Gogo DeLys | |
---|---|
Born | Marie Gabrielle Belanger August 17, 1908[1] Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
Died | February 19, 2003 (aged 94) Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Singer |
Spouse | Robert Redd |
Children | 1 |
Gogo DeLys (born Marie Gabrielle Belanger; August 17, 1908 – February 19, 2003)[2][3] was an American singer in vaudeville and with the Jimmy Grier Band and on old-time radio. Her last name was also sometimes transcribed as Delys.[4]
Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, DeLys performed in a talent show while she was a law student at USC. A talent scout saw her and turned her career plans from law to singing.[5]
Dubbed "the Canadian Canary" by newspaper columnist Walter Winchell, DeLys was active professionally from the 1920s into the 1940s.[5] In 1928, she performed in vaudeville shows headed by Eddie Peabody[4] and Paul Ash.[6]
Prior to January 1931, DeLys had moved from Vancouver to Los Angeles, singing on radio station KHJ, where Radio Digest magazine said, "she promptly became an instantaneous hit".[7] By June 1931, DeLys had become the female vocalist with Georgie Stoll and his orchestra.[8] The following year she sang with Jimmy Grier's orchestra.[9] On October 29, 1932, she recorded "Second Hand Heart (for sale)" with Grier and his orchestra on the Victor label.[10]
On radio, DeLys sang with Jerry Joyce's Boys.[11] She also sang on Little Ol' Hollywood,[12] and on Your Hit Parade,[12]: 362 and Carefree Carnival.[13]
In 1936, she had her own twice-weekly program on CBS,[14] and, in 1937, she was featured with The Norsemen, James Melton, and Don Voorhees' orchestra in a series of transcribed programs sponsored by Rexall.[15]
In July 1937, Mid-Summer Night's Serenade debuted on CBS with DeLys as its star. A review in the trade publication Radio Daily described the program as "a well-balanced 15 minutes of evening music ..."[16]
On February 19, 2003, DeLys died of natural causes in St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California, at age 94.[5]
DeLys retired after marrying Robert Redd. The couple had one child, actress Mary-Robin Redd.[3]