Eydie Gormé

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edie_Gorme From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia}

Eydie Gormé (also spelled as Eydie Gorme;[2] August 16, 1928 – August 10, 2013) was an American singer who performed solo as well as with her husband, Steve Lawrence, in popular ballads and swing. She earned numerous awards, including a Grammy and an Emmy. She retired in 2009 and is survived by Lawrence who continues to perform as a solo act.

Gormé was born as Edith Garmezano in The Bronx, New York in 1928, the daughter of Fortuna and Nessim Garmezano. Her father was a tailor. She is a cousin of singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka. Her parents were Sephardic Jewish immigrants, her father from Sicily and her mother from Turkey.

She graduated from William Howard Taft High School in 1946 (film director Stanley Kubrick, also born in 1928, attended the school at the same time), and worked for the United Nations as an interpreter, using her fluency in the Ladino and Spanish languages. She made her recording debut in 1950 with the Tommy Tucker Orchestra and Don Brown. She made a second recording which featured Dick Noel. MGM issued these two recordings on 78 rpm vinyl.

She first worked in Tex Beneke's band. In 1951 she made several radio recordings that have been re-issued on vinyl LP and recently on CD, in 1952 Gormé went on to record solo and her first recordings were issued on the Coral label.

In 1953, Gormé caught both her big break, and her future, lifelong husband, when she and singer Steve Lawrence were booked to the original The Tonight Show, then hosted by Steve Allen.

Gormé and Lawrence were married in Las Vegas on December 29, 1957. They became famous on stage for their banter, which usually involved tart, yet affectionate, and sometimes bawdy, references to their married life, which remained a feature of their live act. They had two sons. In 1995, Gormé and Lawrence were honored for their lifetime contribution to music by the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Gormé and Lawrence had two sons, David, a composer, and Michael, who died suddenly from ventricular fibrillation resulting from an undiagnosed heart condition in 1986, at the age of 23. Michael was an assistant editor for a television show at the time of his death and was apparently healthy despite a previous diagnosis of slight arrhythmia.

Gormé died on August 10, 2013, six days shy of her 85th birthday, at Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center in Las Vegas following a brief, undisclosed illness. Her husband was at her bedside, along with their son, when she died. She was 84 and is survived by her husband Steve Lawrence, her son David and a granddaughter.

Eydie Gormé (also spelled Gorme;[2] August 16, 1928 – August 10, 2013) was an American singer who performed solo as well as with her husband, Steve Lawrence, in popular ballads and swing. She earned numerous awards, including a Grammy and an Emmy. After retiring in 2009, she died in 2013, and is survived by Lawrence, who continues to perform as a solo act.

Contents [show] Early years[edit] Gormé was born Edith Gormezano[1] (census sources indicate Edith Garmezano) in The Bronx, New York, in 1928, the daughter of Nessim and Fortuna, Sephardic Jewish immigrants. Her father, a tailor, was from Sicily and her mother was from Turkey. Gormé was a cousin of singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka.[3][4]

She graduated from William Howard Taft High School in 1946 with Stanley Kubrick in her class. She worked for the United Nations as an interpreter, using her fluency in the Ladino and Spanish languages, while singing in Ken Greenglass's band during the weekends.[citation needed]

Big band years[edit] She got her big break and her recording debut in 1950 with the Tommy Tucker Orchestra and Don Brown. She made a second recording which featured Dick Noel. MGM issued these two recordings on 78.

Gormé worked in Tex Beneke's band. In 1951 she made several radio recordings that have been reissued on vinyl LP and recently on CD. In 1952 Gormé went on to record solo, and her first recordings were issued on the Coral label. During this time, she was featured on the radio program "Cita Con Eydie" ("A Date with Eydie"). She changed her name from Edith to Edie but later changed it to Eydie because people constantly mispronounced Edie as Eddie. Gorme also considered changing her family name; however, her mother protested, "It's bad enough that you're in show business. How will the neighbors know if you're ever a success?"[5]

Early releases[edit] Powder And Paint Original Issue: On 78 rpm only on MGM 10785[6]

Cherry Stones Original Issue: On 78 rpm only on MGM 10767[6]

Tonight Show[edit] In 1953, Gormé made her first television appearance, and met her future husband, singer Steve Lawrence, when they were booked to the original The Tonight Show, hosted by Steve Allen.[7]

In 1958, they starred together in The Steve Lawrence-Eydie Gorme Show, a summer replacement for The Steve Allen Show. During the 1970s, the two made guest appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, either with Eydie appearing as the guest and going into her song and Steve suddenly coming out from backstage and joining her or the other way around.[citation needed]

Marriage[edit] Gormé and Lawrence were married in Las Vegas on December 29, 1957. They became famous on stage for their banter, which usually involved tart yet affectionate, and sometimes bawdy, references to their married life, which remained a feature of their live act.

Solo/duo[edit] Eydie Gormé enjoyed hit singles of her own, none selling bigger than 1963's "Blame It on the Bossa Nova", which was also her final foray into the Top 40 pop charts. It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc.[8] In the UK, "Yes, My Darling Daughter" reached #10.[9] She won a Grammy Award for Best Female Vocal Performance in 1967, for her version of "If He Walked Into My Life", from Mame. The latter made #5 on the Billboard magazine Easy Listening chart in 1966, despite failing to make the Billboard Hot 100. Many of Gormé's singles chart success from 1963 onward were on the Easy Listening/Adult Contemporary charts, where she placed 27 singles (both solo and with her husband) from 1963 to 1979 (of which "If He Walked Into My Life" was the most successful). As a soloist, her other biggest hits during that period included "What Did I Have That I Don't Have?" from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (#17 Easy Listening, 1966) and "Tonight I'll Say a Prayer" (#45 Pop and #8 Easy Listening, 1969, also her last Hot 100 entry as a solo artist).[citation needed]

She gained crossover success in the Latin music market through a series of albums she made in Spanish with the famed Trio Los Panchos. In 1964, the two acts joined forces for a collection of Spanish-language standards called Amor. "Sabor a Mí" became closely identified with Gormé and emerged as one of her signature tunes. The disc was later reissued as "Canta en Español". In 1965, a sequel appeared called More Amor (later reissued as "Cuatro Vidas"). Her last album with Los Panchos was a 1966 Christmas collection, "Navidad Means Christmas", later reissued as "Blanca Navidad". Gormé also recorded other Spanish albums in her career, including the Grammy-nominated La Gormé (1976), a contemporary outing. The 1977 release Muy Amigos/Close Friends, a duet collection with Puerto Rican singer Danny Rivera, also received a Grammy nomination.[citation needed]

Steve and Eydie: As a duo with her husband, the act was billed as Steve and Eydie. They began their careers as members of the cast of the Steve Allen original Tonight Show. On February 8, 1960 they were awarded a star for recording on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1541 Vine Street.[10] Also in 1960, Steve and Eydie were awarded the Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Vocal Group for the album "We Got Us". Their biggest hit single as a duo, "I Just Want to Stay Here", was written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and reached #28 in 1963. Under the pseudonym "Parker and Penny", Lawrence and Gormé achieved their last chart single (#46 on the Adult Contemporary chart) with a cover of the 1979 Eurovision song contest winner, "Hallelujah". The song most closely identified with the duo, the Steve Allen composition "This Could Be the Start of Something", never reached the charts, though it remained a staple in their live act.[citation needed]

Gormé and Lawrence appeared numerous times on TV, including 13 appearances on The Carol Burnett Show, as well as The Nanny. She and Lawrence starred together on Broadway in the musical Golden Rainbow. After the 1970s, the couple focused strictly on the American pop repertoire, recording several albums themed around individual American pop composers.[11]

In 1995 they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, winning the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award. It is worth quoting from that award:[12]

Steve and Eydie's television specials saluting the great American songwriters are considered primers of quality, style and showmanship. The critically-acclaimed Steve and Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin, received seven Emmy Awards. Their tribute to George and Ira Gershwin, Our Love is Here to Stay, garnered two more Emmys and From This Moment On, their musical salute to Cole Porter, won the duo an Award of Excellence from The Film Advisory Board. A highlight of Steve and Eydie's career was their "Diamond Jubilee World Tour" with Frank Sinatra. Playing to SRO audiences around the world and winning rave reviews, the one-year tour culminated in New York's Madison Square Garden. Frank Sinatra says, "Steve and Eydie represent all that is good about performers and the interpretation of a song..they're the best."

As the 21st century arrived, the couple announced their plans to cut back on their touring, launching a "One More For The Road" tour in 2002. In 2006, Gormé became a blogger, posting occasional messages on her official website. In November 2009, after his wife retired, Lawrence embarked on a solo musical tour.[13]

Children[edit] Gormé and Lawrence had two sons together. David Nessim Lawrence (b. 1960) is an ASCAP Award-winning composer who composed the score for High School Musical. Michael Robert Lawrence (b. 1962) died suddenly from ventricular fibrillation resulting from an undiagnosed heart condition in 1986 at the age of 23.[14] Michael was an assistant editor for a television show at the time of his death and was apparently healthy despite a previous diagnosis of slight arrhythmia.

Gormé and Lawrence were in Atlanta, Georgia, at the time of Michael's death, having performed at the Fox Theater the night before. Upon learning of the tragedy, family friend Frank Sinatra sent his private plane to fly the couple to New York to meet David, who was attending school at the time. Following their son's death, Gormé and Lawrence took a year off before touring again.[14]

Death[edit] Gormé died on August 10, 2013, six days before her 85th birthday, at Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center in Las Vegas following a brief, undisclosed illness. Her husband, Steve Lawrence, was at her bedside, along with their surviving son, David.[15] She is also survived by her granddaughter.

Following his wife's death, Lawrence issued a statement in which he paid tribute to her. "Eydie has been my partner on stage and in my life for more than 55 years. I fell in love with her the moment I saw her and even more the first time I heard her sing. While my personal loss is unimaginable, the world has lost one of the greatest pop vocalists of all time."[5]

אידי גורמה

' (Eydie Gormé;‏ 16 באוגוסט 1928 - 10 באוגוסט 2013) הייתה זמרת יהודיה-אמריקאית בתחום הפופ המסורתי, מן התקופה הקודמת לרוק אנד רול, ושרה בלדות ושירי סווינג. אידי גורמה זכתה בפרסים רבים, כולל פרס גראמי ופרס אמי.

קורות חיים גורמה נולדה בשם אדית גורמזנו (Edith Gormezano) ברובע הברונקס, ניו יורק לפורטונה וניסים גורמזנו, יהודים ממוצא ספרדי. אביה היגר לארצות הברית מסיציליה ואמה מטורקיה. היא סיימה את לימודי התיכון בשנת 1946 ועבדה באומות המאוחדות כמתורגמנית, כשהיא מנצלת את ידיעתה בספרדית.

ב-1950 הקליטה לראשונה כזמרת יחד עם תזמורתו של טומי טאקר. את תקליטה השני הקליטה עם דיק נואל. שני התקליטים יצאו בחברת מטרו גולדווין מאייר במהירות 78 סל"ד. ב-1952 הקליטה לראשונה תקליט סולו. פריצת הדרך של גורמה באה כאשר התבקשה להופיע לצד הזמר סטיב לורנס, שהפך להיות שותפה לחיים, בתוכנית האירוח The Tonight Show בשנת 1954.

ב-1957 התחתנה גורמה עם סטיב לורנס. הם זכו להכרה בזכות הופעותיהם המשותפת על הבמה, בהן הם מעירים על חייהם המשותפים. בשנת 1995 הוכנסו גורמה ולורנס להיכל התהילה של כותבי הפזמונים (באנגלית: Songwriters Hall of Fame).

קריירה לגורמה היו מספר סינגלים שהפכו ללהיטים. גדול להיטיה היה השיר Blame it on the Bossa Nova משנת 1963, אשר נכנס ל-40 הגדולים במצעד האמריקאי. בבריטניה הגיע שירה Yes my Darling Daughter למקום החמישי במצעד. בשנת 1967 היא זכתה בפרס גראמי כמבצעת הנשית הטובה ביותר על גרסתה לשיר If He Walked Into My Life. השיר הגיע למקום החמישי במצעד המגזין בילבורד למוזיקה קלה בשנת 1966.

החל משנת 1963 ועד לשנת 1979 רוב להיטיה של גורמה היו בתחום המוזיקה הקלה, שם הצליחה להכניס 27 שירים למצעד (חלקם סולו וחלקם עם בעלה. השיר If He Walked Into My Life היה המצליח ביותר בין להיטים אלה. גורמה זכתה להצלחה אף בתחום המוזיקה הלטינית בסדרת אלבומים שהקליטה בספרדית יחד עם שלישיית הלוס פנצ'וס. בשנת 1964 הקליטה יחד עם להקה זו אוסף שירים בשם Amor. השיר Sabor a Mí הפך להיות מזוהה עם גורמה. בשנת 1965 הקליטה גורמה אלבום המשך בשם More Amor. את תקליטה האחרון עם הלוס פנצ'וס הקליטה ב-1966, היה זה אוסף שירים לחג המולד. במהלך הקריירה שלה הקליטה גורמה אלבומים נוספים בספרדית, כולל האלבום La Gormé שהיה מועמד לפרס גראמי בשנת 1976. בשנת 1977 הקליטה אלבום יחד עם הזמר הפורטו ריקני דני ריברה, Muy Amigos/Close Friends, שאף הוא היה מועמד לפרס גראמי.

הופעותיה לצד בעלה מתפרסמות כצמד "סטיב ואידי". בשנת 1960 זכה הצמד בפרס גראמי לביצוע הטוב ביותר ללהקה קולית, על אלבומם We Got Us. להיטם הגדול ביותר כצמד היה השיר I Want to Stay Here שהגיע למקום ה-28 במצעד, בשנת 1963. הצלחתם הגדולה האחרונה (מקום 46 במצעד המוזיקה הקלה), תחת שם הבמה פרקר ופני (Parker and Penny) היה בעת שביצעו גרסת כיסוי לשיר הללויה (חלב ודבש), זוכה אירוויזיון 1979.

קישורים חיצוניים ויקישיתוף מדיה וקבצים בנושא אידי גורמה בוויקישיתוף Green globe.svg אתר האינטרנט

של אידי גורמה Allmusic Favicon.png אידי גורמה , באתר AllMusic (באנגלית) MusicBrainz Logo 2016.svg אידי גורמה , באתר MusicBrainz (באנגלית) אידי גורמה , באתר Discogs (באנגלית) Songkick logotype.svg אידי גורמה , באתר Songkick (באנגלית) IMDB Logo 2016.svg אידי גורמה , במסד הנתונים הקולנועיים IMDb (באנגלית) https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%90%D7%99%D7%93%D7%99_%D7%92%D7%95...