Smith showed a natural aptitude for singing at a young age. At 14, she sang with a naval air station band led by Saxie Dowell. At 15, she got her first paying job with the Earl Bennett band.
She saw Louis Prima perform in New York City in 1949. When he came through Norfolk, Virginia, she auditioned. She became the calm balance to Prima's wild antics, as he made his way through a repertoire of jump blues, jazz, and Italian pop songs. They recorded together in 1949 and married in 1953.
Their songs included Johnny Mercer's and Harold Arlen's "That Ol' Black Magic", which was a Top 20 hit in the US in 1958. At the 1st Annual Grammy Awards in 1959, Smith and Prima won the first Grammy for Best Performance by a Vocal Group for "That Ol' Black Magic". Her deadpan act was popular with fans. The duo followed up with the minor successes "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen", a revival of the 1937 Andrews Sisters hit. Smith and Prima's act was a mainstay of the Las Vegas lounge scene for much of the 1950s. Though her actual voice was not used, she was caricatured as "Squealy Smith" in Bob Clampett's 1960 Beany and Cecil episode "So What and the Seven Whatnots," a Snow White spoof in a Vegas setting.
Smith appeared with Prima in the 1959 film, Hey Boy! Hey Girl!, singing "Fever", and also appeared in and sang on the soundtrack of the previous year's Thunder Road. Her song in Thunder Road was "Whippoorwill". Her first big solo hit was "I Wish You Love" in 1957. In 1961, Smith divorced Prima. She then signed with Reprise Records, where her musical director was Nelson Riddle. In 1965, she had Top 20 hits in the United Kingdom with an album of Beatles compositions, and a single, "You're Breaking My Heart" which reached No. 14 in April.
She returned to singing in 1985, recording the album I'm in Love Again with Bud Shank and Bill Perkins. Her albums, Swing, Swing, Swing (2002), Keely Sings Sinatra (2001) for which she received a Grammy nomination, and Keely Swings Count Basie Style with Strings (2002) won critical and popular acclaim.
In 1998, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to her.
Smith was of Irish and Native American ancestry.
Married Louis Leo Prima July 13, 1953, in Virginia Beach; the couple divorced in 1961. They had two children: Toni Elizabeth and Luanne Francis.
Married Jimmy Bowen in 1965. The couple divorced in 1969.
Married singer Bobby Milano (real name Charles Caci) in 1975 in Palm Springs. Frank Sinatra gave the bride away.
Smith died of apparent heart failure in Palm Springs California on December 16t, 2017 at the age of 89.
Discography
1957 I Wish You Love (Capitol)
1958 Politely! (Capitol)
1959 Swingin' Pretty (Capitol)
1959 Be My Love (Dot)
1960 Swing, You Lovers (Dot)
1960 A Keely Christmas (Dot)
1961 Twist With Keely Smith (Dot)
1961 Dearly Beloved (Dot)
1962 Because You're Mine (Dot)
1962 What Kind of Fool Am I? (Dot)
1962 Cherokeely Swings (Dot)
1963 Little Girl Blue/Little Girl New (Reprise)
1964 The Intimate Keely Smith (Reprise)
1965 Keely Smith Sings the John Lennon—Paul McCartney Songbook (Reprise)
1965 That Old Black Magic (Reprise)
1985 I'm In Love Again (Fantasy)
2000 Swing, Swing, Swing (Concord Jazz)
2001 Keely Sings Sinatra (Concord Jazz)
2002 Keely Swings Basie-Style With Strings (Concord Jazz)
2005 Vegas '58 – Today (Concord)
With Louis Prima
1958 Breaking It Up! (Columbia)
1958 Louis Prima & Keely Smith on Broadway (Coronet)
1959 Louis and Keely! (Dot)
1958 Together (Dot)
1961 Return of the Wildest! (Dot)
With Louis Prima and Sam Butera and the Witnesses
1957 The Call of the Wildest (Capitol)
1957 The Wildest Show at Tahoe (Capitol)
1958 Las Vegas Prima Style (Capitol)
1959 Hey Boy! Hey Girl! (Capitol)
1960 On Stage (Dot)
All the Way
Keely Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's no good unless he loves you all the way
Happy to be near you
When you need someone to cheer you all the way
[Chorus]
Taller than the tallest tree is
That's how it's got to feel
That's how deep it goes if it's real
When somebody needs you
It's no good unless he needs you all the way
Through the good or lean years
And for all the in-between years come what may
Who knows where the road will lead us
Only a fool would say
But if you'll let me love you
It's for sure I'm gonna love you all the way all the way
One interpretation of Keely Smith's "All The Way" is that it's a declaration of the depth and devotion required in a true love. The song conveys the idea that love isn't just about surface-level attraction or temporary passion but rather a commitment to being there for each other through all of life's ups and downs.
The lyrics begin by stating that it's not enough for someone to love you only partially - it's only meaningful if they love you "all the way." The sentiment is reinforced in the chorus, comparing the depth of love to being taller than the tallest tree and deeper than the deep blue sea. The lyrics then go on to suggest that a relationship requires mutual support not only during the easy times but also through the more challenging moments.
The final verse conveys uncertainty about where life may take both people in the relationship. However, the singer makes a promise to love their partner completely and without reservation, "all the way." Overall, the song is a powerful declaration of commitment to love completely and unconditionally.
Line by Line Meaning
When somebody loves you
If someone truly loves you
It's no good unless he loves you all the way
It's not enough if that person doesn't love you unconditionally
Happy to be near you
Being close to you makes me happy
When you need someone to cheer you all the way
I'm here to support and encourage you through thick and thin
Taller than the tallest tree is
The depth of love should surpass anything else in this world
That's how it's got to feel
I want to feel an overwhelming and all-consuming love
Deeper than the deep blue sea is
Love should be deeper than the ocean - vast, mysterious and never-ending
That's how deep it goes if it's real
Only true love has the capacity to reach such depths
When somebody needs you
If someone truly needs you
It's no good unless he needs you all the way
It's not enough if that person doesn't need you unconditionally
Through the good or lean years
I'll be there for you through the ups and downs of life
And for all the in-between years come what may
I'll always stand by you no matter what happens in our lives
Who knows where the road will lead us
The future is uncertain, and we don't know where life will take us
Only a fool would say
It's foolish to make predictions about something as unpredictable as the future
But if you'll let me love you
If you allow me to love you
It's for sure I'm gonna love you all the way all the way
I will love you with all my heart and soul, no matter what
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GENE (USA 2) SIMMONS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@joerhoden4919
Keely is the most underated singer ever. I didn't discover her until 5 years ago at age 46. Man,I could still kick myself! Judging from a distance,Miss Smith could step in and out of the spotlight with ease. That's so hard to do. She raised 2 lovely daughters yet didn't miss a beat when she returned to singing. Friends,Miss Keely Smith IS the greatest female singer of all time,despite a lot of stiff competition over the years. God bless you and your family,Keely!!!!!!!! Richard
@legioxciicorvus5917
Was fortunate enough to hear her on the Radio, so glad I've lived long enough to hear this women's incredible voice!
@Allenaid
RIP, Miss Keely! Thanks for the beautiful music!
@louisbadillo2734
Ms keely smith her songs are for ever great . Her voice what a pitch all the way nice .
@2war2bray
My Dad always said she was one of the best of that era, of course, along with Ella and Sarah Vaughn.. Brilliant voice.
@stanboyiddle7571
RIP Keely Smith. Beautiful lady with a beautiful voice.
@kulild
A voice of a nightingale that melted hearts of many generations.
@francoisegross9437
I loveyou ll the way, and will always. You are the one I need all the way. Le m love you all the way for ever my darling, all the way.
@rickcapari2369
Fantastic! Keely Smith and July London are my favorite singers!
@yankeeinparadise
Makes me feel alive... Soooo Beautiful. ... takes me back to my teens. Love you Keely.