At the age of two, Teresa was brought by her mother to audition for a radio program, "Uncle August's Kiddie Show" on Toledo's WSPD. She performed for cookies and cupcakes donated by the sponsor. Although she never took singing lessons, she took lessons to tap dance. From age five to twelve, she toured with the "Major Bowes Amateur Hour," then a popular radio show, both singing and dancing. She travelled with her aunt Mary until she married in 1949 and was devoted to the aunt, who lived with her until 1993, when Teresa's aunt Mary died.
At the age of 12, Teresa was brought back to Toledo, ceasing touring to have a normal school life. She did, however, continue to perform on local radio.
In January 1948 the sixteen-year-old Teresa won a local competition and (with three other winners) was sent to New York to appear on a talent show called "Stairway to the Stars," featuring Eddie Dowling. It was about that time that she changed the spelling of her name, as she won a number of talent shows and played night clubs in New York (including the famous Latin Quarter).
An agent, Richie Lisella, heard her sing and took her career in hand, and soon she was signed to a contract with London Records. In 1949 she recorded a record called "Copenhagen" with the Dixieland All-Stars. The B side was a song called "Music! Music! Music!" by Stephen Weiss and Bernie Baum. It turned out that this side was the one that took off, selling over a million copies, and became Teresa's signature song.
Another novelty song, "Choo'n Gum," hit the top 20 in 1950, followed by "Molasses, Molasses." Although she preferred to sing ballads, the only one of those that made the charts was "Longing for You" in 1951.
In 1951 she switched labels, going to Coral Records. By this time she was married with a daughter. Since she never learned to read music, she had a demo sent to her to learn the tunes of her songs. Even so, she had a number of hits for Coral, though one of her recordings, "Gonna Get Along Without You Now," (1952) was better known in a 1956 version by Patience and Prudence and was also a hit in 1964 for Skeeter Davis as well as Tracey Dey. Also that year she recorded "You'll Never Get Away" in a duet with Don Cornell, and in 1953 came her best selling hit, "Till I Waltz Again with You."
More 1953 hits were "Dancin' with Someone," "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall," and another gold record, "Ricochet." In later years she followed with "Baby, Baby, Baby," "Bell Bottom Blues," "Our Heartbreaking Waltz" (written by Sidney Prosen, who had written "Till I Waltz Again With You"), and "Skinnie Minnie." During those years she continued to play the big night clubs in New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, and elsewhere.
In the mid-50s, she did a number of covers of rhythm and blues songs like "Pledging My Love," "Tweedle Dee," and "Rock Love." She also covered some country songs like "Jilted," "I Gotta Go Get My Baby," and "Let Me Go, Lover!," (better known by Joan Weber).
In 1956 she had a two-sided hit with "A Tear Fell" and "Bo Weevil," covers of R&B songs. This was followed by "Sweet Old-Fashioned Girl." Also that year she co-wrote "I Love Mickey," about New York Yankees center fielder Mickey Mantle, who appeared on the record with Teresa. Another big hit for Teresa in 1956 was "Mutual Admiration Society."
Though she is often dismissed as another pop singer, most of her songs have a decidedly pre-rock beat to them, especially "Ricochet", "Jilted" and "A Sweet Old Fashioned Girl".
In 1957 she made more covers: of country song "Teardrops in My Heart" and R&B songs "You Send Me" and "Empty Arms.". The last chart hit of hers was "Milord" in 1961, an English language version of a song by Édith Piaf.
In 1962 she switched labels again, to Philips Records, and subsequently made a few recordings for other companies, but no more big chart hits.
In the 1970s, she recorded for Flying Dutchman Records' Amsterdam label owned by her husband Bob Thiele.
All together, she recorded nearly 600 song titles. For her contribution to the recording industry, Teresa Brewer has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Brewer died on October 17, 2007 in New Rochelle, New York.
Music Music Music
Teresa Brewer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the nickelodeon
All I want is having you
And music, music, music
I'd do anything for you
Anything you'd want me to
All I want is kissing you
Closer
My dear, come closer
The nicest part of any melody
Is when you're dancing close to me
So, put another nickel in
In the nickelodeon
All I want is loving you
And music, music, music
Put another nickel in
In the nickelodeon
All I want is having you
And music, music, music
I'd do anything for you
Anything you'd want me to
All I want is kissing you
And music, music, music
Closer
My dear, come closer
The nicest part of any melody
Is when you're dancing close to me
So, put another nickel in
In the nickelodeon
All I want is loving you
And music, music, music
C'mon everybody
Put some nickels
And keep that old nickelodeon playing
Music, music, music
Dum, dee, dum, dee, da dee dum
Dum, dee, dum, dee, da dee dum
Dum, dee, dum, dee, da dee dum
And music, music, music
Dum, dee, dum, dee, da dee dum
Dum, dee, dum, dee, da dee dum
Dum, dee, dum, dee, da dee dum
And music, music, music
In “Music Music Music” by Teresa Brewer, the singer expresses a desire for music and the company of a loved one. The song praises the power of music and dance to bring people closer together. The chorus repeats the phrase “put another nickel in,” referring to the practice of using a nickel to play music on a jukebox or a nickelodeon. The song is a joyful celebration of the simple pleasures of listening to music and dancing with someone you love.
The verses of the song are filled with sweet romantic sentiments. The singer expresses a willingness to do anything for their loved one, including kissing and dancing. They emphasize the importance of physical proximity, suggesting that the “nicest part of any melody is when you’re dancing close to me.” The song is a reminder that music has always been a powerful force for bringing people together and expressing deep emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Put another nickel in
Let's keep the music playing
In the nickelodeon
Playing music on this old jukebox
All I want is having you
Being with you is all I need
And music, music, music
As long as we have each other and music, everything is great
I'd do anything for you
I would go to great lengths for you
Anything you'd want me to
I am willing to do anything you ask of me
All I want is kissing you
Being close to you is all I desire right now
Closer
Let's get even closer
My dear, come closer
I want you to be as close to me as possible
The nicest part of any melody
The best part of any song
Is when you're dancing close to me
Is when we are dancing together in each other's arms
I'd do anything for you
I am devoted to you and will do anything for you
Closer
Please come closer to me
My dear, come closer
I want to be as close to you as I can
All I want is loving you
Loving you is all I need
C'mon everybody
Let's all join in to enjoy the music
Put some nickels
Put some money into the jukebox
And keep that old nickelodeon playing
So we can continue to hear the music we love
Dum, dee, dum, dee, da dee dum
The fun beat of the music we're enjoying
And music, music, music
Which makes everything better
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bernie Baum, Stephan Weiss
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dsnyguy1
One of my favorite singers! I can remember listening to this as a child in 1954!
@Valentina-yb9nw
I love how she's smiling the whole time she's singing. Love this song!
@cobichanel5510
TieDye 29 beautiful right ✨
@UpendervatsbhajanVats
maugk
@UpendervatsbhajanVats
mauks
@cw187
Wow and only a teenager!
@BuzzLOLOL
Sound/singing prolly dubbed into the smiling version...
@ok-jr2dj
Maggie Maggie Maggie ❤ 🙋♀️🙋Indians here.......
Also I liked her singing so much🥺🖤
@callmebora__7348
Army 🙆🏻♀️💜 ?
@ok-jr2dj
@@callmebora__7348 yes bora 💜✌️