Margaret Whiting

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Born: July 22, 1924 | Died: January 10, 2011 Primary Instrument: Vocal

Margaret Whiting was a dominant pop singer in the '40s and '50s, though whether she's a jazz vocalist is often in question. She had a clear, striking voice and the kind of quasi-innocent sensibility that worked on such songs as “It Might As Well Be Spring” and “Moonlight in Vermont.”

Some would question if she was an improviser, or had the kind of timing, sense of swing, and fluidity that defines the genuine jazz or jazz-influenced singer. The daughter of composer Richard Whiting, her run of hits began in the early '40s when she was featured on radio shows, singing with composer/vocalist Johnny Mercer. She was later a prominent vocalist with the bands of Freddie Slack, Billy Butterfield, and Paul Weston.

She had three huge hits in 1948 with “Now Is the Hour,” “A Tree in the Meadow,” and “Far Away Places,” then teamed with Jimmy Wakely for another top hit in 1949, “Slippin' Around.” She and Wakely were a very successful team for a time. Whiting had a comeback of sorts in the early '70s, appearing on a Cavalcade of Bands tour with the groups of Bob Crosby and others.

Source: Ron Wynn

Last Updated: January 12, 2011

Albums
1950 Margaret Whiting Sings Rodgers and Hart
Capitol
1954 Love Songs by Margaret Whiting
1956 Margaret Whiting Sings for the Starry-Eyed
1957 Goin' Places
Dot
1958 Margaret
1959 Margaret Whiting's Great Hits
1960 Just a Dream
Margaret Whiting Sings the Jerome Kern Song Book
Verve
Broadway Right Now
(with Mel Tormé)
1961 Past Midnight
MGM
1967 The Wheel of Hurt
London
Maggie Isn't Margaret Anymore
1980 Too Marvelous for Words
Audiophile
1982 Come a Little Closer
1985 The Lady's in Love with You
1991 Then and Now
DRG Singles
1942 "That Old Black Magic"
Freddie Slack & His Orchestra
1943 "My Ideal"
Billy Butterfield & His Orchestra
1944 "Silver Wings In the Moonlight"
Freddie Slack & His Orchestra
1945 "Moonlight In Vermont"
Billy Butterfield & His Orchestra -
"It Might as Well Be Spring"
Paul Weston & His Orchestra
1946 "All Through the Day"
"In Love In Vain"
"Come Rain or Come Shine"
"Along With Me"
"Passe"
"Guilty"
"Oh, But I Do"
1947 "Beware My Heart"
"Old Devil Moon"
"Ask Anyone Who Knows"
"Little Girl Blue"
"You Do"
"Lazy Countryside"
"Pass That Peace Pipe"
1948 "Let's Be Sweethearts Again"
"But Beautiful"
"Now is the Hour"
"What's Good About Goodbye"
"Please Don't Kiss Me"
"A Tree in the Meadow"
"Far Away Places"
1949 "Forever and Ever"
"A Wonderful Guy"
"Baby, It's Cold Outside"
Johnny Mercer
"Slippin' Around"
Jimmy Wakely -
"Wedding Bells"
"Dime a Dozen
"I'll Never Slip Around Again"
Jimmy Wakely
1950 "Broken Down Merry Go Round"
"The Gods Were Angry With Me"
"I Said My Pajamas (and Put on My Prayers)"
Frank De Vol
"Let's Go to Church (Next Sunday Morning)"
Jimmy Wakely
"My Foolish Heart"
"Blind Date"
Bob Hope
"A Bushel and a Peck"
Jimmy Wakely
1951 "When You and I Were Young, Maggie, Blues"
"Good Morning, Mr. Echo"
"I Don't Want to Be Free"
Jimmy Wakely
1952 "I'll Walk Alone"
"Outside of Heaven"
1953 "Why Don't You Believe Me?"
1954 "Moonlight In Vermont"
new version
1956 "The Money Tree"
1958 "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)"
1966 "Somewhere There's Love"
"The Wheel of Hurt"
1967 "Just Like a Man"
"Only Love Can Break a Heart"
"I Almost Called Your Name"
1968 "I Hate to See Me Go"
"It Keeps Right On a Hurtin'"
"Faithfully"
"Can't Get You Out of My Mind"
1969 "Where Was I"
1970 "(Z Theme) Life Goes On"
"Until It's Time For You to Go"

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