More Info on Joanie SommersSimilar Undetermined MusicSearch Artistopia
Biography
Infobox musical artist|image= Joanie sommers.jpg ||name = Joanie Sommers||caption =Sommers in a 1960s album cover photo shoot|background = solo_singer|birth_name = Joan Drost|Born = Birth date and age|1941|2|24|mf=y, Buffalo, New York|Buffalo , New York , United States |genre = popular music |years_active = 1960s-1970s, 1980s|label =|website = Joanie Sommers (born Joan Drost, Buffalo, New York , February 24, 1941), is an United States|American singer and actress with a long career of jazz, standards and popular material and extensive show-business credits. Once billed as "The Voice of the Sixties", and associated with top-notch arrangers, song-writers and producers, Sommers' popular conception nevertheless became inexorably tied to her biggest, yet most uncharacteristic, hit song "Johnny Get Angry." http://jazztimes.com/articles/26376-joanie-sommers-her-generation
Career
Sommers began singing in church choirs as a way to deal with "a difficult childhood", and in 1951 at age 10, appeared on a Buffalo television program singing Hank Williams' Your Cheating Heart , winning the amateur talent contest. In 1955 the family relocated to Venice , California . Sommers went on to win honors to become vocalist with her high school band at Venice High , and repeated the feat at Santa Monica City College . Her break came after a friend took her to the Deauville Country Club where she sang a few tunes with, and impressed, arranger-composer Tommy Oliver whose band was resident at the time. Oliver arranged for a demo record to be cut and presented to Warner Brothers , whereupon Sommers was signed to the label. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,827096,00.html http://articles.latimes.com/1992-05-22/entertainment/ca-362_1_joanie-sommers http://fjazz.blogspot.com/2007/02/joanie-sommers-anna-maria-alberghetti.htmlBillboard July 11, 1960 p. 34
Warner initially enlisted her vocal talents singing Am I Blue on a 1959 Warner specialty record Behind Closed Doors at a Recording Session Billboard Dec. 7, 1959 p. 40 and on one side of an interesting spoken-word single Kookie's Love Song with Edd Kookie Byrnes .Billboard October 19, 1959 p. 45 The pairing with Byrnes also put her into a small role in 77 Sunset Strip , the television series that featured Byrnes in the role of Kookie. In addition, she sang on Byrnes' ''I Don't Dig You and Hot Rock which appeared on one of his albums. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/joanie-sommers-p22146/biography
Concurrently, Tommy Oliver supported Sommers by starring her in his orchestra engagements at California venues Hollywood Palladium and The Chalet at Lake Arrowhead.Warner Bros. W1474 album ''Let's Talk About Love liner notes
Her 1960 debut single One Boy (from the musical Bye Bye Birdie (musical)|Bye, Bye Birdie ) stayed on the charts for 3 months peaking at #54 on the Billboard Top 100. This and the flip side ''I'll Never Be Free'' were both Billboard Spotlight Winners. The release catapulted her into an extensive touring schedule at venues including New York's Left Bank Club, Hollywood's Crescendo, Freddie's in Minneapolis, and The Cloister in Chicago and appearances on the Jack Paar Show and Bobby Darin Special.Billboard May 30, 1960 p. 28Warner Bros. W1412 album ''The "Voice" of the 60's liner notes
In early 1960, Warner released Sommers' first LP, Positively the Most Billboard February 22, 1960, p. 34 which, curiously, did not include the One Boy hit single. Late 1960 also saw Warner release another single Ruby-Duby-Du featuring a vocal version of the Tobin Mathews & Co. instrumental from the movie Key Witness ;Billboard Nov. 14, 1960, p. 17 The record did not chart.
In 1962, she reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the single (music)|single Johnny Get Angry , released on Warner Bros. Records . (In 2004 the Japan-only release "Johnny Got Angry" consisted of all original tunes written by Joanie's friend and fellow cartoon voicer, Will Ryan ). http://www.sabob.com/Products/Johnny_Got_Angry.html She also charted with When the Boys Get Together , a #94 single in 1962. http://www.musicvf.com/Joanie+Sommers.art She appeared on numerous television shows as a singer and as an actress, and in films such as '' Everything's Ducky '' (1961) and in Jack Arnold (director)|Jack Arnold's The Lively Set (1964), where she sang "If You Love Him". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0814070/ American Film Institute Catalog: Feature Films 1961-1970 , page 621 (University of California Press, 1997). ISBN 0-520-20970-2
Sommers was a game show contestant during the 1960s on such shows as '' Everybody's Talking , Hollywood Squares , You Don't Say , and The Match Game '', as well as a performer on Dick Clark 's Where the Action Is , Hullabaloo , and other variety shows of the period. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0814070/filmogenre22 January, 1963 sang "I'll Never Stop Loving You" on The Jack Benny Program|The Jack Benny Show . Another guest was actor Peter Lorre .
In the early 1960s, she sang ''It's Pepsi , For Those Who Think Young'' (to the tune of " Makin' Whoopee ") and, later, ''Come Alive& #33; You're in the Pepsi Generation in Television advertisement|commercial s, and she came to be referred to as List of Pepsi spokespersons|"The Pepsi Girl" . http://www.jpop.com/Joanie+Sommers Sponsor , Volume 18, Part 3, page 19, article "Pepsi Sponsors All-Out Campaign" (Sponsor Publications, 1964). Years later, uncredited, she sang Now You See It, Now You Don't, Oh, Diet Pepsi for the sugar-free companion product.Citation needed|date=March 2009
Her 1965 track, ''Don't Pity Me'' (Warner Bros. 5629 - Don't Pity Me / My Block), was a Northern Soul hit in the United Kingdom|UK and often makes it to Northern Soul top lists. http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/northern_soul_top_500.htm The 45RPM record routinely changes hands among collectors at over $500.00 a copy.www.popsike.com The latter song "My Block" was written by Jimmy Radcliffe , Bert Berns and Carl Spencer and had previously been recorded by Clyde McPhatter on his "Songs Of The Big City" Album and by The Chiffons , Recording as The Four Pennies On Rust Records.
In the early 1970s, she withdrew from the music scene in favor of family life. She began making public appearances again during the 1980s , including two appearances on KCRW 's satirical radio program, The Cool & the Crazy , hosted by Art Fraud (Ronn Spencer) and Vic Tripp (Gene Sculatti).
A relatively unknown aspect of Sommers' career is her commercial and animated film voice work through into the 1970s. Her credits include The Peppermint Choo Choo , which was scrubbed, although the music was released; Rankin/Bass ' The Mouse on the Mayflower as Priscilla Mullins (1968) ; B.C.: The First Thanksgiving (1973) in dual roles as the Fat Broad and the Cute Chick. http://www.awn.com/articles/ninehalf/nine-and-half-questions-joanie-sommers
Personal life
Sommers was married to theatrical agent Jerry Steiner up until his death in 1972. Their two children are Carolyn and Nancy. http://articles.latimes.com/1992-05-22/entertainment/ca-362_1_joanie-sommersColumbia CS 9295 album Come Alive! liner notes
Singles Discography
Edd "Kookie" Byrnes With Joanie Sommers & The Mary Kaye Trio / Edd Byrnes
1959: Warner Bros. 5114 - Kookie's Love Song (While Dancing) / Do It Yourself Sing With Kookie - Flip By Edd Byrnes only.
Joanie Sommers
1960 Warner Bros. Pro 107 - Sommer's Hot, Sommer's Here (4 track EP)
1960 Warner Bros. 5157 - One Boy / I'll Never Be Free
1960 Warner Bros. 5177 - Be My Love / Why Don't You Do Right
1960 Warner Bros. 5183 - Ruby-Duby-Du / Bob White
Joanie Sommers With Don Ralke And His Orchestra / Joanie Sommers With Neal Hefti And His Orchestra
1961 Warner Bros. 5201 - I Don't Want To Walk Without You / Seems Like Long, Long Ago
Joanie Sommers
1961 Warner Bros. 5226 - Piano Boy / Serenade of the Bells
1961 Warner Bros. 5241 - Makin' Whoopee& #33; / What's Wrong With Me
Joanie Sommers With The Orchestras Of Neal Hefti & Don Ralke
1961 Warner Bros. 5507 - Makin' Whoopee& #33; / Seems Like Long, Long Ago /// What's Wrong With Me? / One Boy
Joanie Sommers
1962 Warner Bros. 5275 - Johnny Get Angry / (Theme From) A Summer Place
1962 Warner Bros. 5308 - When The Boys Get Together / Passing Strangers
1962 Warner Bros. 5324 - Good-Bye Joey / Bobby's Hobbies
1963 Warner Bros. 5339 - Memories, Memories / Since Randy Moved Away
1963 Warner Bros. 5350 - Little Bit Of Everything / Henny Penny
1963 Warner Bros. 5361 - One Boy / June Is Bustin' Out All Over
1963 Warner Bros. 5374 - Little Girl Bad / Wishing Well
1963 Warner Bros. 5390 - Goodbye Summer / Big Man
1964 Warner Bros. 5437 - I'd Be So Good For You / I'm Gonna Know He's Mine
1964 Warner Bros. 5454 - If You Love Him* / I Think I'm Gonna Cry Now
1965 Warner Bros. 5629 - Don't Pity Me / My Block
1966 Columbia 43567 - You've Got Possibilities / Never Throw Your Dreams Away
1966 Columbia 43731 - Alfie / You Take What Comes Along
1966 Columbia 43950 - It Doesn't Matter Anymore / Take A Broken Heart
1967 Capitol 5936 - Trains And Boats And Planes* / Yesterday's Morning
1968 Warner Bros. 7129 - Johnny Get Angry / One Boy ("Back To Back Hits" Series)
1968 Warner Bros. 7251 - Great Divide / Talk Until Midnight
1970 Happy Tiger 522 - Step Inside Love / Little Girl From Greenwood, G. A.
1970 Happy Tiger 537 - Sunshine After The Rain / Tell Him
1978 ABC 12323 - The Peppermint Choo-Choo / The Peppermint Engineer http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/jsommers.htm
Album Discography
1960: Positively the Most! Warner Bros. W1346
1961: ''The "Voice" of the 60's Warner Bros. W1412
1962: ''Look Out& #33; It's Joanie Sommers (with Bobby Troup and Shelly Manne)
1962: For Those Who Think Young Warner Bros. W1436
1962: Johnny Get Angry Warner Bros. W1470
1962: ''Let's Talk About Love Warner Bros W1474
1963: ''Sommers' Seasons Warner Bros. WS1504
1964: Softly, the Brazilian Sound Warner Bros. WS1575
1965: Come Alive! Columbia CS 9295
1966: On the Flip Side - Original Cast Album (w/Rick Nelson, cuts 2, 4 and 8) Decca 4824
1982: Dream Discovery Records DS-887
1988: Tangerine HiBrite PCB-203
1992: A Fine Romance HiBrite HTCP-10
1995: Hits and Rareties Marginal MAR-001
2000: Here, There and Everywhere! Absord ABCJ 313
2000: Johnny Got Angry Absord ABCJ 314
2005: Sings Bossa Nova Absord ABCJ 339
2011: Complete Warner Bros. Singles scheduled for release March 22, 2011
References
Reflist
External links
IMDB name| id=0814070 | name=Joanie Sommers
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,827096,00.html "Sommers Is Icumen On" From the Dec. 15, 1961 issue of TIME magazine
http://jazztimes.com/articles/26376-joanie-sommers-her-generation Jazz Times article 08/09/10 C. Loudon
Persondata | NAME =Sommers, Joanie | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =February 24, 1941 | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Sommers, Joanie Category:American female singers Category:Living people Category:1941 births Category:People from Buffalo, New York
