll all gather round
The new little year
Of the day
But dear old year
Before you go
Here's something you ought to know

Though your back is bent
And your beard is gray
You're a year well spent
And I'd like to say
You put on a 1st class show
And I'm sorry to see you go

You brought trouble
Taught me to handle it
Thanks for the lesson
You brought romance
Oh what a scandal it caused
When it all fell through ;-)
You brought worry
Taught me to laugh at it
Now I'm confessin
That my whole approach is new
After a year like you

So we'll share a toast
From the loving cup
Here's to you grown old
And to me grown up
There's nothing left up your sleeve
But I'm sorry to see you leave

So retire into a memory
You've earned a good rest
It's been great and though I'll pretend to be
Part of this midnight show
Just between old you and me
And that kid with his year to grow
I'm sorry, really sorry to see you go

Sorry to see you go x 5

Overall Meaning

The song "Sorry to See You Go" by June Christy encapsulates the emotion of bidding adieu to the year that has passed. The lyrics convey gratitude for the experiences that the year has brought along, both good and bad. The lyrics begin by mentioning how everyone will gather around at midnight to welcome the new year, but before the old year goes, they ought to know something. The verse continues by acknowledging how the year's back is bent and the beard is grey, but it was a year well spent.

The lyrics then delve into the lessons learned through the experiences the year brought. The year brought trouble, and the verse says it taught the person to handle it. It brought romance, causing some scandal when it fell through, and it brought worry, teaching the person to laugh at it. The verse ends with the realization that the whole approach to life has changed after a year like this one.

The chorus then comes in, toasting to the old year and the person growing up through it. It acknowledges that there may be nothing left for the year to give, but the singer is still sorry to see it go. The bridge then pleads with the year to retire into a memory and rest, thanking it for the experiences and expressing regret at its passing.

In conclusion, the song "Sorry to See You Go" is a beautiful ode to the year that has passed. It acknowledges the challenges and blessings that the year brought along, and how it has changed the person's approach to life. The lyrics evoke nostalgia and regret at the year's passing, while the chorus toasts to both the year and the person who has grown up through it.

Line by Line Meaning

Midnight will sound
The clock will strike twelve, signaling the beginning of a new year.

And we'll all gather round
People will come together to celebrate the start of the new year.

The new little year
The new year, which is just beginning and has yet to unfold.

Of the day
Of the year, which is sometimes referred to as a day in the sense that it is the length of time it takes for the earth to complete one orbit around the sun.

But dear old year
The current year that is coming to an end.

Before you go
Before the current year ends and the new one begins.

Here's something you ought to know
There are things that the current year has taught and brought that are worthy of appreciation.

Though your back is bent
Although the current year has aged and grown weaker.

And your beard is gray
And has gone through significant changes.

You're a year well spent
The year has passed in a worthwhile and valuable manner.

And I'd like to say
An expression of gratitude and respect towards the year.

You put on a 1st class show
The year has brought an exceptional performance or display of events and opportunities.

And I'm sorry to see you go
Despite the excitement of the new year, there is a feeling of sadness and regret that the current year is coming to an end.

You brought trouble
The year has presented challenges and difficulties.

Taught me to handle it
The year has allowed for growth and development through these challenges and difficulties.

Thanks for the lesson
Expressing appreciation towards the year for the valuable experiences and teachings it has provided.

You brought romance
The year has brought opportunities for love and relationships.

Oh what a scandal it caused
However, some of these romantic or relationship experiences may have caused some controversy or drama.

When it all fell through ;-)
Ultimately, some of these romantic or relationship experiences may have not worked out.

You brought worry
The year has caused anxiety and stress.

Taught me to laugh at it
The year has taught how to cope with the anxiety and stress in a positive way by finding humor in it.

Now I'm confessin
Expressing a realization or newfound understanding that was learned from the year.

That my whole approach is new
Overall mindset has been positively transformed by the experiences of the year.

After a year like you
Following the year filled with various experiences and personal growth.

So we'll share a toast
Celebrating the end of the year and acknowledging the significant moments and memories.

From the loving cup
From a cup or glass filled with love and affection

Here's to you grown old
Toasting and expressing gratitude towards the current year that is coming to an end.

And to me grown up
Celebrating personal growth and development throughout the year.

There's nothing left up your sleeve
Implying that the year has given everything it has to offer and there are no more surprises.

But I'm sorry to see you leave
Despite having experienced everything the year has to offer, there is still a sense of sadness and reluctance to let it go.

So retire into a memory
The year becomes a part of distant memory as it comes to an end.

You've earned a good rest
The year deserves a period of rest and repose after all it has given.

It's been great and though I'll pretend to be
Acknowledging that the year has been filled with unforgettable moments and memories.

Part of this midnight show
Celebrating the end of the year and welcoming the new one in with festivities and celebration.

Just between old you and me
Expressing an intimate and sincere conversation between the year and oneself.

And that kid with his year to grow
Referring to the new year that is about to begin and the opportunities it holds.

I'm sorry, really sorry to see you go
Repeating the sentiment that despite the excitement of the new year, there is still a sense of sadness and loss for the year that is coming to an end.

Contributed by Cooper A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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