Armenuhi Manoogian better known by her stage name Kay
Armen (Chicago, Illinois November 2, 1915 – New York City, New York, October 3,
2011), was a popular American Armenian singer during the 1940s and 1950s. Her
career in show business spanned almost six decades, as she worked in radio,
television, onstage and in film. She also wrote many songs, performed in
nightclubs and recorded many records.
Armen, who was known as “Charmin’ Kay Armen” during her
career, was born in Chicago to Armenian parents; her father was a professional
wrestler known as the Terrible Turk, and her brother became a professional
wrestler known as Bobby Managoff.
Ms. Armen began winning talent contests and singing on
the radio and in Chicago theatres, said her sister, Claire Manoogian. "She
really knocked herself out." She was also a songwriter and joined ASCAP in 1953. Her popular-song compositions
include "Be Good to Yourself"; "My Love and I"; and
"It's a Sin to Cry Over You".
Her many radio hits include the successful “Stop the Music”
program with Bert Parks, on both radio and later on TV. At one time Armen was
heard on all three national radio networks, CBS, NBC and ABC, with various
programs. Playwright William Saroyan and his cousin, Ross Bagdasarian (creator
of the “Chipmunks”), wrote Come on-a My House for Armen and it was later
recorded by many artists, including Rosemary Clooney
Frank Sinatra called her "Babe." Her fans
included Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Peggy Lee, Doris Day and Dean Martin. She
sang with opera superstar Mario Lanza.
Armen made her big screen debut in the 1955 MGM musical
“Hit the Deck,” starring Vic Damone, Debbie Reynolds, Tony Martin, Jane Powell
and Ann Miller. A clip from the film’s finale, in which Armen sings
“Hallelujah,” was featured in “That’s Entertainment!”
On TV, she starred in the brief NBC 1959 sitcom “Love and
Marriage,” with William Demarest, and appeared repeatedly on Ray Bolger’s
“Washington Square.” She also guested on talk and variety shows including “The
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” “The Ed Sullivan Show,” “The Merv Griffin
Show” and “The Mike Douglas Show.”
Armen also appeared in the 1961 film “Hey, Let’s Twist!”
and later in life had supporting roles in the 1980 CBS telepic “Jimmy B. &
Andre” and in the 1981 comedy “Paternity,” starring Burt Reynolds.
In 1995, President Bill Clinton presented her with the
National Medal of Honour for the Arts, and in 2000, she received the Handel
Medallion from New York City.
In October 2005, Armen was honoured by the Licia
Albanese-Puccini Foundation with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The prestigious
Opera News Magazine called Armen “one of the great pop contraltos of all time.”
In 2008, Armen was honoured with a pontifical encyclical
and the St. Sahag-St. Mesrob Medal from the Catholicos of All Armenians, the
highest honour bestowed by the worldwide Armenian Church to artists for their
lifetime advancements in the arts and culture.
Kay died at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in New
York on Oct. 3 after a short illness. She was 95. (Info edited from mainly variety.com
& Wikipedia & mirrorspectator.com)
1 comment:
For Kay Armen – If You Believe (1955) go here:
http://www53.zippyshare.com/v/LQkilAxR/file.html
A1 Take My Hand, Precious Lord
A2 The Power Of Prayer
A3 Tenderly He Watches Me (Every Step, Every Mile Of The Way)
A4 I See God
A5 The Bible Tells Me So
A6 I Believe
B1 If You Believe
B2 He
B3 If I Can Help Somebody
B4 Suddenly There's A Valley
B5 Bell This House
B6 I Wonder When We'll Ever Know (The Wonder Of It All)
Joe Lipman & His Orchestra with The Ray Charles Singers.
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