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.
Ridin' High
Teresa Brewer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Future, all planned
No more, clouds in the sky
How I'm ridin'? I'm ridin' high
Someone, I love
Mad for, my love
So long, Jonah, goodbye
Floating, on a starlit ceiling
Doting, on the cards I'm dealing
Gloating, because I'm feeling so hap-hap-happy, I'm slap-happy
So ring bells, sing songs
Blow horns, beat gongs
Our love, never will die
How I'm ridin? I'm ridin' high
Someone, I love
Mad for, my love
So long, jonah, goodbye
Howm I ridin? Im ridin high
Floating, on a starlit ceiling
Doting, on the cards Im dealing
Gloating, because Im feeling so hap-hap-happy, Im slap-happy
So ring bells, sing songs
Blow horns, beat gongs
Our love, never will die
Howm I ridin? Im ridin high
The song "Ridin' High" by Teresa Brewer is a lively and upbeat tune that celebrates the joy of being in love and the feeling of being on top of the world. The first verse talks about the positive outlook of life with a great future ahead, and no more clouds in the sky. This sets the scene for the chorus where she sings about how she is "ridin' high" on this positivity and joy. The second verse talks about the person she loves and how her love for that person has her on cloud nine, bid farewell to any negative energy or bad vibes.
The chorus emphasizes the feeling of being "ridin' high" by using vivid imagery like "floating on a starlit ceiling" and "doting on the cards i'm dealing." This imagery conveys the idea of feeling like everything is aligned and in place, and you are enjoying every moment of it. The third verse continues with this imagery, as she boasts how "happy" she feels, and how she is "gloating" about it.
The chorus repeats, and the song ends with upbeat calls for celebration, ringing bells, singing songs, and beating gongs. This song combines a lighthearted, nostalgic melody with whimsical lyrics to create a fun and romantic tune that showcases the innocence of 1950s pop music.
Line by Line Meaning
Life's great, life's grand
Life is wonderful and full of opportunities.
Future, all planned
The future is already decided and everything is falling into place.
No more, clouds in the sky
There are no more obstacles and everything is going smoothly.
How I'm ridin'? I'm ridin' high
I am feeling extremely happy and confident about my life.
Someone, I love
There is someone I deeply care for.
Mad for, my love
I am deeply in love with this person.
So long, Jonah, goodbye
I am moving on from someone or something that was not good for me.
Floating, on a starlit ceiling
I am floating on cloud nine, feeling dreamy and happy.
Doting, on the cards I'm dealing
I am paying careful attention to the details that go into making my life happy and fulfilling.
Gloating, because I'm feeling so hap-hap-happy, I'm slap-happy
I am so happy that I am giddy and cannot contain my joy.
So ring bells, sing songs
I want to celebrate my happiness and joy.
Blow horns, beat gongs
I want to make a lot of noise and bring attention to my happiness.
Our love, never will die
The love I have for this person is strong and enduring.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLE PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind