She is best known for her 1954 solo recording '"Little Things Mean a Lot" — a song that stayed at the U.S. number one spot for nine consecutive weeks, charted in the U.S. for almost seven months, hit #1 on the UK singles chart, and sold more than two million copies. AllMusic called the recording a "monster hit", music historian Jonny Whiteside said the song "ably characterizes Kallen’s impressive, and graceful, transition from classic big band swing to modern post-war pop".
Voted "most popular female singer" in 1954 in both Billboard and Variety polls, Kallen lost her voice at the Palladium in 1955 at the top of her career and left singing for four years, suffering paralyzed vocal cords. After testing her voice under a pseudonym in small town venues, she ultimately returned and went on to achieve 13 top-ten career hits.
Kallen performed at numerous prominent live venues including Manhattan's Copacabana, Morris Levy's Versailles, the Capitol Theater, the Maisonette Room at the St. Regis, the Cafe Rouge at the Hotel Pennsylvania and the Plaza Hotel's Persian Room. As well, she starred on Broadway in Finian's Rainbow; in the 1955 film The Second Greatest Sex and on numerous television shows including The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The Big Beat with singer-host Richard Hayes, American Bandstand, and Fred Allen's Judge for Yourself. In 1951, Kallen appeared with Buster Crabbe as the Queen and King of Winter at the Lake Placid resort.
During the height of her popularity, three imposters billed themselves as "Kitty Kallen". When one of them — Genevieve Agostinello — died in 1978, it was incorrectly reported that Kallen herself had died. On February 8, 1960, Kallen received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (located on the north side of Hollywood Boulevard at #7021), and in 2009 she was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
Some sources give Kallen's birth name as Katherine Kalinsky, but according to records cited by her son, the name was Katie Kallen. She was born May 25, 1921, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, one of seven children, to Russian Jewish immigrants Samuel and Rose Kalinsky (later Kallen). As a child, she won an amateur contest by imitating popular singers. When she returned home with her prize, a camera, her father did not believe her, and punished her for stealing the camera. Only when neighbors subsequently visited to congratulate her, did Kallen's father realize she had actually won it.
While performing with Jack Teagarden's band, she married Clint Garvin, the band's clarinet player. When Teagarden fired Garvin, Kallen left as well, later annulling the marriage. In 1948, Kallen married Bernard "Budd" Granoff, a publicist, agent, and television producer. He later became a pioneering television syndicator. The couple, married for over forty-five years until Granoff's death in 1996, had a son, Jonathan Granoff, President of the Global Security Institute and Adjunct Professor of International Law at Widener University School of Law.
In 1977, Kallen sued her dermatologist, Norman Orentreich, after he prescribed an estrogen drug, Premarin, for her small facial wrinkles. She subsequently suffered blood clots in her lungs, caused directly by the drug, and won $300,000 by the court's decision.
In 2008, Kallen joined artists Patti Page, Tony Martin, Dick Hyman, Richard Hayman and the estates of Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Sarah Vaughan, Woody Herman, Les Brown, the Mills Brothers, Jerry Murad, Frankie Laine, and the gospel singer Sister Rosetta Tharpe in a suit against the world's then largest music label, Universal Music Group, alleging the company had cheated them on royalties.
Kallen died on January 7, 2016 at her home in Cuernavaca, Mexico at the age of 94.
As a young girl Kallen sang on The Children's Hour, a radio program sponsored by Horn & Hardart, an automat chain. As a pre-teen, Kallen had a radio program on Philadelphia's WCAU, and sang with the big bands of Jan Savitt in 1936, Artie Shaw in 1938, and Jack Teagarden in 1940.
Shortly before her 21st birthday, on May 5, 1942, she sang the vocals for "Moonlight Becomes You" with Bobby Sherwood and His Orchestra at the second every session for what was then still called Liberty Records but would soon be renamed Capitol Records. It was her only session for the label.
Just 21, she joined the Jimmy Dorsey band, replacing Helen O'Connell. In every theater of World War II, a favorite of American servicemen, "They're Either Too Young or Too Old". In 1944, Kallen performed the vocals for Dorsey's number-one hit "Besame Mucho". Most of her singing assignments were in duets with Bob Eberly, and when Eberly left to go into the service toward the end of 1943, she joined Harry James' band.
Between January and November 1945, Kitty Kallen had two songs recorded with the Harry James Orchestra in the top twenty, six in the top ten, and two at the #1 spot—"I'm Beginning to See the Light" and "It's Been a Long, Long Time", which remains deeply associated with the end of World War II and the returning troops.
With the 1954 hit "Little Things Mean a Lot", Kallen was voted most popular female singer in Billboard and Variety polls. She followed up this song with "Chapel in the Moonlight", another million selling record, and a version of "True Love" for Decca. In 1959, she recorded "If I Give My Heart to You" for Columbia Records, and in 1963, she recorded a top-selling version of "My Coloring Book" for RCA. Her final album was Quiet Nights, a bossa nova–flavored release for 20th Century Fox Records. Subsequently, Kallen retired due to a lung ailment.
A compilation of her hits on various labels remains available on the Sony CD set The Kitty Kallen Story.
How Are Things in Glocca Mora
Kitty Kallen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It well may be he's bringing me a cheering word.
I hear a breeze, a River Shanon breeze,
It well may be it's followed me across the seas.
Then tell me please
How are things in Glocca Morra?
Is that little brook still leaping there?
Through Killybegs, Kilkerry and Kildare?
How are things in Glocca Mora?
Is that willow tree still weeping there?
Does that lassie with the twinklin' eye
Come smilin' by and does she walk away,
Sad and dreamy there not to see me there?
So I ask each weepin' willow and each brook along the way,
And each lass that comes a-sighin' too ra lay
How are things in Glocca Morra this fine day?
The lyrics “How Are Things In Glocca Morra” by Kitty Kallen start optimistically with the sound of a bird approaching, heralding the possibility of receiving a positive message. The song develops with images of Irish nature, specifically mentioning the River Shanon and Donny cove, creating a picturesque atmosphere. However, these descriptions focus on the past, evoking a sense of nostalgia and longing. The singer then directly asks how the things in Glocca Morra are, whether the little brook still leaps, and if the willow tree still weeps. The lyrics also mention a “lassie with the twinklin' eye,” who might smile and walk away, leaving the singer sad and dreamy not to see them there.
The song “How Are Things in Glocca Morra” is a reflection on the beauty and longing for one's homeland. The singer contrasts the rich and vibrant imagery of Irish nature to a more personal, emotional connection to the place, making it not only about the scenery but also about the people and their memories. The lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia and a yearning for things to remain as they were, but the singer is fully aware that the natural world cannot stay frozen in time.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear a bird, Londonderry bird,
I hear the sweet sound of a bird, perhaps from Londonderry, and I hope it brings me good news.
It well may be he's bringing me a cheering word.
I believe the bird's song might be a good omen, and it may be bringing me some positive news.
I hear a breeze, a River Shanon breeze,
I feel the gentle flow of a breeze, perhaps from the River Shanon, and it fills me with hope.
It well may be it's followed me across the seas.
I think the breeze may have followed me from across the sea, and it brings me comfort.
Then tell me please
So, I ask you now,
How are things in Glocca Morra?
How is life in the peaceful village of Glocca Morra?
Is that little brook still leaping there?
Is the small creek still flowing and jumping over the stones as it used to?
Does it still run down to Donny cove?
Does it still make its way to Donny Cove?
Through Killybegs, Kilkerry and Kildare?
Passing through the towns of Killybegs, Kilkerry, and Kildare along the way?
Is that willow tree still weeping there?
Is the willow tree, known for its tears, still standing and weeping in sadness?
Does that lassie with the twinklin' eye
Is the girl with the sparkling eyes
Come smilin' by and does she walk away,
Still passing by and smiling, but then walking away afterwards?
Sad and dreamy there not to see me there?
Is she feeling sad and wistful because I am not there with her?
So I ask each weepin' willow and each brook along the way,
So, I ask each teary willow tree and every creek that I pass by,
And each lass that comes a-sighin' too ra lay
And every girl I meet who emits a sigh as well,
How are things in Glocca Morra this fine day?
How is life going in the village of Glocca Morra, in this beautiful day?
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Burton Lane, Edgar Yipsel Harburg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@xanbex8324
"The Sun is put to shame by the beauty of her smile"..........I heard that somewhere. Lovely voice!
@MrListener43
Kitty Kallen has long been one of my favorite singers. Her powerful yet gentle and emotional delivery on this song is a thing of beauty. I had never heard her sing this until I found this post. Thank you.
@nipstertunes
MrListener43 You are more than welcome. I love her voice and style. One of my favorite female vocalists, for sure. Thank you so much for listening and commenting.
Jim
@donald8524
I have rediscovered Kitty Kallen. Such a pleasing voice and delivery. I didn't know she was so pretty.
@nipstertunes
+Donald Copeland Yes, a lovely voice and a lovely lady, for sure. Thanks so much for watching and commenting.
Jim
@stephenandrews8419
Lovely version, by a lovely singer
@Thefamilychannel723
RIP Miss Angel voice.
@maureen1938
Thank you once again for a beautiful, lovely share Jim. Your channel is superb.
@nipstertunes
Oh, Thank You Maureen! Your comments have made my day! I am so happy you like some of the things I post...and for letting me know that you do. Very Much Appreciated!
Jim
@davelogsdon5729
Just great, thanks for posting!