Michele Ann Marie Fabares was born in Santa Monica, California. She is the niece of actress Nanette Fabray. Fabares began acting at age three, and at age 10 made her television debut in an episode of Letter to Loretta. After guest-starring on various television series, Fabares landed the role of Mary Stone in the long-running family sitcom The Donna Reed Show.
Her national popularity led to a recording contract and two "Top 40" hits, including "Johnny Angel," which went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1962, and peaked at number 41 in the UK. It sold over one million copies and was certified gold. Fabares left The Donna Reed Show in 1963 (she would return periodically until its end in 1966) to pursue a film career. She appeared in a number of motion pictures, including three Elvis Presley movies: Girl Happy (1965), Spinout (1966), and Clambake (1967), the most by any one actress. In two other 1960s movies, she played the love interest of Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits in Hold On! and of a young Hank Williams, Jr. in A Time to Sing.
During the 1970s, Fabares appeared on several television series, including Love, American Style, The Rockford Files, The Interns, Mannix, The Practice, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, and Fantasy Island. In 1971, she starred along with Billy Dee Williams and James Caan in the successful TV movie Brian's Song, the true story of terminally ill Chicago Bears running back Brian Piccolo. Caan played Piccolo, and she played his wife, Joy. In 1981, Fabares played Francine Webster on One Day at a Time, a role she reprised throughout the series' run.
In 1989, she won the role of Christine Armstrong Fox on the ABC sitcom Coach. For her work, Fabares was nominated twice for a Primetime Emmy Award, and in 1994, she was honored by the Young Artist Foundation with its Former Child Star "Lifetime Achievement" Award for her role as Mary Stone on The Donna Reed Show. After Coach ended in 1997, Fabares voiced the role of Martha "Ma" Kent in Superman: The Animated Series. She reprised the role twice, once for a 2003 episode of Justice League and again for the 2006 direct-to-video film Superman: Brainiac Attacks.
Fabares was a lifelong friend of Annette Funicello, whom she met in catechism class in the seventh grade. She was at Annette's bedside with her family when she died of multiple sclerosis on April 8, 2013.
Fabares married record and movie producer Lou Adler in June 1964, separated in 1966, and was divorced in 1980. In 1984, she married actor Mike Farrell, and is stepmother to his two children, Erin and Michael.
In October 2000, Fabares received a life-saving liver transplant after being diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis.
Discography
Studio albums
Shelley! -- Colpix CP-426 (Mono)/SCP-426 (Stereo) -- #106, 7/62
The Things We Did Last Summer—Colpix CP-431/SCP-431 -- #121, 10/62
Teenage Triangle—Colpix CP-444/SCP-444 -- #48, 5/63
Featuring four tracks each by Shelley, James Darren and Paul Petersen
Bye Bye Birdie—Colpix CP-454/SCP-454—1963
Songs from the movie sung by Shelley, The Marcels, James Darren and Paul Petersen
More Teenage Triangle—Colpix CP-468/SCP-468—1964
Second compilation featuring Shelley, James Darren and Paul Petersen
Soundtrack songs[edit]
"Spring Fever" (1965) w/Elvis Presley from the movie Girl Happy (The soundtrack album only features Elvis' vocals)
"Make Me Happy" (March 1966) from the movie soundtrack of Hold On! MGM Records
"Next Time I Say Goodbye I'm Leaving" (1968) from the movie soundtrack of A Time to Sing (Music From The Original Soundtrack) MCA Records– MCA-1458
Compilations
Rare Items And Big Hits Colpix (1989)
The Best of Shelley Fabares Rhino R2 71651—1994
Shelley Fabares Johnny Angel Collectables #9931 July 2005
Shelley Fabares Meets Paul Petersen Collectables Records July 2009
Growing Up-The 1962 Recordings Jasmine 2014
Singles[edit]
Year Title B-Side U.S. Label and number
February 1962 "Johnny Angel" "Where's It Gonna Get Me" 1[2] Colpix 621
April 1962 "What Did They Do Before Rock 'n' Roll"(with Paul Petersen) "Very Unlikely"
(with Paul Petersen)
-
Colpix 631
May 1962 "Johnny Loves Me" "I'm Growing Up" 21[12] Colpix 636
August 1962 "The Things We Did Last Summer" "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" 46[13] Colpix 654
December 1962 "Telephone (Won't You Ring)" "Big Star" 109[14] Colpix 667
March 1963 "Ronnie, Call Me When You Get a Chance" "I Left a Note to Say Goodbye" 72[15] Colpix 682
October 1963 "Welcome Home" "Billy Boy"
-
Colpix 705
January 1964 "Football Season's Over" "He Don't Love Me"
-
Colpix 721
September 1964 "I Know You'll Be There" "Lost Summer Love"
-
Vee-Jay VJ632
May 1965 "My Prayer" "Pretty Please"
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Dunhill D-4001
August 1966 "See Ya 'Round On the Rebound" "Pretty Please"
-
Dunhill D-4041
Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
1955 The Girl Rush Kim - Age 9 Uncredited
1956 Never Say Goodbye Suzy Parker
1956 The Bad Seed Margie Uncredited
1957 Jeanne Eagels Teenage Girl Uncredited
1958 Summer Love Twinkie Daley
1958 Marjorie Morningstar Seth's Girl Friend Uncredited
1964 Ride the Wild Surf Brie Matthews
1965 Girl Happy Valerie Frank
1966 Hold On! Louisa Page Alternative title: There's No Place Like Space
1966 Spinout Cynthia Foxhugh
1967 Clambake Dianne Carter
1968 A Time to Sing Amy Carter
1971 Brian's Song Joy Piccolo
1987 Hot Pursuit Buffy Cronenberg
1990 Love or Money LuAnn Reed Alternative title: For Love or Money
2006 Superman: Brainiac Attacks Martha Kent (Voice) Direct-to-video release
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1954–1958 Letter to Loretta Marie Schumann
Kathy 2 episodes
1955 Producers' Showcase Rebecca Gibbs 1 episode
1955 Matinee Theater Young Cathy 1 episode
1955 Captain Midnight Mary Kingsley 1 episode
1956 Annie Oakley Prudy Warren 1 episode
1957 Fury Midge Mallon 1 episode
1958 Walt Disney Presents: Annette Moselle Corey 15 episodes
1958–1965 The Donna Reed Show Mary Stone 191 episodes
1959 The Rebel Nora Hendry 1 episode
1963 Mr. Novak Dani Cooper 2 episodes
1964 The Eleventh Hour Carol Hamilton 1 episode
1964 Arrest and Trial Donna Blaney 1 episode
1964 The Twilight Zone Ellen Tillman 1 episode
1968 The Ghost & Mrs. Muir Vanessa 1 episode
1969 Daniel Boone Charity Brown 1 episode
1969 Lancer Melissa Harper 1 episode
1969 Bracken's World Hilary Saxon 1 episode
1969 Medical Center "Mike" Carter 1 episode
1971 Longstreet Marianne Franklin 1 episode
1971 Brian's Song Joy Piccolo Television movie
1971 Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law Lorraine Latham 1 episode
1972 McCloud Natalie Rudell 1 episode
1972 Cade's County Stephanie 1 episode
1972 The Brian Keith Show Dr. Anne Jamison Unknown episodes
1974 Police Story Annette Weiner 1 episode
1974 Ironside Charlotte Black 1 episode
1974 The Rockford Files Jolene Hyland 1 episode
1975 The Rookies Ann McNeal 1 episode
1975 Matt Helm Chris/Tina 1 episode
1975 Barnaby Jones Susan Burke 1 episode
1976 Marcus Welby, M.D. Norma Fritchie 1 episode
1976 Spencer's Pilots Annette 1 episode
1976-1977 The Practice Jenny Bedford 27 episodes
1977–1978 Forever Fernwood Eleanor Major Unknown episodes
1978 Vega$ Linda Stockwood 1 episode
1978 The Incredible Hulk Holly Cooper 1 episode
1978–1984 One Day at a Time Francine Webster 23 episodes
1979 Hello, Larry Marion Alder 3 episodes
1979 Highcliffe Manor Helen 6 episodes
1980–1981 Mork & Mindy Cathy 3 episodes
1980–1985 The Love Boat Various roles 3 episodes
1983 Matt Houston Barbara Newton 1 episode
1983 ABC Afterschool Special Fran Brogliatti 1 episode
1983 Memorial Day Ellie Walker Television movie
1985 The Canterville Ghost Lucy Television movie
1985 Suburban Beat Mimi Television movie
1987 Newhart Diane Beckwith 1 episode
1988 Run Till You Fall Kathy Reuben Television movie
1989 Murder, She Wrote Liza Caspar 2 episodes
1989–1997 Coach Christine Armstrong 199 episodes
1993 Deadly Relations Shirley Fagot Television movie
1995 The Great Mom Swap Millie Ridgeway Television movie
1996 Superman: The Last Son of Krypton Martha Kent (Voice) Television movie
1996–1998 Superman: The Animated Series Martha Kent (Voice) 8 episodes
1997 A Nightmare Come True Lily Zarn Television movie
1998 Playing to Win: A Moment of Truth Movie Nancy Erickson Television movie
2003 Justice League Ma Kent (Voice) 1 episode
Awards and nominations
Year Award Result Category Film or series
1993 Primetime Emmy Award Nominated Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Coach
1994 Coach
1965 Laurel Awards Nominated New Faces, Female
-
2004 TV Land Award Nominated Favorite Teen Dream - Female The Donna Reed Show
1994 Young Artist Award Won Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award The Donna Reed Show
Lost Summer Love
Shelley Fabares Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we have parted
Nothing is left of the
The dreams we started
Now, all I can I see, oh whoa (Lost summer love)
Is lonely memory of (Lost summer love)
Of a lost summer (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Love (Whoa oh oh oh oh, whoa oh)
Remember the surfin′ (Hoo hoo hoo)
And the life in sun (Hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo)
The moonlight dancin' and (Hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo)
And all the fun? (Hoo hoo hoo)
Instead of the love that was mine, oh whoa (Lost summer love)
One that would last for all time, oh whoa (Lost summer love)
Of a lost summer (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Lost summer (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Love (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Stolen kisses (Shoo bee doo, shoo bee doo)
In a hidden cove (Shoo bee doo, shoo bee doo, shoo bee doo, shoo bee doo, shoo bee doo, shoo bee doo)
Whatever happened (Shoo bee doo, shoo bee doo)
To those dreams we′d hold? (Shoo bee doo, shoo bee doo, Ahh ahh ahh ahh ahh)
We made lots of promises (Hoo hoo hoo)
But didn't keep 'em (Hoo hoo hoo hoo)
Got a heart full of tears (Hoo hoo hoo hoo)
And I′m, I′m gonna weep 'em (Hoo hoo hoo hoo, hoo)
Talkin′ 'bout every place, oh whoa (Lost summer love)
The warmth of your sweet embrace, oh whoa (Lost summer love)
Of a lost summer (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Lost summer (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Love (Whoa oh oh oh oh, whoa oh)
Talkin′ 'bout every place, oh whoa (Lost summer love)
The warmth of your sweet embrace, oh whoa (Lost summer love)
Of a lost summer (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Lost summer (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Love (Whoa oh oh oh oh, lost summer love)
Lost summer (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Lost summer (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Love (Whoa oh oh oh oh, lost summer love)
Of a lost summer (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Lost summer (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Love (Whoa oh oh oh oh, lost summer love)
The lyrics of "Lost Summer Love" by Shelley Fabares depict the feeling of longing and nostalgia for a past romantic relationship that didn't last. The song reflects on a lost summer love and the memories that remain. The opening lines suggest that summer has ended and the couple has separated, leaving nothing but the dreams they once had. The repetition of "Lost summer love" emphasizes the theme of loss and the lingering memory of the relationship.
The lyrics reminisce about the joyous moments shared during that summer, such as surfing, enjoying the sun, dancing by the moonlight, and having fun together. However, instead of a love that was meant to last, the singer is left with only a lonely memory, a longing for a love that didn't stand the test of time. The stolen kisses and hidden promises are juxtaposed with the heart full of tears and the need to weep them. The lyrics suggest that the promises made were not fulfilled, leaving the singer feeling disappointed and sorrowful.
Overall, "Lost Summer Love" explores the bittersweet reminiscence of a past relationship that ended prematurely, emphasizing the longing for the warmth of love and the loss of what could have been.
Line by Line Meaning
Summer is over
The season of summer has come to an end
And we have parted
We have separated from each other
Nothing is left of the
There is nothing remaining from the
The dreams we started
The hopes and aspirations we initiated
Now, all I can I see, oh whoa (Lost summer love)
Currently, all I can perceive, oh whoa (The only thing I can recall, oh whoa)
Is lonely memory of (Lost summer love)
Is a solitary recollection of (The only memory I have of)
Of a lost summer (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
From a summer that is gone forever (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Lost summer (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Gone summer (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Love (Whoa oh oh oh oh, whoa oh)
Romantic affection (Whoa oh oh oh oh, whoa oh)
Remember the surfin′ (Hoo hoo hoo)
Recall the act of surfing (Recollect the experience of riding waves)
And the life in sun (Hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo)
And the vibrant existence under the sun (And the vibrant existence under the sun)
The moonlight dancin' and (Hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo)
The dance illuminated by moonlight and (The dance illuminated by moonlight and)
And all the fun? (Hoo hoo hoo)
And all the enjoyment? (And all the enjoyment?)
Instead of the love that was mine, oh whoa (Lost summer love)
Rather than the love that belonged to me, oh whoa (Instead of the love that was mine, oh whoa)
One that would last for all time, oh whoa (Lost summer love)
One that would endure forever, oh whoa (One that would last for eternity, oh whoa)
Stolen kisses (Shoo bee doo, shoo bee doo)
Secretly shared kisses (Secretly shared kisses)
In a hidden cove (Shoo bee doo, shoo bee doo, shoo bee doo, shoo bee doo, shoo bee doo, shoo bee doo)
Within a concealed indentation in the shoreline (Within a concealed indentation in the shoreline)
Whatever happened (Shoo bee doo, shoo bee doo)
Whatever occurred (Whatever took place)
To those dreams we'd hold? (Shoo bee doo, shoo bee doo, Ahh ahh ahh ahh ahh)
To those dreams we used to cherish? (To those dreams we used to hold dear?)
We made lots of promises (Hoo hoo hoo)
We made numerous commitments (We made countless vows)
But didn't keep 'em (Hoo hoo hoo hoo)
But failed to fulfill them (But failed to honor them)
Got a heart full of tears (Hoo hoo hoo hoo)
Have a heart filled with tears (Have a heart overflowing with sadness)
And I'm, I'm gonna weep 'em (Hoo hoo hoo hoo, hoo)
And I am, I am going to cry them out (And I am, I am going to let them flow)
Talkin' 'bout every place, oh whoa (Lost summer love)
Speaking of every location, oh whoa (Referring to each and every place, oh whoa)
The warmth of your sweet embrace, oh whoa (Lost summer love)
The comforting feeling of your tender hug, oh whoa (The comforting feeling of your gentle embrace, oh whoa)
Of a lost summer (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
From a summer that is gone forever (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Lost summer (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Gone summer (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Love (Whoa oh oh oh oh, whoa oh)
Romantic affection (Whoa oh oh oh oh, whoa oh)
Of a lost summer (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
From a summer that is gone forever (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Lost summer (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Gone summer (Whoa oh oh oh oh)
Love (Whoa oh oh oh oh, lost summer love)
Romantic affection (Whoa oh oh oh oh, love that belonged to the lost summer)
Writer(s): Mark Barkan, Dolores Fuller
Contributed by Christian I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@allgood6760
Beautiful and innocent.👍.. a different generation.
@heavenismydomicile3280
My parents were raised in the 1950s.i hear exactly what you’re saying
@rayszymarek2920
She had all the ingredients of popularity. A good looking women and a very good actress and her singing at that time was fabulous also give credit to her managers and musical composers. Down deep inside I really miss this kind of talent. It might have been old black and white television with no remote controls but you will never see Pure talent like this without props fancy lighting and gimmicks. Shelley Fabares the all american singing girl. And today she still sounds as great as ever. This record is proof of the pudding.
@michaelgallegos5752
Just beautiful. Had major crush on Shelley when I was in grade school in mid sixties. The song reminds of a lost time when folks dressed and carried themselves with class not the reality show trash we have today.Where is my time machine?
@gingercat8010
Yes I was born in the 2000s but I do realize that people dressed nicer and acted nicer in the 60s.
@michaelgallegos5752
Great song and a beautiful young lady. The lyrics are especially true today. Summertime in our youth in the 60s. Optimistic and a future filled with promise. Sigh.Class and innocence. Can't find that in the female singers today.Where is my time machine?
@doglips1958
Your time machine is broken and the low quality replacement parts are coming from China....
@heavenismydomicile3280
I’m 45,my mom & dad,were born in 1941&1944 respectively,so i understand clearly!
@ultraroadmap
A true America's sweetheart.
@jklr2811
Great song and absolute girl next door doll.