Monday 16 July 2018

Mindy Carson born 16 July 1927



Mindy Carson (born July 16, 1927) is an American former traditional pop vocalist. She was heard often on radio during the 1940s and 1950s.

Carson was born in New York City and grew up in the Bronx, graduating from James Monroe High School. After graduation, she took a position as typist and stenographer, and she worked at a candy company.  In 1946, while still in her teens, Carson won an audition to the radio program Stairway to the Stars. This gave her a chance to perform for eight months in 1947 with Paul Whiteman's band and singer Martha Tilton, stars of the program. She joined the singing bandleader Harry Cool that year and made a number of recordings with him, one of which, "Rumours Are Flying", made the charts.

Although she failed to score a chart hit recording during the next four years, she did receive much radio exposure. She was heard on Guy Lombardo's syndicated program in the late 1940s and her own variety program which began on the CBS Network in 1949. She also had her own thrice-weekly program, sponsored by the U.S. Army, in 1950. She was widely promoted as one of the guests on the November 5, 1950 premiere of NBC's The Big Show, hosted by Tallulah BankheaD.

1949 was a big year for Carson. She became the youngest performer to receive top billing at New York City's Copacabana nightclub. She also performed at clubs in New Orleans, Baltimore, and other cities. Also  Carson was a regular for two years on Florian Zabach's NBC television variety program. She married music publisher Eddie Joy in September (They had three daughters, Jenny, Jody and Cathy), and she signed with RCA's record label, RCA Victor Records.

Although her initial recordings for RCA failed to excite record-buyers, the success of Eileen Barton's novelty hit "If I Knew You Were Coming I'd've Baked a Cake" prompted the company to try a similar recording for Mindy Carson. Her recording of "Candy and Cake" was backed with "My Foolish Heart" and both sides became a two-sided hit. However, after a number of unsuccessful follow-up recordings, RCA dropped her in 1952. On December 30, 1952 she began the Mindy Carson Show, sponsored by Embassy cigarettes, on NBC.

When Carson moved to Columbia Records, her duet with Guy
Mitchell, "Cause I Love You That's-A-Why", climbed on the charts to the top 25. All the Time and Everywhere", was a big hit in the United Kingdom for Dickie Valentine, but it went nowhere for Carson and other U.S. recording artists. A cover of The Gaylords' big hit "Tell Me You're Mine" charted at #22, and a few others made the top 30 in 1952, 1953 and 1954. Her song "Memories Are Made of This" with the Ray Conniff Orchestra was issued in 1955.

Carson performed in Britain in the mid 1950s and while in London she was invited by Lew Grade to star in an hour long television special for ATV called "The Palladium". During this time she was one of the busiest "supper club" entertainers in America.


                              

In August 1955 she scored a hit when her recording of "Wake the
Town and Tell the People" reached #13, despite the fact that the trends in popular music were moving to Rock 'n' Roll and she was not generally a rock singer. Carson had a minor hit with "The Fish", the single prior to "Wake The Town...", which was a mild rocker based on a proposed dance craze. The record appeared in both the Cashbox and Music Vendor retail surveys. Two years later she covered Ivory Joe Hunter's "Since I Met You Baby" for another hit, and a Columbia LP named Baby, Baby, Baby followed one year later. She never reached the charts again, and slowly faded from view amidst the rise of a younger generation of pop music

After the hits stopped Mindy switched career to theatre work. When "South Pacific" was revived on Broadway, Richard Rodgers hired Mindy to play Nellie Forbush and she went on to star in another musical, "The Body Beautiful" (1958). From then on there were few records but plenty of musicals and even straight acting. Mindy last appeared on stage in 1967 in the play "Dinner At Eight". When that closed she retired, and lives happily on in Florida.

(Edited mainly from Wikipedia)

6 comments:

boppinbob said...

For “Mindy Carson - Making Eyes At Mindy” go here:

https://www65.zippyshare.com/v/ZUj1Enxp/file.html

1. STEAM HEAT
2. LUCKY IN LOVE
3. LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT
4. ONLY A BRIDESMAID
5. I'M NOBODY'S BABY
6. I CRIED FOR YOU
7. A PICCOLO PLAYER
8. HEY THERE
9. I'VE GOT A CRUSH ON YOU
10. CAN'T GET HIM OFF OF MY MIND
11. MISTER WONDERFUL
12. HOLD ME TIGHT, I'M IN LOVE
13. LULLABY OF BROADWAY
14. NO OTHER LOVE
15. BUT NOT FOR ME
16. PEANUTS, POPCORN, CRACKERJACK AND JELLY APPLE
17. CANDY AND CAKE
18. DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
19. VAYA CON DIOS
20. I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU
21. EVERYBODY LOVES MY BABY
22. WAKE THE TOWN AND TELL THE PEOPLE
23. MY GENTLEMAN FRIEND
24. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THOSE EYES AT ME FOR
25. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH ME
26. I HATE TO LOSE YOU
27. YOU TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ME


Have no doubts, artists come and go, regardless of their talent. Some are remembered better than others - Al Jolson's reputation seems secure for the foreseeable future but Eddie Cantor, once his equal, has simply been left behind in the remembrance stakes. It may well be that Bing Crosby's achievements (and they were many) will be less well remembered than Frank Sinatra's. Women performers in many ways have a tougher time of it: men are meant to pursue careers, women's roles historically have been to support their men and raise the family. Being forgotten (or almost) is simply an occupational hazard, not necessarily a judgement of ability. This applies to Mindy Carson, a singer of undeniable talent and personality but whom time has largely brushed aside. Fortunately for us, we have a body of recordings to judge her by, so the listener's personal opinion is all that ultimately counts. (Jasmine notes)

heylee said...

boppinbob, thanks for sharing Mindy Carson. Place her up there with, June Christy, Chris Connor and Anita O'Day. Maybe there was something in the water during the 1940s.

Javy said...

Thank you for this album.

Mindy C said...

Thank you for this information! It was nice to read about her.
I was born in 1966. Because of my grandmother’s input, I was named after Mindy Carson.

Patonofun said...

Always Thank you. Could you reupload this ?

boppinbob said...

Hello Patonofun, Sorry for the delay I was not notified of a new comment at the time, but as I had a comment from Anoneumouse here it is....(link valid for 30 days)

https://www.upload.ee/files/15456358/MindyCarson_MEAM.rar.html