Janice Harper (April 1st, 1931 - May 21st, 2016) was an American
singer who made a very modest impact on the music world through the '50s
and into the '60s. For whatever reason, she never really got the the
recognition her rich and soaring voice deserved.
Originally, Janice had her heart set on an operatic
career, but she switched to popular music and had no regrets. A native New
Yorker, she would sing for her high school buddies who insisted that she study
voice and making singing her career.
Janice Harper first broke onto the Pop charts in 1957.
Seeing as how Rock and Roll had begun to dominate the music scene by then, it's
not surprising that there isn't much known about her. But, don't think that's
because she didn't try. Even though teenagers were buying most of the music in
the late 1950's, there were still fans of the popular singers. Singers such as
Patti Page, Peggy Lee, Julie London, Dean Martin, all these singers were still
beloved by their fans and continued to have hits into the Rock and Roll era.
One specific reason why Janice Harper isn't a huge star
like she deserved to be was that, during her most popular period, when she was
signed to Capitol Records, they had a stable of artists such as the
aforementioned Peggy Lee, June Christy and others.
Janice preferred a direct
approach to her singing over the cool-school aesthetic of her rivals. Her
finest LP, Embers Of Love, remains a potent evocation of perseverance in the
face of romantic dissolution, celebrating the dawn rather than the darkness.
Paired with arranger Stan Applebaum, Harper infuses melancholy ballads like Cry
Me A River, The Thrill Is Gone and For All We Know with a warmth and sincerity
bordering on naiveté. For all their smoky, late-night ambience, the songs
possess an undercurrent of optimism that softens their impact, divining solace
from the sorrow.
Some of her songs included Bon Voyage (1957), Devotion
(Number 179 of WMGM's top 200 songs of 1958), I'm Making Love To You and I Was
Hoping You'd Ask Me (both January 1959), Let Me Call You Sweetheart (May 1959),
Just Whistle (May 1959), Forever, Forever (1960), Just Say I Love Him (1960),
Cry Me A River (1960) and Where Shall I Find Him and 'Til Tomorrow (both from
1962).
For other labels, she recorded Moonlit Sea and That's Why
I Was Born (recorded for the Prep label in 1957), and He Just Checked In and
Take Me In Your Arms (for RCA). Evidently, she recorded a handful of albums,
with the previously mentioned Embers Of Love being her biggest. Because of that
album's success, she secured a guest appearance on Dick Clark's American
Bandstand program on February 2nd, 1960, where she sang the song Cry Me A
River, which had been included on that album. She also appeared on The Ed Sullivan
Show and The Steve Allen Show, and worked with a diverse group of performers
such as Eddie Albert and Buddy Hackett.
Her trail goes cold from now on except I note that she
sang on the Mike Douglas Show in 1967 also the Johnny Carson show in 1973. By the late 70’s she was singing at various
clubs in New York.
The last information I noticed was that Janice was in a New York nursing home for 3 years with
Alzheimer's.
She died May 21st, 2016 in Arvene, NY (Far Rockaway)
Other than that, I couldn't locate any clues or
biographical information about this fine singer. So, despite the meager facts
about her life and history, just enjoy the big voice she had and the easy
delivery she used. Cant find any Best Of Janice Harper . (Info mainly from Haar
fager @ Music For Every Mood Blog and From The Vaults)
12 comments:
Fingers Crossed Janice's only 2 albums will be uploaded by my Music blog in the near too distant future. So watch this space. Unless some kind person will intervene.
For “Janice Harper - Embers of Love” go here:
https://www.sendspace.com/file/wwe62x
1 Cry Me A River
2 Always
3 I Am Forgetting You
4 If You Are But A Dream
5 If You Love Me (Really Love Me)
6 I'm Thru With Love
7 The Thrill Is Gone
8 All The Things You Are
9 Just Say I Love Him
10 I Hadn't Anyone Till You
11 For All We Know
12 I Believe
A big thank you to Spoddy “ Loadsamusic Forum for link
Here is the other album.
Janice Harper - With feeling 1968
Cheers
Don Dan
https://1fichier.com/?428a5w7kbs
Sorry for the PW
The same with no PW
http://www.mediafire.com/file/p4azburc0f8a7eh/HARPER_JANICE_68.zip
Cheers
Don Dan
Thanks Don
Regards, Bob
Thanks!
Janice Harper: Embers Of Love
can you reup? tia
Met Janice at a party at Ed Koch's back in the '80s. Very sweet lady.
Hope you can re-up her hard-to-find tracks.
Hi Otis, I managed to find "Embers of Love" but could only find 3 tracks from the "With Feeling" album, which I've added as bonus tracks.
https://www.upload.ee/files/12004897/Janice_Harper_-_Embers_of_Love.rar.html
13. Bon Voyage
14. Devotion
15. That's Why I Was born
Regards, Bob
I have the album with feelings if someone would like it. Patsy162at aol.com
Hi Patsy. That would be great especially after a 3 year wait!
I can't contact you personally as your email address is invalid, but if you can post it please forward the link. Thanking you in anticipation, Bob
A very beautiful lady and a beautiful voice she had I love her music
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