Gogo DeLys
Gogo DeLys | |
|---|---|
| Born | Marie Gabrielle Belanger August 17, 1908[1] Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Died | February 19, 2003 (aged 94) Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Spouse | Robert Redd |
| Children | 1 |
Gogo DeLys (born Marie Gabrielle Belanger; August 17, 1908 – February 19, 2003)[2][3] was an American singer in vaudeville and with the Jimmy Grier Band and on old-time radio. Her last name was also sometimes transcribed as Delys.[4]
Early years
[edit]Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, DeLys performed in a talent show while she was a law student at USC. A talent scout saw her and turned her career plans from law to singing.[5]
Career
[edit]Dubbed "the Canadian Canary" by newspaper columnist Walter Winchell, DeLys was active professionally from the 1920s into the 1940s.[5] In 1928, she performed in vaudeville shows headed by Eddie Peabody[4] and Paul Ash.[6]
Prior to January 1931, DeLys had moved from Vancouver to Los Angeles, singing on radio station KHJ, where Radio Digest magazine said, "she promptly became an instantaneous hit".[7] By June 1931, DeLys had become the female vocalist with Georgie Stoll and his orchestra.[8] The following year she sang with Jimmy Grier's orchestra.[9] On October 29, 1932, she recorded "Second Hand Heart (for sale)" with Grier and his orchestra on the Victor label.[10]
On radio, DeLys sang with Jerry Joyce's Boys.[11] She also sang on Little Ol' Hollywood,[12] and on Your Hit Parade,[12]: 362 and Carefree Carnival.[13]
In 1936, she had her own twice-weekly program on CBS,[14] and, in 1937, she was featured with The Norsemen, James Melton, and Don Voorhees' orchestra in a series of transcribed programs sponsored by Rexall.[15]
In July 1937, Mid-Summer Night's Serenade debuted on CBS with DeLys as its star. A review in the trade publication Radio Daily described the program as "a well-balanced 15 minutes of evening music ..."[16]
Death
[edit]On February 19, 2003, DeLys died of natural causes in St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California, at age 94.[5]
Personal life
[edit]DeLys retired after marrying Robert Redd. The couple had one child, actress Mary-Robin Redd.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ Biography. Accessed April 18, 2023.
- ^ Biography. Accessed April 18, 2023.
- ^ a b Lent, Harris M. III (2008). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2003: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. p. 102. ISBN 978-0-7864-5208-8. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
- ^ a b "Peabody gets in some extra banjo strings". Los Angeles Evening Express. California, Los Angeles. July 2, 1928. p. 9. Retrieved November 25, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c Horwitch, Lauren (March 6, 2003). "Gogo DeLys". Variety. Archived from the original on November 25, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
- ^ "(Oriental theater advertisement)". Chicago Tribune. Illinois, Chicago. October 1, 1928. p. 34. Retrieved November 25, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gogo Delys". Radio Digest. XXVI (3): 43. January 1931. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- ^ "Stoll music wins favor". Los Angeles Evening Express. California, Los Angeles. June 3, 1931. p. 15. Retrieved November 25, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Burns 'Em Up!". The Marshall News Messenger. Texas, Marshall. November 16, 1932. p. 5. Retrieved November 26, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gogo De Lys (vocalist)". Discography of American Historical Recordings. Regents of the University of California. Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- ^ "KFWB, Hollywood". The Fresno Morning Republican. California, Fresno. June 16, 1931. p. 10. Retrieved November 25, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 202. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
- ^ Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Oxford University Press. p. 139. ISBN 978-0-19-984045-8. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- ^ "(photo caption)". Radio Mirror. 5 (4): 35. February 1936. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- ^ "200 stations to get Rexall spring spots". Radio Daily. March 10, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- ^ "'Mid-Summer Night's Serenade'". Radio Daily. July 16, 1937. p. 5. Retrieved March 24, 2020.