Molly Bee (August 18, 1939 – February 7, 2009), born
Mollie Gene Beachboard, was an American country music singer famous for her
1952 recording of the early perennial, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa
Claus", and as Pinky Lee's sidekick on The Pinky Lee Show. She had had
several hits in the early '60s, crafting a showy stage persona, ideal for
clubs.
Raised in Beltbuckle, TN, Bee didn't begin singing until
her family moved to Tucson, AZ. Even then, she started her singing career much
earlier than most -- she was ten years old when she gained the attention of Rex
Allen, the singing cowboy. Bee's mother took her to see the singer at a local
concert, where she had her daughter sing for him. Impressed with her
performance of "Lovesick Blues," Allen had the child sing on his
radio show shortly afterward.
A year later, her
family moved to Hollywood, where she became a regular on Hometown Jamboree, a
Los Angeles-based television show run by Cliffie Stone. Bee sang on the
Jamboree throughout her teens, gaining a large following of fans; she was so
popular, the program was occasionally called the "Molly Bee Show."
During this time, she was also a regular on The Pinky Lee Show, appearing on
the television program for three years.
When she was 13, Bee signed with Capitol Records,
releasing her first single, "Tennessee Tango." However, it was
"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," released late in 1952, that was
her first major success.
In 1953, she recorded "Don't Start Courtin' in a
Hot Rod Ford," a duet with Tennessee Ernie Ford. The following year, she
left Pinky Lee's show for Ford's daytime television show. Bee's career
continued to grow, as she had more hit singles -- including "Young
Romance," "Don't Look Back," and "5 Points of a Star"
-- and appeared on a variety of television shows. By the late '50s, her live
shows were drawing large, record-breaking
Bee, who in her later years went by Molly Muncy offstage, died on February 7, 2009, at Tri-City Medical Center, Oceanside, California, from complications following a stroke. She was 69 years old and lived in Carlsbad, California.
crowds.
In the early '60s, Bee began to move her talents to other
areas, acting in several musical plays (The Boy Friend, Finian's Rainbow, Paint
Your Wagon) and movies (Chartreuse Caboose, The Young Swingers), as well as
becoming a fixture in Las Vegas. However, her recording career began to decline
after she signed to Liberty Records in 1962. After two unsuccessful years
there, she moved to MGM in 1965, releasing the It's Great...It's Molly Bee
album. Bee found her greatest success at MGM the following year with
"Losing You"/"Miserable Me."
By the late '60s, Bee had fallen prey to drug addiction
and had to take several years off the road as she rebuilt her life. She
re-emerged in 1975 with Good Golly Ms. Molly, this time on Cliffie Stone's
Granite record label. Her comeback was successful, producing two charting
singles: "She Kept on Talking" and "Right or Left at Oak
Street." In 1982, she released her final album, Sounds Fine to Me, which
failed to match the performance of Good Golly, although she remained a popular
concert draw.
Although she was no longer touring, in April 1998, she
was part of the playbill putting on a benefit for the Ivey Ranch Park for the
physically and mentally handicapped in her city of residence, Oceanside,
California.
By the 1990s she owned a restaurant and night club in
Oceanside, known as The Molly Bee. She was quoted as having said, "I've
done it all, and lived to tell about it." She remembered working with
"incredible people and always into where the action was. I wouldn't trade
it for the world." "Mine has been like six lifetimes rolled into one.
Bee, who in her later years went by Molly Muncy offstage, died on February 7, 2009, at Tri-City Medical Center, Oceanside, California, from complications following a stroke. She was 69 years old and lived in Carlsbad, California.
(Info edited mainly from Stephen Thomas Erlewine @ All
Music & a tad of Wikipedia)
2 comments:
For “Young Romance - Molly Bee (1958)” go here:
http://www46.zippyshare.com/v/82764850/file.html
01 To Be Or Not To Be In Love
02 (I Wanna Go Where You Go) Then I'll Be Happy
03 Honey, I'm In Love With You
04 Why Don't We Do This More Often
05 Candy Kisses
06 What's The Reason I'm Not Pleasin' You
07 Cheatin' On Me
08 Blue Again
09 You Try Somebody Else
10 I Get Along Without You Very Well
11 It's Been A Long, Long Time
12 The Glory Of Love
For “It's Great...It's Molly Bee - Molly Bee (1965)” go here:
http://www46.zippyshare.com/v/92680599/file.html
01 I Wish I Was A Single Girl Again
02 How's The World Treating You
03 Once A Day
04 Together Again
05 Oh, Lonesome Me
06 Keep It A Secret
07 I'm Gonna Changee Everything
08 Lonely Street
09 Invisible Tears
10 Let It Be Me
11 It Keeps Right On A Hurtin'
12 You Don't Know Me
For “Swingin' Country - Molly Bee (1967)” go here:
http://www46.zippyshare.com/v/99553137/file.html
01 How's The World Treating You
02 A World I Can't Live In
03 You Win Again
04 Mirror's Don't Lie
05 If Things Don't Start Picking Up
06 Heartbreak U.S.A.
07 Everything But Your Name
08 Don't Touch Me
09 I Hate To See Me Go
10 Almost Persuaded
11 You Ain't Woman Enough
12 Bayou Joe
For “Good Golly Ms. Molly - Molly Bee (1975)” go here:
http://www46.zippyshare.com/v/15251528/file.html
01 I Got A Man
02 So Much To Remember
03 Texas Hills
04 Cheatin' Is A Very Long Game
05 Big Daddy's Gonna Bring It On Home To Mama
06 Let Me Call You Baby Tonight
07 California Country
08 Make Love To Me
09 She Kept On Talking
10 Right Or Left At Oak Street
11 Baby You Got It
A big Thank You to Maria @ foreverletsdance.blogspot.co.uk & elrancho--1.blogspot.co.uk
for links.
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