Flo Bennett born circa late 1930's early 1940's

 

Flo Bennett (born circa late 30's - early 40's) was/is a jazz and night club singer active in the late 50's and early 60's.

When researching obscure female jazz artists, you'll find the list is quite long regarding those that made just one or two albums or in some cases just a few singles, and yet there is hardly any information regarding these "unknown" singers. I was asked to profile Flo Bennett and came up with next to nothing other than her album liner notes, so here goes.

Flo Bennett was born in Denver, Colorado, and began her singing career in the schools she attended which were East High School and Colorado University, where she was presented in many of the activities of Colorado's social gatherings. Her first professional engagement was at the Fabulous Broadmoor Country Club of Denver, then she appeared in Jerry Herman's Parade, Off The Record and the Four To Go Show. She moved to Los Angeles where she became a first-call demo singer, making most of her living from studio work as well as preforming in local night clubs where she became one of the well known members of the local scene. I found out that according to Billboard, in December 1958 she had a single released on the Guild record label which included the songs You Turned The Tables On Me / Laugh at me. I cannot find any other information regarding this single anywhere else on the web, yet these two songs were also included four years later on her album.

                                  

Recorded in 1962 "Half Past Lonely"  on the tiny Gift label, for private distribution, was the only full album she ever recorded, and although she funded and helped to produce the session herself, she managed to reel in the likes of arranger Ernie Freeman, tenor saxophonist Plas Johnson, trumpeter John Anderson, and guitarist Irving Ashby to lend the record the sophistication and depth comparable to a major-label release. 

What further distinguishes the album is the quality and consistency of the tunes: Bennett (who at the time was a first-call demo singer) called on her songwriter friends to compose original material for the session, and melancholy contributions like "Laugh at Me," "Never Been So Lost," and the title cut perfectly complement her emotional, world-weary vocals,  despite a relatively young age. One single was released  from the album  Half Past Lonely b/w You Turned The Tables On Me . 

The album  was reissued on CD in 2008 as part of the Sinatra Society of Japan's One Shot Wonders series, and according to a Swing Journal review of the re-issue, Flo Bennett was still active in Palm Springs as a performer (although this needs to be confirmed). 

And that dear music lovers is all I can muster regarding Miss Bennett, unless of course you can add to this topic.

(Scant information edited from AllMusic, Dusty Groove, & liner notes)