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)
Someone To Watch Over Me
Keely Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Still were often told, seek and ye shall find
So I'm going to seek a certain lad I've had in mind
Looking everywhere, haven't found him yet
Hes the big affair I cannot forget
Only man I ever think of with regret
I'd like to add his initial to my monogram
There's a somebody I'm longing to see
I hope that he turns out to be
Someone who'll watch over me
I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood
I know I could always be good
Someone who'll watch over me
Although he may not be the man some
Girls think of as handsome
To my heart he carries the key
Won't you tell him please to put on some speed
Follow my lead, oh, how I need
Someone to watch over me
In the song "Someone to Watch Over Me," Keely Smith sings about her longing for a specific man who she has yet to find. Throughout the song, she expresses her desire for this man to come into her life and watch over her. The opening line, "There's a saying old says that love is blind," suggests that her love for this man may not be rational, but it is powerful and all-consuming. The next line, "Still, we're often told, seek and ye shall find," suggests that she is determined to find this man despite potential obstacles.
She goes on to describe this man as the "big affair she cannot forget" and the "only man she ever thinks of with regret." Her desire for him is so strong that she even wants to add his initials to her monogram. She feels lost without him, like a lamb wandering in the woods, and hopes that he will come into her life and be her protector.
The final lines of the song emphasize her need for someone to watch over her, suggesting that she is vulnerable and needs someone to guide her. Through her powerful and emotional lyrics, Keely Smith conveys the desperation and longing of someone searching for love.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a saying old says that love is blind
People have said for ages that love is irrational and can make us ignore flaws or problems in our romantic partners.
Still were often told, seek and ye shall find
Despite the myth that love is blind, people are often advised to actively search for a romantic partner, with the hopeful belief that they will eventually find someone to love.
So I'm going to seek a certain lad I've had in mind
The singer has a particular person in mind who she hopes to find and begin a romantic relationship with.
Looking everywhere, haven't found him yet
Despite her efforts, the singer has not yet been able to locate the man she is interested in.
Hes the big affair I cannot forget
The man the singer is searching for is an important, unforgettable figure in her mind.
Only man I ever think of with regret
The singer regrets not being able to find this man, as he is the only person she ever thinks of with remorse.
I'd like to add his initial to my monogram
The singer wants to marry this man and have his last name, hence why she says she would like to add his initial to her monogram.
Tell me, where is the shepherd for this lost lamb?
The singer is using a metaphor to describe herself as a lost lamb that needs a shepherd, asking where her romantic partner is to guide her.
There's a somebody I'm longing to see
The singer is yearning to find the man she previously described and be in his presence.
I hope that he turns out to be
The singer has not yet met this man, but she is optimistically hopeful that he will live up to her expectations.
Someone who'll watch over me
The singer wants to find someone who will care for her and keep her safe and secure.
I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood
The singer uses animal imagery to describe herself as feeling lost and vulnerable, much like a lamb wandering in the woods.
I know I could always be good
Despite feeling lost, the singer is confident in her ability to behave well and act appropriately if she has someone to care for her.
Someone who'll watch over me
The singer reiterates her desire to find someone who will protect her and care for her well-being.
Although he may not be the man some
The singer is acknowledging that the man she is searching for may not necessarily meet everyone's standards of attractiveness or desirability.
Girls think of as handsome
The singer is specifically referring to other women's perceptions of what is considered attractive in a man.
To my heart he carries the key
Despite his potential lack of physical attractiveness, the singer feels that this man has the ability to unlock her emotions and truly capture her heart.
Won't you tell him please to put on some speed
The singer is asking someone to tell her crush to hurry up and start pursuing a relationship with her.
Follow my lead, oh, how I need
The singer is taking the lead in her quest for a relationship and urges her romantic interest to follow her lead and reciprocate her feelings.
Someone to watch over me
The song ends as it began, with the singer repeating her desire to find someone who will care for and protect her.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
mark weadon
What a great set of pipes! Wonderful, vastly underrated singer.
Peter Farrar
The brilliant matrimonial combination of George & Ira Gershwin's heart warming romantic ballad about a girl sincerely pleading for "Someone To Watch Over Me". The appropriate combination to address this issue, of course the fabulous Keely Smith & her favourite conductor& orchestra of Nelson Riddle. This combination is incomparable. Keely's interpretation of this dramatic heart reaching mood music was warm & sincere & delivered straight from her heart & soul. A performance that reached supreme levels of perfection that other leading artists could not match.
Peter Swanson
She was remarkable - lovely voice - peerless!
Fernando chevarria vucetich
Muy buena voz de Jazzista, me encanta escucharla.
capnbobretired
I'd never heard her sing this song before. She sooo owns it. Incredible. Marvelous.
Daniel Flowers
One of the most memorable songs ever written
William L Robinson
Another great song performed by the terrific Keely Smith with backup from Nelson Riddle
Ms Beb
Beautifully sang..thanks Catman916 for sharing..this one i like among her collection...rests in peace Kelly Smith!
Kevin Parker
Lovely singer lovely song ,pure class
maureen1938
Beautiful both the song composed by George Gershwin one of my favourite composers and the singer not forgetting Nelson Riddle. THANK YOU for posting