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)
What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry?
Keely Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ever be mean to you
If I didn't care I wouldn't feel like I do, I was so wrong, right or
wrong I don't blame you
Why should I take somebody like you and shame you
I know that I made you cry and I'm so sorry dear
So what can I say dear after I say I'm sorry,
Baby I'm so, I'm sorry. got to prove that I'm so sorry
I do
What can I say, what can I do after I say I'm sorry
Keely Smith’s song “I Can” is a ballad about a person who has wronged their loved one and wants to make amends for their actions. The lyrics express remorse and the desire to make things right with the person they care about. The phrase “What can I do to prove it to you that I'm sorry” shows that the person is willing to go above and beyond to show their sincerity. The lyrics also reveal that the person is self-aware, admitting that they were wrong and accepting responsibility for their mistakes.
The lyrics “Why should I take somebody like you and shame you” express a realization of the value and worth of the person they hurt. The phrase “right or wrong I don't blame you” shows a level of understanding and empathy for how the other person may be feeling. The chorus repeats with a question of what else can they say or do to make things right after apologizing. The repetition of the chorus shows the desperation and urgency to regain the trust and affection of the person they wronged.
Line by Line Meaning
What can I do to prove it to you that I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ever be mean to you
I am deeply regretful for my actions that hurt you. Please let me know how I can make things right.
If I didn't care I wouldn't feel like I do, I was so wrong, right or wrong I don't blame you
My feelings for you are genuine, and I acknowledge that my behavior towards you was unjustified and inexcusable.
Why should I take somebody like you and shame you
You deserve respect and kindness, and I am ashamed that I acted in a way that undermined your dignity.
I know that I made you cry and I'm so sorry dear
I recognize that my behavior has hurt you deeply, and I apologize for making you cry.
So what can I say dear after I say I'm sorry, Baby I'm so, I'm sorry. got to prove that I'm so sorry
I understand that my words alone cannot undo the pain I caused you. I am committed to taking action and making things right.
I made you cry and I'm so sorry dear, what can I say dear, what can I do
I want to make amends and repair our relationship. Please tell me how I can do that.
What can I say, what can I do after I say I'm sorry
I am willing to do whatever it takes to make things right between us. Please guide me on how to do that.
Lyrics © DONALDSON PUBLISHING CO, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Walter Donaldson, Abe Lyman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
J. F. Gecik
Dorothy Jacqueline Keely Smith is now 86 (in 2014) and may still be performing. In 2009, I saw her singing Christmas carols live (on the 24-hour Catholic cable TV network, EWTN), after she had recorded a new album ("A Keely Christmas"). Despite being 81, her voice had not changed one iota -- what a blessing from God!
catman916
It's great that she is still around. There aren't too many singers left from that era - Joni James, and Doris Day also come to mind..
Rebecca Horton
I've been selling my records..I have a near mint copy of this one. Now that I've listened to it, I'm keeping it!! ;)
Francoise Gross
I made many mistakes in my life, but losing you was right up there. I love you.
John Neilan Music
They just don't make them like these anymore :-(