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.
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.
Whee Baby
June Christy Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by June Christy:
'Round Midnight It begins to tell, 'round midnight, midnight. I do pretty we…
'S Wonderful Life has just begun, Jack has found his Jill Don't know…
A Hundred Years From To-Day Life is such a great adventure Learn to live it as…
A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening Some like a night at the movies, some like a…
A Night In Tunisia The moon is the same moon above you Aglow with its…
A Sleepin' Bee Finjo ser invisível Pra não ter que te encarar Afogo na pisc…
Across the Alley From Alamo Across the alley from the Alamo Lived a pinto pony and…
Across the Alley from the Alamo Across the alley from the Alamo Lived a pinto pony and…
Across the Valley from the Alamo Across the alley from the Alamo Lived a pinto pony and…
Alice Blue Gown I once had a gown, it was almost new Oh, the…
All God's Chillun Got Rhythm Chillun', listen here to me This is my philosophy To see me…
All Gods Children Got Rhythm I got a frown, you got a frown All God's chillun…
All Gods Chillun Got Rhythm Chillun', listen here to me This is my philosophy To see me…
All Of My Life All of my life I've been dreamin' the wrong dream,…
All Or Nothing At All All or nothing at all Half a love, never appealed to…
Am I Blue I'm fly The original I'm sly Unpredictable I'm nearly irre…
Angel Eyes Try to think that love's not around Still it's uncomfortably…
Aren't You Glad You're You Every time you're near a rose Aren't you glad you've got…
As Long As I Live Maybe I can't live to love you as long as…
Asking For You Please let me say from the start I don't pretend to…
Autumn Serenade Through the trees comes autumn with her serenade. Melodies t…
Bei Mir Bist du Schön Of all the boys I've known, and I've known some Until…
Best Thing For You The Please let me say from the start I don't pretend to…
Better Luck Next Time Better luck next time That could never be Cause their ain'…
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea I don't want you But I hate to lose you…
Beware My Heart Beware, my heart You're getting in too deep. Take care, my…
Bewiched Bothered And Bewildered He's a fool and don't I know it But a fool…
Blue Moon Blue moon you saw me standing alone Without a dream in…
Blue Skies Blue skies smilin' at me Nothin' but blue skies do I…
Blues for a Day They call me coquette, and mademoiselle, And I must admit I…
Body and Soul My heart is sad and lonely For you I sigh, for…
Born to Be Blue Some folks were meant to live in clover But they are…
Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man Oh listen, sister I love my mister man and I can't…
Can't Help Loving That Man Oh listen, sister I love my mister man and I can't…
Cast Your Fate To The Wind A month of nights, a year of days Octobers drifting into…
Cheek To Cheek Heaven, I'm in heaven And my heart beats so that I…
Christmas Heart For Christmas, I would like to give A friend to every…
Come Back To Me You went away I let you We broke the ties that bind I…
Come Rain Or Come Shine I'm gonna love you like nobody's loved you, Come rain…
Daddy Hey, listen to my story 'bout a gal named Daisy…
Dancing on the Ceiling The world is lyrical Because a miracle Has brought my love…
Day-Dream Daydream, i fell asleep amid the flowers For a couple of…
Dearly Beloved Tell me that it's true, Tell me you agree, I was meant…
Deep In A Dream I dim all the lights and I sink in my…
Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead Once there was a wicked witch in the lovely land…
Do Do Do You really shouldn't have done it You hadn't any right I rea…
Do I Hear a Waltz Do I hear a waltz? Very odd but I hear a…
Do I Hear a Waltz? Do I hear a waltz? Very odd but I hear a…
Do It Again You really shouldn't have done it You hadn't any right I rea…
Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me Do nothin' till you hear from me Pay no attention to…
Do'nt Get Around Much Anymore Missed the Saturday dance Heard they crowded the floor Could…
Don Hush now, don't explain Just say you'll remain I'm glad yo…
Don t Get Around Much Anymore Missed the Saturday dance Heard they crowded the floor Could…
Don't Explain Hush now, don't explain Just say you'll remain I'm glad you'…
Don't Get Around Much Anymore Missed the Saturday dance Heard they crowded the floor Could…
Don't Worry 'bout Me Don't worry 'bout me I'll get along Forget about me Just be …
Easy Living Living for you is easy living It's easy to live when…
Easy Street I remember the way Our sainted mother Would sit and…
Ev'ry Time False or true, I wish I had a clue or…
Everything Happens to Me I make a date for gown, You can bet your…
Everything Must Change Everything must change Nothing stays the same Everyone must …
For All We Know For all we know We may never meet again Before we go Make…
Frenesi Some time ago I wandered down into old Mexico While I was…
Get Happy Pack up your troubles and just get happy Ya better…
Give Me The Simple Life I don't believe in frettin' and grievin', Why mess around wi…
Gone for the Day They call me coquette, and mademoiselle, And I must admit I…
Good-Bye I'll never forget you I'll never forget you I'll never for…
Goodbye I'll never forget you I'll never forget you I'll never forge…
Goody Goody So you met someone who set you back on your…
Hang Them On The Tree It's a terrible disgrace All this trash around the place As …
Happy In Love I fall in love too easily, I fall in love…
He's Funny That Way Once she dressed in silks and lace, Owned a Rolls…
Here's That Rainy Day Maybe I should have saved those leftover dreams, Funny, but …
Hes Funny That Way Once she dressed in silks and lace, Owned a Rolls…
How High the Moon Somewhere there's music How faint the tune Somewhere there's…
How Long Has This Been Going On As a tot, when I trotted in little velvet panties, I…
How Long Has This Been Going On? As a tot, when I trotted in little velvet panties, I…
I I've told ya I love ya, now get out! I've told…
I Ain't Drunk Though folks with good intentions Tell me to save my tears W…
I Can Make You Love Me Yesterday you came my way, And when you smiled at me, In…
I Can't Give You Anything But Love Gee, but it's tough to be broke, kid. It's not a…
I Didn't Know About You I ran around, with my own little crowd The usual laughs,…
I Didn't Know What Time It Was Once I was young, yesterday, perhaps Danced with Jim and Pau…
I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With you I need your love so badly, I love you, oh,…
I Fall In Love Too Easily I fall in love too easily, I fall in love…
I Get Alone Without You Very Well I get along without you very well Of course I do Except…
I Get Along Without You Very Well I get along without you very well Of course I do Except…
I Got It Bad Though folks with good intentions Tell me to save my tears W…
I Got The Sun In The Morning Taking stock of what I have and what I haven't What…
I Know About Love I ran around, with my own little crowd The usual laughs,…
I Know Why Why do robins sing in December Long before the Springtime is…
I Let A Song Go Out My Heart I let a song go out of my heart It was…
I May Be Wrong I may be wrong but I think you're wonderful I may…
I Remember You I remember you, You're the one who made My dreams come true …
I Should Care I know I should pity me But I don't because, you…
I Told Ya I Love Ya Now Get Out I've told ya I love ya, now get out! I've told…
I Understand Why do you go on pretending You know you want to…
I Want To Be Happy I'm a very ordinary man Trying to work out life's happy…
I Was A Fool Once I was young, yesterday, perhaps Danced with Jim and Pau…
I Wished On The Moon I wished on the moon, for something I never knew Wished…
I'll Bet You Do Do you sigh and wink your eye At every girl that…
I'll Remember April This lovely day will lengthen into evening, We'll sigh good…
I'll Take Romance I'll take romance While my heart is young and eager to…
I'll Take Romance {From I'll Take Romance} I'll take romance While my heart is young and eager to…
I'm In Love I'm thru with love, I'll never fall again. Said I do to…
I've Been A Long Long Time Just kiss me once, then kiss me twice Then kiss me…
I've Got a Crush on You How glad the many millions of Annabelles and Lillians Would…
I've Got a Guy How glad the many millions of Annabelles and Lillians Would …
I've Never Been In Love Before Imagination is funny It makes the cloudy day sunny Makes t…
Idaho Away beyond the hills of Idaho, Where yawnin' canyons greet…
If Don't Mean a Thing It don't mean a thing If it ain't got that swing (doo…
If I Schould Lose You If I should lose you The stars would fall from the…
If I Should Lose You If I should lose you The stars would fall from the…
If It Should Lose You If I should lose you The stars would fall from the…
If You Were The Only Boy Sometimes when I feel low and things look blue I wish…
Ill Remember April This lovely day will lengthen into evening, We'll sigh good…
Imagination Imagination is funny It makes the cloudy day sunny Makes the…
In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning In the wee small hours of the morning While the whole…
Interlude A corner of the world A moment out of time Two people…
irresistable you Your magic hands your lovin' eyes Your kissable lips Makes…
Is You is Or Is You Ain't I got a gal who's always late Any time we have…
It Ain't Necessarily So It ain't necessarily so It ain't necessarily so De things da…
It Could Happen To You Hide your heart from sight, Lock your dreams at night, It co…
It Don't Mean A Thing It don't mean a thing If it ain't got that swing (doo…
It Never Entered My Mind Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
It S Been a Long Long Time Just kiss me once, then kiss me twice Then kiss me…
It's a Most Unusual Day It's a most unusual day Feel like throwing my worries away A…
It's a Pity to Say Goodbye What a shame the night is ending, cross my heart…
It's Always You Whenever it's early twilight, I watch till a star breaks thr…
It's Been a Long Long Time Just kiss me once, then kiss me twice Then kiss me…
It's Only a Paper Moon So it's only a paper moon Hanging over a cardboard sea But…
It's so Peaceful in the Country Whenever it's early twilight, I watch till a star breaks th…
it’s a pity to say goodnight What a shame the night is ending, cross my heart…
Its Been A Long Long Time Kiss me once, then kiss me twice Then kiss me once…
Its been a long time Just kiss me once, then kiss me twice Then kiss me…
It’s A Pity To Say Goodnight What a shame the night is ending, cross my heart…
It’s Only A Paper Moon So it's only a paper moon Hanging over a cardboard sea But…
Jeepers Creepers I don't care what the weatherman says When the weatherman sa…
Just The Way I Am I'm fly The original I'm sly Unpredictable I'm nearly…
Kicks My story is much too sad to be told But practically…
Lazy Mood I'll tell you why the days go by, Like caterpillars…
Let Me Love You Let me love you, Let me say that I do; If you…
Let There Be Love Let there be you, Let there be me. Let there…
Little White Lies The moon was all aglow But heaven was in your eyes The…
Lonely House At night when everything is quiet This old house seems to…
Lonesome Road Look down, look down that lonesome road Before you travel on…
Looking for a Boy I am just a little girl Who's looking for a little…
Love Doesn't Live Here Anymore There's lots of stories in the big city And two sides…
Love is Just Around the Corner Beautiful miracle, pardon my lyrical rhapsody, Can't you see…
Love Me or Leave Me You hold your arms open wide You say come and lay…
Love Theme from "The Sandpiper" One day we walked along the sand One day in…
Love Turns Winter to Spring A corner of the world A moment out of time Two people…
Lovely Way To Spend An Evening Some like a night at the movies, some like a…
Lover Lover, when I'm near you And I hear you Speak my name Softly…
Lover Man I don't know why but I'm feeling so sad I long…
lucky in love I fall in love too easily, I fall in love…
Make Love to Me Instead of making conversations Make love to me Make love to…
Make Someone Happy The sound of applause is delicious It's a thrill to have…
Maybe You'll Be There (You said your arms would always hold me) (You said your…
Mean to Me You're mean to me Why must you be mean to me? Gee,…
Midnight Your lips were like a red and ruby chalice, Warmer than…
and many more tracks by June Christy.
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found