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.
Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most
June Christy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Throw my heart away each Spring
Now a Spring romance
Hasn't got a chance
Promised my first dance to Winter
All I've got to show's a splinter
For my little fling
That never left the post
I lay in my room
Starring up at the ceiling
Spring can really hang you up the most
Morning kiss wakes trees and flower
And to them my life
To drink a toast I walk in the park
Just to kill those lonely hours
Spring can really hang you up the most
All afternoon
Those birds tweet-a-tweet I know their tune
This is love this is it
Heard it before
And I know the score
And I decide that love is a bore
Love seem sure around the new year
Now it's April
Love is just a ghost
Spring arrived on time
But what became of you, dear
Spring can really hang you up the most
Spring can really hang you up the most
Spring is here
There's no mistaken
Robins build their nest from coast to coast
My heart tries the same
So they won't hear it breaking
Spring can really hang you up the most
College boys are riding somewhere
Tender passion there it grows
But I'm on the shelf with last years Easter bonnet
Spring can really hang you up the most
Love came my way
I'm holding the last
We had our day
Now that's all in the past
Spring came along
A season of song
For love's sweet promise
But something went wrong
Doctor's once prescribed a tonic
Sulfur and molasses was the dose
Didn't help me a bit
My condition must be chronic
Spring can really hang you up the most
All alone, the party's over
Winter was a gracious host
But when you keep praying
For snow to hide the clover
Spring can really hang you up the most
In June Christy's song Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most, the lyrics describe the emotional toll that Spring can have on a person who has experienced heartbreak. The song establishes a melancholy atmosphere by metaphorically comparing the singer's heart to a "sentimental thing" which she used to throw away each Spring. She later explains how love seemed possible in the new year but has now vanished and how Spring festivities have done little more than exacerbate the pain.
The singer speaks of romantic associations such as a morning kiss between trees and flowers and birds tweet-a-tweeting. Although these acts of Spring signify new beginnings, the singer is left to mourn the past romance, and love that has lost its luster now seems only to be a "bore." The song's final verse portrays the singer as alone and discouraged, with the party over, and Winter no longer respite. Christy's delivery of the lyrics is emotive and poignant, conveying the singer's heartbreak with pathos.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I was a sentimental thing
In the past, I used to be someone who was easily moved by emotions.
Throw my heart away each Spring
But now, I am someone who no longer believes in spring romance and sees it as a disappointment.
Now a Spring romance
Even if I go into a Spring romance,
Hasn't got a chance
it won't work out in the end, and it's just a waste of time and effort.
Promised my first dance to Winter
I have committed myself to winter and the coldness that it brings.
All I've got to show's a splinter
But all I've gotten out of it is pain, a mere splinter.
For my little fling
For whatever it was worth, it was nothing more than a minor fling.
Spring, this year has got me feeling like a horse
This year's spring has got me feeling like a horse that has not even left the starting gate.
That never left the post
I am stagnant and stuck, not moving forward with my life.
I lay in my room
I am stuck and idle, wasting my time lying in my room.
Starring up at the ceiling
Staring up at the ceiling, I wonder when I will be unstuck.
Spring can really hang you up the most
Spring can really depress a person who isn't moving forward in their life.
Morning kiss wakes trees and flower
In the morning, the world is alive with the blooming of trees and flowers.
And to them my life
And I see their life as a reflection of mine.
To drink a toast I walk in the park
To celebrate life, I walk in the park and raise a glass to nature.
Just to kill those lonely hours
Just to keep myself busy and kill time, I walk in the park.
Spring can really hang you up the most
Spring can really depress a person who is desperately trying to keep themselves busy.
All afternoon
All afternoon long,
Those birds tweet-a-tweet I know their tune
I hear the birds singing and know their songs.
This is love this is it
I think that this is what love is supposed to feel like.
Heard it before
I have had this feeling before and heard this same tune.
And I know the score
And I know that love is all about winning and losing.
And I decide that love is a bore
After thinking it over, I decide that love is boring and not worth the effort.
Love seem sure around the new year
During the new year, love always seems sure and promising.
Now it's April
But now, with April here,
Love is just a ghost
love is a mere apparition that is no longer there.
Spring arrived on time
Spring has arrived on time, as usual.
But what became of you, dear
But I wonder what happened to you, dear.
Spring can really hang you up the most
Spring can really depress a person when they are reminded of what is missing in their life.
Spring is here
Spring is now here,
There's no mistaken
there is no mistaking it.
Robins build their nest from coast to coast
Robins are building nests all across the country.
My heart tries the same
My heart is trying to do the same thing as the robins.
So they won't hear it breaking
So that my heartbreak won't be heard by anyone.
Spring can really hang you up the most
Spring can really depress a person who is trying to hide their broken heart.
College boys are riding somewhere
College boys are out somewhere, living their lives.
Tender passion there it grows
There may be love growing between them, as it should be.
But I'm on the shelf with last years Easter bonnet
But I am still on the shelf, with last year's Easter bonnet, as if I haven't moved on.
Spring can really hang you up the most
Spring can really depress a person who feels left behind.
Love came my way
Love came my way,
I'm holding the last
But I am still holding on to the past.
We had our day
We had our moment in the sun.
Now that's all in the past
But now, all of that is just a memory of the past.
Spring came along
Spring arrived,
A season of song
A season filled with music and cheer,
For love's sweet promise
With the promise of love lingering in the air.
But something went wrong
But something did not go as planned.
Doctor's once prescribed a tonic
The doctors once prescribed me a tonic,
Sulfur and molasses was the dose
Sulfur and molasses was the remedy they advised.
Didn't help me a bit
But it did not help me at all.
My condition must be chronic
My situation must be chronic and incurable.
Spring can really hang you up the most
Spring can really depress a person who has tried everything in vain.
All alone, the party's over
Alone by myself, the party is over.
Winter was a gracious host
Winter was a welcoming and hospitable season.
But when you keep praying
But as I kept hoping,
For snow to hide the clover
For snow to cover up the clovers,
Spring can really hang you up the most
Spring can really depress a person when their hopes and prayers are not answered.
Lyrics © FRICON MUSIC COMPANY, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Fran Landesman, Tommy Wolf
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mark Schildberg
June may be among the most underrated jazz singers. Her vulnerability in her phrasing was exquisite, and nobody knew how to showcase it better than Pete Rugolo. His arrangements and conducting are peerless.
jwbeauch
One of my favorite jazz singers in the fifties. I love her "Something Cool" album.
RONNSWIRL
Timeless...she makes every song she sings her own....
Dj Aja
I adore her voice x
Scott Luster
Of all my Aunt's recordings, I get so lost in this one and have for years. So many great singers recorded this Fran Landesman' classic. My friend Chris Jackson, a playwrite, also from St. Louis, did Fran homage in his original musical "St. Louis Trolley Car Musical." He was referring to their iconic club, "Crystal Palace" in Gaslight Square where June held forth for a week in 1962. These are great memories, perhaps quaint and provincial, but mine to cherish, none-the-less. I still think June's is right up there with the finest.
lrlforfun
OK Scott: I was actually introduced to "Spring" by none other than Julie LaRosa. I first became aware of June when a San Francisco radio station went Big Band in the late 70's. June is my favorite vocalist. Pete told me that when she got ill he and Bob took her to the Doc's often and was very sad about her being so sick and subsequent passing. All gone now and much like so many gems from that time period are now getting the much respect they so deserved. Funny, I called Stan Kenton Mr. Dark as his behavior and playing were dark. Pete Rugulo was an exceptional talent took June's vocals to an incredible level. While I never knew them personally I can talk about about their music...June's vocal stylings and Pete's orchestrations for days! I am happy to say that I own many of their albums and have enjoyed them for years. A final note. The Sci-Fi film, Escape from Planet 9 was affectionately described as the world's worst movie. In the movie they're driving up Sunset and June's name appears on the marquis.
Scott Luster
@lrlforfun How great to hear from you! Thanks for sharing your opinion. I know that June was a fan of Tommy and Fran's. But I regrettably never met either of them. Fran had long moved to London. I grew up in the Midwest and was amused and amazed at my "hip" aunt. She was different, to be sure, but Mame-like and very socially aware. June's brother, Jack, was my father. My parents entertained a lot. But on those joyous occasions when June was in town, they always threw great parties. Those were the days? Scott Luster
lrlforfun
OK Scott: I'm a JC fan for a long time and even got to meet Pete. SCRHYUTM was from a Beat-Gen play The Nervous Set also featuring Nightime Was My Mother, also done by June. It doesn't get more hip than that!
Noreen Jackson
Bob Dorough and Fran Landesman also wrote tunes together. Bob is a great talent as well.
Charles Liles
Now, that was FABULOUS!!! I heard her staying close to the melody--not excessive bending of the notes. And her timbre is still distinctive. Beautiful. Thanks. Hotandsweaty for posting this.