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)
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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"
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Colpix 721
September 1964 "I Know You'll Be There" "Lost Summer Love"
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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"
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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
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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
Vacation
Shelley Fabares Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put away the books, we're out of school
The weather's warm but we'll play it cool
We're on vacation, havin' lots of fun
V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N in the summer sun
We're gonna grab a bite at the pizza stand
We're on vacation and the world is ours
V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N under summer stars
Yeah, we'll hop in a jalopy to a drive-in movie and never look at the show
We're gonna hug and kiss just like this and I can't wait to go, go, go
We're gonna mashed potato to a jukebox tune
Park your car 'neath an August moon
We're on vacation till the start of the fall
V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N, we're gonna have a ball, go!
V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N, gonna have a ball
Uh-huh, we'll hop in a jalopy to a drive-in movie and never look at the show
We're gonna hug and kiss just like this and I can't wait to go, go, go
We're gonna mashed potato to a jukebox tune
Park your car 'neath an August moon
We're on vacation till the start of the fall
V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N, we're gonna have a ball, yeah
V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N, (yeah) gonna have a ball
"Vacation" by Shelley Fabares is a classic feel-good song that captures the essence of the excitement and liberation one feels during the summer holidays. The lyrics exude positivity and energy as they encourage listeners to let loose, forget their worries and seize the moment. The repetition of the letters spelling "vacation" provides a fun hook that invites listeners to sing along.
The first verse informs us that it is summertime and school is out. The youthful exuberance is palpable as the lyrics tell us that the weather is warm, and the kids plan to play it cool while having lots of fun. The second verse reveals some of the vacation plans, which include grabbing a bite at a pizza stand and writing love letters in the sand. The world is theirs to explore and enjoy.
The chorus, "V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N in the summer sun", repeated twice, conveys the idea that life is all about fun and adventure, especially during the summer months. The third verse describes more detailed vacation plans, such as going to a drive-in movie and cuddling with a significant other. The mashed potato dance is also mentioned, setting the scene for a typical 60s teenager's summer holiday.
Line by Line Meaning
V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N in the summer sun
We are having a vacation during the summertime and enjoying the warmth of the season.
Put away the books, we're out of school
We are taking a break from our academic responsibilities and not worrying about studying.
The weather's warm but we'll play it cool
Although the climate is hot, we will stay calm and collected.
We're on vacation, havin' lots of fun
We are taking a break from our daily routines and enjoying ourselves.
We're gonna grab a bite at the pizza stand
We plan on eating a quick meal at the pizza booth.
Write love letters in the sand
We will express our affection by writing messages in the sand.
We're on vacation and the world is ours
Our leisure time is valuable and we can indulge in whatever activities we choose.
V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N under summer stars
We will be enjoying our getaway beneath the twinkling stars of the summertime sky.
Yeah, we'll hop in a jalopy to a drive-in movie and never look at the show
We will watch the film at a drive-in theatre from inside our car without actually paying attention to it.
We're gonna hug and kiss just like this and I can't wait to go, go, go
We will express our love for each other through physical affection and are eager to continue our vacation activities.
We're gonna mashed potato to a jukebox tune
We intend to dance to the sound of a jukebox playing a mashed potato song.
Park your car 'neath an August moon
We will park our vehicle beneath the bright full moon of August.
We're on vacation till the start of the fall
Our holiday will continue until the season of autumn begins.
V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N, we're gonna have a ball, go!
We will have a great time during our vacation, so let's get started!
V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N, gonna have a ball
We are looking forward to having an exciting and enjoyable vacation.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: CONNIE FRANCIS, GARY KNIGHT, HANK HUNTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@leonardtooley4453
anything shelly sang was great
@bodensick
She could 'sing the phone book" and it would sound great! Hey man, She's SHELLEY!!
@michaelelliot9007
One of the greatest ever.
@larryberrones3308
The greatest ❤️❤️❤️
@kennnethtreistman1973
How many people remember this as a Friendly's Restaurant ad in 1981? I want someone from New York or Connecticut or Massachusetts or Pennsylvania to help me the hell out with this one!! Back when this ad was out, a Friendly sundae only cost about $1.25!! Oh, I know, you wanted the best darn burger in the whole wide world before you had this for dessert and BTW, that was Burger King, not Friendly's but if you lived in Yorktown Heights, NY, you could walk to Friendly's for ice cream from Burger King or the Yorktown Colonial Diner on NY 118!!
@egbertsouce3895
KT........Spent my time between NYC and Ocean County, NJ in 1981. Don't remember this song (or Connie Francis' version) in any Friendly's ads (TV or radio?). Don't recall any restaurants in the five boroughs (not their kind of neighborhoods?), but they probably did have stores on Long Island at the time, and NJ (Ocean County Mall and maybe others). First Friendly's I can recall was somewhere in Vermont, c. 1975. 8-17-19
@nickmad887
is there a fan club
@williamsmith-kd4bd
I'm all in