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 Is This Thing Called Love
Keely Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Leading a life apart
When love flew in through my window wide
And quickened my hum-drum heart
Love flew in through my window
I was so happy then
But after love had stayed a little while
Love flew out again
What is this thing called love?
This funny thing called love?
Just who can solve its mystery?
Why should it make a fool of me?
I saw you there one wonderful day
You took my heart and threw my heart away
That's why I ask the Lawd up in Heaven above
What is this thing called love?
You gave me days of sunshine
You gave me nights of cheer
You made my life an enchanted dream
'Til somebody else came near
Somebody else came near you
I felt the winter's chill
And now I sit and wonder night and day
Why I love you still
In Keely Smith's song "What Is This Thing Called Love," the singer is reflecting on the unpredictable and elusive nature of love. The song begins with Keely describing herself as a "hum-drum person" who was leading a mundane and uneventful life. However, everything changes when love unexpectedly enters her life through her window, bringing excitement and joy to her previously lackluster existence. Keely's "hum-drum heart," which had been dormant for so long, is now "quickened" by the arrival of love.
But just as quickly as love came into her life, it disappears, leaving Keely feeling lost and confused. She questions the nature of love itself, calling it a "funny thing" that no one can seem to solve. She wonders why it has the power to make her feel like a fool and why she still loves someone who has thrown her heart away. Despite the pain and confusion, Keely acknowledges the joy and enchantment that love brought to her life, giving her "days of sunshine" and "nights of cheer."
On a deeper level, Keely's song speaks to the universal experience of seeking and losing love. Love is a mysterious force that often defies explanation, causing both joy and heartbreak in equal measure. By posing the question of what love truly is, Keely invites listeners to reflect on their own experiences of love and what it means to them.
Line by Line Meaning
I was a hum-drum person
I was leading an uneventful life, with nothing exciting happening.
Leading a life apart
I was living a life that was separate and distinct from anything of significance.
When love flew in through my window wide
Suddenly and unexpectedly, I experienced the emotion of love.
And quickened my hum-drum heart
That love made me feel alive and gave meaning to my previous mundane existence.
Love flew in through my window
Love came to me by chance.
I was so happy then
I felt pure joy when I was in love.
But after love had stayed a little while
The happiness wasn't permanent, and after some time spent in love, things changed.
Love flew out again
Love left me again just as unexpectedly as it came.
What is this thing called love?
What exactly is love, how does it work, and why is it so mysterious?
This funny thing called love?
Love can be humorous or confusing, and doesn't always make sense.
Just who can solve its mystery?
Nobody seems to be able to fully explain the mystery of love.
Why should it make a fool of me?
Love can make us do foolish things and cloud our judgment.
I saw you there one wonderful day
I met you and felt an instant connection.
You took my heart and threw my heart away
You broke my heart and left me feeling hurt and betrayed.
That's why I ask the Lawd up in Heaven above
I am searching for answers and guidance, turning to a higher power for help.
What is this thing called love?
I'm still trying to understand what love is and why it can hurt so much.
You gave me days of sunshine
During the happy times we shared, I felt like life was perfect and full of light.
You gave me nights of cheer
Together, we had fun and enjoyed each other's company.
You made my life an enchanted dream
Being in love with you was like being in a magical and surreal fairy tale.
'Til somebody else came near
However, things changed when someone else entered the picture.
Somebody else came near you
You became interested in another person, and our love suffered as a result.
I felt the winter's chill
I felt alone and cold when love left me.
And now I sit and wonder night and day
I am left with questions and uncertainty, unable to move on from what could have been.
Why I love you still
Despite everything that has happened, I still have feelings for you and struggle to let go.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@multimill
totally the most fabulous arrangement! the voice is perfect for it and makes this the BEST rendition of this song IMO
@ohiofan1989
I just got into these albums and can't get enough of them. This song is very well executed and in the beginning, it's almost as if the vocals and the band are performing two different songs at the same time. When it all comes together, it swings like crazy!
@Garethfw
the best brass arrangement and what a voice
@hotjiveman
Keely made her very last recordings with the UK Band The Jive Aces of whom I am the String Bass Player. She was one sweet and sassy lady!!! Love to her.
@jstellamedialv
RIP Keely Smith.
@JPGuyot1
It rocks! Keely Smith is the real thing. Her smoky voice, her sense of rythm, her unique timbre, all of that -and then some!- puts Madonna and Lady Gaga to shame.
@joerhoden4919
Keely is the real thing,Jean,not Coca Cola!!!! There nave been many excellent singers , but Keely edges them out as the best ever because of the things you mentioned. Richard Rhoden
@Skidoo22
Nelson Riddle! The man who shut himself away for hours to write this stuff
@anthonyparisian4239
Who is it??? Why
@danialburleigh6583
I saw a drag queen do this song and fell in love with this particular version and whala I found it! I had no idea Keely Smith did this, I had listened to Louis Prima for years and knew about her with him, but not this jem!!!