Born: November 20, 1925 | Died: June 21, 1990 Primary Instrument: Vocal
June was born as Shirley Luster on November 20, 1925 at the Memorial Hospital in Springfield, Illinois and was raised from the age of three in Decatur, Illinois; and from the beginning always wanted to sing.
She was singing with local bands when she was just 13, and later with society bands around Chicago, the big city 150 miles from Springfield, using the name Sharon Leslie. None of her family knew anything about music, so she had to persuade them to let her sing with the local home town band. The band was led by Bill Oetzel, and as Shirley Luster she sang with it for four years. Next she joined Boyd Raeburn's first great band at Chicago's new Band Box Theatre. A bout of scarlet fever meant leaving after just four months. On recovering she found work hard to come by due to the effect of a 20% amusement tax on the music business. Nevertheless a short stint followed with Benny Strong's band, and there was some club work. By 1945, demoralised by the continuing panic in the business she was ready to call it quits and return home. Then she heard that Anita O'day was leaving the Stan Kenton band. The actual details of how she met and was auditioned vary according to the source but the fact remains that she was hired on March 22nd 1945 by Kenton. June was to say later “I don't think Stan ever cared for singers really, but at that time he felt he needed one fast”
During May '45 she recorded 'Tampico' with the band. As she recalled later “that session did a lot for me. I gained a lot of confidence, and luckily, the record was an enormous hit, things went well after that. It was Kenton's first million-seller. With such an auspicious start and newly christened June Christy, a rewarding future stretched ahead. Before the year was out, on Dec 26 1945 she had cut the second million-seller - “Shoo Fly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy” In 1946 June married one of Kenton's star players - tenor saxist - BOB COOPER
The Kenton-Christy combination was a most happy and successful one which continued until Kenton had a temporary disbandment in Dec 1948. She returned on many occasions after that to appear and record with the band. During her years with Kenton she had every kind of music to sing and accomplished every piece with skill even though she could not read music. Arranger and composer Pete Rugolo (who joined the band in 1943) could have saved a lot of work over the years for June simply memorised her parts once she had learned them from an initial run-through by Rugolo at the piano. Her inability to sight-read has never proved an obstacle, so quick and accurate was she at picking up the vocal lines.
By the time Kenton broke up his band June was more than ready to branch out as a solo artiste; in fact she had already made a few titles for Capitol under her own name from 1947. With the expert accompanist Jimmy Lyon on piano she also worked the exclusive Supper Clubs; the petite figure, strawberry blonde hair, sunny disposition and enormous repertoire of quality songs all combined to make her one of the most welcome artistes at American night clubs. When Kenton asked her to go back for special tours or concerts, it was always on the basis that she would return to her solo career on completion of the contract.
It was a disc jockey in Chicago who first began calling her “misty”. Other disc jockeys heard him and, sensing the aptness of the word, followed suit and called her misty too. June heard the term, liked it, and relayed it to the people at Capitol, who also liked it.
The word is an apt one from many points of view, as well as pretty, for June has indeed a misty, springtime quality about her that manifests itself in the way she sings, the way she talks, and the way she looks. As a jazz singer June is something of a paradox, for she has a scrubbed young-girl look instead of the smouldering, torch quality that characterises a great many jazz singers.
So highly regarded was June's work with Kenton that Capitol invited her to become one of their solo artistes, and in the post-Kenton days album followed album, the majority of the early ones with Pete Rugolo, Kenton's chief arranger. Rugolo had entirely different ideas to bring to June's role within the Kenton band. “When I joined the band, I'd start writing these offbeat kind of arrangements behind her, usually on moody ballads, and she liked it. Rugolo continues “I made her change keys all the time and did all kinds of crazy intros and endings. When I listen to the stuff now I think, “My God, the poor thing, how did she ever sing over some of the stuff I wrote for her”.
When Kenton disbanded at the end of 1948, both Rugolo and June to a lesser extent remained connected to Capitol. Pete worked as A&R man whilst June, who had made her first single under her own name in 1947 only occasionally continued to make singles as a solo act. From '49 till '52 she seems to have worked only sporadically, devoting more time to her family. She topped the Down Beat poll four times as Best Female Singer with a Big Band but only did three recording sessions during this period, none of which produced big hits.
Beginning in '52 she began recording on her own in earnest, for several years exclusively with Rugolo. “My Heart Belongs to Only You” charted as a genuine hit and convinced Capitol that they had something worth-while. June & Rugolo convinced Capitol to let them build an album around the song 'Something Cool' and it became one of the most successful early vocal albums. Pete explains “the albums really did the trick for June, Capitol realising her talent and ability”. On Dec 29 1954, (1 track), and on May 9 1955 (3 tracks) were recorded to make the 10” album into the 12” version. Later in 1960 the album was re-recorded in stereo using almost the same line-up of musicians as the original. On their 9 albums June & Pete introduced dozens of new standards to the jazz repertoire, songs that would later be recorded by Ella Fitzgerald etc.
Towards the end of the sixties Miss Christy went into semi-retirement, emerging just occasionally to do dates in the Los Angeles area. In 1977 she made her most recent LP “Impromptu”; and in 1985 she was a most welcome guest at the Cannes,Nice,Monte Carlo Jazz Festival.
After many years of illness, June died in June, the 21st of that month 1990, at age of 64. “In life she was physically demure, but her presence was always felt wherever she went”.
Day Dreams
Capitol
Los Angeles, CA, March 3° & 31¹, 1947; March 28² & September 29³, 1949; September 11, 1950ª; May 19, 1955*.
Tracks: I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart°; If I Should Lose You°; Day Dream°; Little Grass Skirt¹; Skip Rope¹; I'll Bet You Do¹; The Way You Look Tonight²; Everything Happens To Me²; I'll Remember April³; Get Happy³; Somewhere (If Not In Heaven)³; A Mile Down The Highway (There's A Toll Bridge)ª; Do It Againª; He Can Comeback Anytime He Wants Toª; Body And Soul*; You're Blasé*.
Personnel:
March 3, 1947:
Ray Linn: trumpet; Juan Tizol: trombone; Dick Perissi, Vince DeRosa, Evan Vail: french horn; Skeets Herfurt, Jules Kinsler, Ernest "Ted" Romersa, Jerry Kasper, Ronald Pirozzi: reeds; Edwin "Buddy" Cole: piano; Al Hendrickson: guitar; Eddie Safranski: bass; Shelly Manne: drums; Felix Slatkin, Joe Quadri, Marshall Sosson, Joachim Chassman: violin; Frank DeVol: arranger; June Christy: vocals.
March 31, 1947:
Neal Hefti, Zeke Zarchey, Ray Linn, Dick Cathcart: trumpet; Juan Tizol: trombone; Skeets Herfurt, Jules Kinsler, Ernest "Ted" Romersa, Jerry Kasper, Ronald Pirozzi, Babe Russin: reeds; Edwin "Buddy" Cole: piano; Barney Kessel: guitar; Eddie Safranski: bass; Shelly Manne: drums; Frank DeVol: arranger; June Christy: vocals.
March 28, 1949:
Buddy Childers: trumpet; Johnny Mandel: bass trumpet; Billy Byers: trombone; Art Pepper: alto sax; Bob Cooper: tenor sax; Irv Roth: baritone sax; Hal Schaefer: piano; Joe Mondragon: bass; Don Lamond: drums; Luis Miranda: congas; Jasper Hornyak: viola; Caesar Pascarello: cello; John Lewis, Bob Graettinger: arranger; June Christy: vocals.
September 29, 1949:
Alex Gershunoff: flute; Laurindo Almeida: guitar; Don Whitaker: bass; Jackie Mills: drums; Mischa Russell, Harry Bluestone: violin; Stanley Harris: viola; Cy Bernard: cello; Pete Rugolo: arranger; June Christy: vocals.
September 11, 1950:
John Graas: french horn; Gene Englund: tuba; Art Pepper: alto sax; Bob Cooper, Bud Shank: tenor sax; Bob Gioga: baritone sax; Claude Williamson: piano; Don Bagley: bass; Shelly Manne: drums; Shorty Rogers: arranger.
May 19, 1955:
Stan Kenton: piano; June Christy: vocals.
Something Cool
Capitol
Los Angeles, CA, August 14° & December 27¹, 1953; January 18² & 19³ & December 29ª, 1954; May 10, 1955*.
Tracks: Something Cool°; It Could Happen To You²; Lonely House²; This Time The Dream's On Me*; The Night We Called It A Day*; Midnight Sun¹; I'll Take Romance³; A Stranger Called The Blues³; I Should Care²; Softly, As In A Morning Sunriseª; I'm Thrilled*.
Personnel:
August 14, 1953:
Maynard Ferguson, Conrad Gozzo, Shorty Rogers, Jimmy Zito: trumpet; Milt Bernhart, Herb Harper, Tommy Pederson, George Roberts: trombone; Gus Bivona, Bud Shank: alto sax; Bob Cooper, Ted Nash: tenor sax; Chuck Gentry: baritone sax; Jeff Clarkson: piano; Barney Kessel: guitar; Joe Mondragon: bass; Frank Carlson: drums; Pete Rugolo: arranger; June Christy: vocals.
December 27, 1953:
Conrad Gozzo, Frank Beach, Ray Linn, Ray Triscari, Uan Rasey, Ray Anthony: trumpet; Nick DiMaio, Dick Noel, Tommy Pedersen, Dick Reynolds: trombone; Skeets Herfurt, Wilbur Schwartz: alto sax; Fred Fallensby, Ted Nash: tenor sax; Chuck Gentry: baritone sax; Paul Smith: piano; Tony Rizzi: guitar; Joe Mondragon: bass; Alvin Stoller: drums; Pete Rugolo: arranger; June Christy: vocals.
January 18 & 19, 1954:
Maynard Ferguson, Conrad Gozzo, Shorty Rogers: trumpet; Milt Bernhart, Harry Betts, Tommy Pederson: trombone; John Graas: french horn; Paul Sarmento: tuba; Harry Klee, Bud Shank: alto sax; Bob Cooper, Ted Nash: tenor sax; John Rotella: baritone sax; Russ Freeman: piano; Howard Roberts: guitar; Joe Mondragon: bass; Shelly Manne: drums; Pete Rugolo: arranger; June Christy: vocals.
December 29, 1954:
Conte Candoli, Conrad Gozzo, Shorty Rogers: trumpet; Milt Bernhart, Bob Fitzpatrick, Herb Harper: trombone; Bud Shank: alto sax; Jimmy Giuffre, Bob Cooper: tenor sax, flute, oboe; Bob Gordon: baritone sax; Claude Williamson: piano; Howard Roberts: guitar; Joe Mondragon: bass; Shelly Manne: drums; Pete Rugolo: arranger; June Christy: vocals.
May 10, 1955:
Conrad Gozzo, Ferguson, Shorty Rogers: trumpet; Milt Bernhart, Harry Betts, Frank Rosolino, George Roberts: trombone; Harry Klee, Bud Shank: alto sax; Jimmy Giuffre: tenor sax; Bob Gordon: baritone sax; Claude Williamson: piano; Howard Roberts: guitar; Harry Babasin: bass; Shelly Manne: drums; Pete Rugolo: arranger; June Christy: vocals.
Note: Reissued with 1960 stereo version as Something Cool: The Complete Mono & Stereo Versions
This Is June Christy!
Capitol
Los Angeles, CA, September 29, 1949°; June 20¹ & November 17², 1952; January 13³ & August 14ª, 1953; December 29*°, 1954; July 27*¹ & 28*², 1955; May 23*³, 1956.
Tracks: My Heart Belongs To Only You²; Whee Babyª; You Took Advantage Of Me*³; Get Happy°; Look Out Up There*°; Great Scot³; Kicks*¹; Why Do You Have To Go Homeª; Bei Mir Bist Du Schön¹; Until The Real Thing Comes Along*²; I'll Remember April°; I Never Wanna Look Into Those Eyes Again*².
Personnel:
see above for: September 29, 1949
June 20, 1952:
Uan Rasey, Shorty Rogers, Ray Triscari: trumpet; Milt Bernhart, Harry Betts, Si Zentner: trombone; Gus Bivona, Jules Kinsler: alto sax; Bob Cooper: tenor sax; Chuck Gentry: baritone sax; Buddy Cole: piano; Vince Terri: guitar; Phil Stephens: bass; Shelly Manne: drums; Pete Rugolo: arranger; June Christy: vocals.
November 17, 1952:
Frank Beach, Ray Linn, Shorty Rogers, Ray Triscari: trumpet; Harry Betts, Tommy Pederson, Herb Harper, Si Zentner:trombone; Gus Bivona, Al Gershoff: alto sax; Bob Cooper, Ted Nash: tenor sax; Bob Gioga: baritone sax; Buddy Cole: piano; Vince Terri: guitar; Phil Stephens: bass; Alvin Stoller: drums; Pete Rugolo: arranger; June Christy: vocals.
January 13, 1953:
Uan Rasey, Shorty Rogers, Ray Triscari: trumpet; Harry Betts, Tommy Pederson, Si Zentner: trombone; Gus Bivona, Bud Shank: alto sax; Bob Cooper, Ted Nash: tenor sax; Chuck Gentry: baritone sax; Milt Raskin: piano; Barney Kessel: guitar; Phil Stephens: bass; Alvin Stoller: drums; Pete Rugolo: arranger; June Christy: vocals.
see above for: August 14, 1953
see above for: December 29, 1954
July 27 & 28, 1955:
Pete Candoli, three unknown: trumpet; Harry Betts, Herb Harper, Dick Noel, George Roberts: trombone; Harry Klee: flute; Bud Shank: alto sax, flute; Bob Cooper: tenor sax; Bob Gordon: baritone sax; Claude Williamson: piano; Laurindo Almeida: guitar; Harry Babasin: bass; Larry Bunker: drums; Pete Rugolo: arranger; June Christy: vocals.
May 23, 1956:
Maynard Ferguson, Pete Candoli, Conrad Gozzo: trumpet; Milt Bernhart, Harry Betts, Herb Harper, George Roberts: trombone; Bud Shank, Harry Klee: alto sax; Bob Cooper: tenor sax; Chuck Gentry: baritone sax; Benny Aronov: piano; Howard Roberts: guitar; Joe Mondragon: bass; Alvin Stoller: drums; Larry Bunker: percussion; Pete Rugolo: arranger; June Christy: vocals.
Note: Also issued as a two-fer together with June Christy Recalls Those Kenton Days (Columbia/EMI)
Duet
Capitol
Los Angeles, CA, May 7°, 9¹ & 19², 1955.
Tracks: Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye²; Lonely Woman°; Just The Way I Am¹; You're Mine, You!²; Angel Eyes¹; Come To The Party¹; Baby, Baby All The Time¹; We Kiss In A Shadow°; How Long Has This Been Going On?²; Prelude To A Kiss°; Thanks For You°.
Personnel: Stan Kenton: piano; June Christy: vocals.
The Misty Miss Christy
Capitol
Los Angeles, CA, July 26°, 1955 & January 9¹, 16² & 23³, 1956.
Tracks: That's All³; I Didn't Know About You¹; Day Dream³; Sing Something Simple; Maybe You'll Be There²; Dearly Beloved°; 'Round Midnight³; A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening°; The Wind³; This Year's Kisses²; For All We Know²; There's No You².
Personnel: Pete Candoli°¹³: trumpet; Harry Betts°¹³, Herb Harper°¹³, Dick Noel°¹³, George Roberts°¹³, Frank Rosolino³: trombone; John Graas²³: french horn; Harry Klee°¹³: flute; Bud Shank: alto sax²³, flute²; Bob Cooper²: tenor sax; Bob Gordon°³: baritone sax; Claude Williamson°¹³: piano; Bernie Mattison²: vibes; Laurindo Almeida°¹³, Howard Roberts²³: guitar; Corky Hale²³: harp; unknown strings²; Erno Neufeld³, Nick Pisani³, Dan Lube³: violin; Dave Sterkin: viola; Ed Lustgarten: cello; Harry Babasin°¹, Joe Mondragon²³: bass; Larry Bunker: drums°¹, vibes³; Shelly Manne²³: drums; Pete Rugolo: arranger; June Christy: vocals.
Note: CD reissue contains two bonus tracks (You Took Advantage Of Me; Intrigue) from May 23, 1956 session.
Fair And Warmer
Capitol
Los Angeles, January 3°, 15¹ & 21², 1957.
Tracks: I Want To Be Happy²; Imagination°; I've Never Been In Love Before¹; Irresistible You²; No More¹; Better Luck Next Time²; Let There Be Love¹; When Sunny Gets Blue°; The Best Thing For You°; Beware My Heart²; I Know Why¹; It's Always You°.
Personnel: Don Fagerquist: trumpet; Frank Rosolino: trombone; Vince DeRosa: french horn; Clarence Karella: tuba; Bud Shank: alto sax, flute; Bob Cooper: tenor sax; Dave Pell: baritone sax; Larry Bunker: vibes; Benny Aronov: piano; Howard Roberts: guitar; Red Mitchell: bass; Shelly Manne: drums; Pete Rugolo: arranger; June Christy: vocals.
Note: Also issued as Interlude (Discovery) and as a two-fer with Gone For The Day (Columbia/EMI)
Gone For The Day
Capitol
Los Angeles, CA, June 18°, July 2¹ & 15², 1957.
Tracks: It's So Peaceful In The Country°; When The Sun Comes Out²; It's A Most Unusual Day¹; Interlude°; Love Turns Winter Into Spring¹; When You Awake²; Lazy Afternoon°; When The World Was Young²; Gone For The Day²; Lost In A Summer Night°; Give Me The Simple Life¹; Lazy Mood¹.
Personnel: Milt Bernhart¹, Herb Harper¹, Tommy Pederson¹, Frank Rosolino¹, George Roberts¹: trombone; Jack Cave°: french horn; Bud Shank°²: flute; Bob Cooper²: oboe; Marty Berman²: bass clarinet; Benny Aronov¹²: piano; Bernie Mattison¹: vibes; Howard Roberts: guitar; unknown strings°²; Red Callender°, Red Mitchell¹²: bass; Irv Cottler°, Alvin Stoller¹, Shelly Manne²: drums; Pete Rugolo: arranger; June Christy: vocals.
Note: Also issued as a two-fer together with Fair And Warmer (Columbia/EMI)
June's Got Rhythm
Capitol
Los Angeles, CA, early June°, early July¹, mid July², 1958.
Tracks: Rock Me To Sleep¹; The Gypsy In My Soul°; I'm Glad There Is You¹; They Can't Take That Away From Me²; It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)°; My One And Only Love¹; When Lights Are Low¹; I Can Make You Love Me (If You Let Me)²; Easy Living¹; Blue Moon°; All God's Chillun Got Rhythm².
Personnel: Ed Leddy¹²: trumpet; Frank Rosolino¹²: trombone; Red Callender¹²: tuba; Bud Shank¹²: alto sax, tenor sax, flute; Bob Cooper¹²: tenor sax, oboe, arranger; Russ Freeman: piano; Laurindo Almeida¹: guitar; Monte Budwig: bass; Shelly Manne°, Mel Lewis¹²: drums; June Christy: vocals.
CD reissue includes 4 bonus tracks (Baubles, Bangles, And Beads; Aren't You Glad You're You; Looking For A Boy; Small Fry) from Septemper 1959 session for The Cool School.
The Song Is June
Capitol
Los Angeles, CA, July 24°, August 11¹ & 15², 1958.
Tracks: Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most²; The One I Love (Belongs To Someone Else)¹; Nobody's Heart°; My Shining Hour¹; I Remember You²; Night Time Was My Mother°; I Wished On The Moon¹; The Song Is You²; As Long As I Live¹; Saturday's Children°. Personnel: Vince DeRosa, Jack Cave¹²: french horn; Bud Shank°, Paul Horn¹²: alto sax; Bob Cooper: tenor sax; Marty Berman: baritone sax; Larry Bunker: vibes; Tony Rizzi: guitar; Kathryn Julye: harp; Dan Lube, Lou Raderman, David Frisina°, Victor Arno°, Erno Neufeld, Alfred Lustgarten, Lou Klass°, Samuel Freed°, Benny Gill°: violin; Virginia Majewski, Stanley Harris, Alex Nieman: viola; Ed Lustgarten, Raphael Kramer, Kurt Reher: cello; Red Mitchell: bass; Shelly Manne°, Frank Flynn¹²: drums; Pete Rugolo: arranger; June Christy: vocals.
Note: Also issued as a two-fer together with Off Beat (Columbia/EMI)
June Christy Recalls Those Kenton Days
Capitol
1Los Angeles, CA, 1958 or 1959.
Tracks: Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin'; A Hundred Years From Today; The Lonesome Road; She's Funny That Way; It's A Pity To Say Goodnight; Willow Weep For Me; Easy Street; Across The Alley From The Alamo; Come Rain Or Come Shine; How High the Moon.
Personnel: Buddy Childers, Ollie Mitchell, Don Fagerquist: trumpet; Milt Bernhart, Frank Rosolino, Bob Fitzpatrick, Kenny Shroyer: trombone; Paul Horn: alto sax; Bob Cooper, tenor sax; Chuck Gentry: baritone sax; Russ Freeman: piano; Jim Hall: guitar; Red Callendar, Joe Mondragon: bass; Shelly Manne: drums; Pete Rugolo: arranger; June Christy: vocals; others.
Note: Also issued as a two-fer together with This Is June Christy! (Columbia/EMI)
Ballads For Night People
Capitol
Los Angeles, CA, August 27° & September 10¹, 1959.
Tracks: Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered°; Night People¹; Do Nothin'Till You Hear From Me°; I Had A Little Sorrow°; I'm In Love¹; Shadow Woman¹; Kissing Bug°; My Ship¹; Don't Get Around Much Anymore°; Make Love To Me¹.
Personnel: Frank Rosolino: trombone; Jim Decker¹: french horn; Buddy Collette¹: clarinet; Bud Shank: alto sax°, flute; Bob Cooper: clarinet¹, tenor sax°; Norman Benno¹: english horn, bassoon; Chuck Gentry¹: bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet; Joe Castro: piano; Kathryn Julye: harp; Red Callender: bass; Mel Lewis°, Stan Levey¹: drums; Pete Rugolo: arranger; June Christy: vocals.
Note: Also issued as a two-fer together with The Intimate Miss Christy (Columbia/EMI)
The Cool School
Capitol
Los Angeles, CA, September 1959.
Tracks: Give A Little Whistle; Magic Window; Baby's Birthday Party; When You Wish Upon A Star; Baubles, Bangles & Beads; Aren't You Glad You're You; Kee-Mo Ky-Mo (The Magic Song); Scarlet Ribbons (For Her Hair); Looking For A Boy; Small Fry; Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead; Swinging On A Star.
Personnel: Joe Castro: piano; Howard Roberts: guitar; Leroy Vinnegar: bass; Larry Bunker: drums; June Christy: vocals.
Note: Also issued as a two-fer together with Do Re Mi (Columbia/EMI)
Something Cool
Capitol
Los Angeles, CA, April 26°, 27¹ & 28², 1960.
Tracks: Something Cool°; It Could Happen To You¹; Lonely House²; This Time The Dream's On Me²; The Night We Called It A Day²; Midnight Sun°; I'll Take Romance¹; A Stranger Called The Blues¹; I Should Care²; Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise°; I'm Thrilled¹.
Personnel: Conrad Gozzo, Conte Candoli, Ollie Mitchell°, Frank Beach: trumpet; Frank Rosolino, Harry Betts°, Milt Bernhart, George Roberts: trombone; Vince DeRosa¹²: french horn; Phil Stephens¹²: tuba; Bud Shank, Harry Klee°², Buddy Collette¹: alto sax; Bob Cooper, Paul Horn: tenor sax; Chuck Gentry: baritone sax; Joe Castro: piano; Jack Marshall: guitar; Joe Mondragon: bass; Larry Bunker: drums; Pete Rugolo: arranger; June Christy: vocals.
Note: Reissued with 1953-1955 mono version as Something Cool: The Complete Mono & Stereo Versions
Off Beat
Capitol
Los Angeles, CA, August 8° & 19¹, 1960.
Tracks: Remind Me¹; Out Of This World¹; You Wear Love So Well°; Off Beat¹; The Bad And The Beautiful°; Who Cares About April?°; You Say You Care¹; Out Of The Shadows°; A Sleepin' Bee¹; Somewhere If Not In Heaven°.
Personnel: Don Fagerquist¹: trumpet; Frank Rosolino¹: trombone; unknown: french horn; Bud Shank: alto sax, flute; Bob Cooper: tenor sax, oboe; Joe Castro¹: piano; Larry Bunker: vibes°; string quartet°; rhythm; Pete Rugolo: arranger; June Christy: vocals; others.
Note: Also issued as a two-fer together with The Song Is June (Columbia/EMI)
Do-Re-Mi
Capitol
Los Angeles, CA, February 6, 1961.
Tracks: Cry Like The Wind; Make Someone Happy; All You Need Is A Quarter; I Know About Love; Asking For You.
Personnel: Joe Gordon: trumpet; Vince DeRosa: french horn; Norman Benno: oboe; Bud Shank: alto sax, flute; Bob Cooper: tenor sax, oboe, arranger; Buddy Collette: baritone sax; Kathrine Julye: harp; Al Viola: guitar; Monte Budwig: bass; Shelly Manne: drums.
Remaining five tracks are instrumentals.
Note: Also issued as a two-fer together with The Cool School (Columbia/EMI)
This Time Of Year
Capitol
Los Angeles, CA, January 12°, 19¹ & late January³, 1961.
Tracks: Christmas Heart°; Ring A Merry Bell²; Hang Them On The Tree²; The Little Star°; We Wish You The Merriest²; This Time Of Year°; Seven Shades Of Snow¹; Sorry To See You Go²; The Magic Gift¹; Winter's Got Spring Up It's Sleeve¹.
Personnel: Pete Rugolo: arranger; June Christy: vocals; others.
Big Band Specials
Capitol
Los Angeles, CA, October 25°, November 5¹ & 19², 1962.
Tracks: You Came A Long Way From St Louis²*; Swingin' On Nothin'²; Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby°; Prelude To A Kiss²*; Skyliner²; Night In Tunisia°; It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)°; Frenesi²; Stompin' At The Savoy¹; Goodbye¹; Time Was (Duerme)²*; Until (The Mole)¹³.
Personnel: Conte Candoli, Lee Katzman, Al Porcino, Ray Triscari: trumpet; Vern Friley°¹, Dick Nash², Frank Rosolino¹, John Halliburton°², Lew McCreary: trombone; Joe Maini, Charlie Kennedy°, Bud Shank¹²: alto sax; Bob Cooper, Bill Perkins: tenor sax; Jack Nimitz: baritone sax; Jimmy Rowles: piano; Joe Mondragon: bass; Mel Lewis: drums; Bob Cooper³, Shorty Rogers*, Bill Holman: arranger; June Christy: vocals.
The Intimate Miss Christy
Capitol
NYC, September 16 or 19, 1960° & Los Angeles, CA, April 1963¹.
Tracks: Spring Is Here¹; Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)¹*; I Fall In Love Too Easily¹*; Time After Time¹*; The More I See You¹; Don't Explain¹; It Never Entered My Mind¹; You're Nearer¹*; Misty¹; Suddenly It's Spring¹*; I Get Along Without You Very Well¹*; Ev'rytime¹; Sometimes I'm Happy°; Tommy Tommy°.
Personnel: Jonah Jones°: trumpet; Bud Shank*: flute; Teddy Brannon°: piano; Al Viola¹: guitar; Don Bagley¹, John Brown°: bass; George Foster°: drums; June Christy: vocals.
Note: Also issued as a two-fer together with Ballads For Night People (Columbia/EMI)
Something Broadway, Something Latin
Capitol
Los Angeles, CA, May° & September¹ 1965.
Tracks: Do I Hear A Waltz°; Long Ago¹; Come Back To Me¹; Here's That Rainy Day°; He Touched Me¹; The Shadow Of Your Smile (Love Theme From "The Sandpiper")¹; Gimme Some°; What Did You Have That I Don't Have¹; Run For Your Life¹; Tell Me More°; Cast Your Fate To The Wind¹.
Personnel: Ernie Freeman: piano, arranger; June Christy: vocals; others.
Impromptu
Discovery
Los Angeles, June 7°, 8¹ & 9², 1977.
Tracks: My Shining Hour°; Once Upon A Summertime²; Show Me¹; Everything Must Change¹; Willow Weep For Me²; I'll Remember April¹; The Trouble With Hello Is Goodbye²; Autumn Serenade°; Sometime Ago²; Angel Eyes².
Personnel: Jack Sheldon: trumpet; Frank Rosolino: trombone; Bob Cooper: tenor sax, flute; Lou Levy: piano; Bob Daugherty: bass; Shelly Manne: drums.
Note: Also issued as June Christy 1977 (Storyville)
As A Side Musician
The Peggy Lee & June Christy Capitol Transcriptions
Various Artists
Mosaic
Radio Recorders, LA, December 13° & 27¹, 1945; July 31² & August 1³, 1946.
Tracks: Make Love To Me°; How High The Moon°; Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams°; Can't Help Loving That Man°; Sweet Lorraine°; Don't Worry About Me°; I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me°; June's Blues°; Mean To Me¹; September In The Rain¹; You Took Advantage Of Me¹; Stompin' At The Savoy¹; (I Don't Stand A) Ghost Of A Chance With You¹; The One I Love Belongs To Someone Else¹; Moonglow¹; Get Happy²; I've Got A Guy²; Lover Man²; Lullaby In Rhythm²; This Is Romance²; Supper Time²; I'm Thrilled²; I Can't Give You Anything But Love²; How Long Has This Been Going On?³; You're Blasé³; Prelude To A Kiss³; What's New?³.
Personnel: Ray Wetzel°¹, John Anderson²³: trumpet; Gene Roland°¹, Kai Winding²³: trombone; Boots Mussulli°¹: alto sax; Bob Cooper²³: tenor sax; Fred Zito°¹, Arnold Ross²³: piano; Dave Barbour: guitar; Eddie Safranski: bass; Eddie Spanier°¹, Shelly Manne²³: drums; Tommy Todd²³: arranger; June Christy: vocals.
June Christy And The Stan Kenton Orchestra
Stan Kenton
Collector's Choice
May 1945-September 1951.
Tracks: Tampico (5/4/45); It's Been A Long, Long Time (7/30/45); Just A-Sittin' And A Rockin' (10/30/45); Shoo Fly Pie And Apple Pan Dowdy (12/26/45); I Been Down In Texas (12/26/45); Rika Jika Jack (6/4/46); He's Funny That Way (6/7/46); Ain't No Misery In Me (7/12/46); Willow Weep For Me (7/25/46); Don't Want That Man Around (2/23/47); Across The Alley From The Alamo (2/28/47); The Spider And The Fly (3/31/47); Soothe Me (9/24/47); Curiosity (9/25/47); I Told Ya I Love Ya (10/22/47); Lonely Woman (12/6/47); This Is My Theme (12/22/47); Lonesome Road (2/4/50); June Christy (8/21/50); Easy Street (9/20/51); Come Rain Or Come Shine (9/20/51); Daddy (9/20/51).
Personnel: Stan Kenton Orchestra; June Christy: vocals.
A Friendly Session, Vol. 1
Johnny Guarnieri Quintet
Jasmine
Radio Recorders, Hollywood, April 17 - September 15, 1947.
Tracks: All Or Nothing At All; Born to Be Blue; Imagination; Lullaby of the Leaves; Ill Wind; (I Would Do) Anything for You; Skylark; Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams (And Dream Your Troubles Away); Make Love To Me; Prelude To A Kiss; I've Got A Crush On You; 'S Wonderful; The Christmas Song; It's Only A Paper Moon; Come Rain Or Come Shine; The Sky Without The Stars; Pennies From Heaven; Three Little Words; Everything Happens To Me; Sunday.
Personnel: George Walters: trumpet; Chuck DiMaggio: altop sax, clarinet; Johnny Guarnieri: piano; Leo Guarnieri: bass; Frank Parish Or Frank Garisto: drums; June Christy: vocals.
A Friendly Session, Vol. 2
Johnny Guarnieri Quintet
Jasmine
Radio Recorders, Hollywood, April 17 - September 15, 1947.
Tracks: Nice Work If You Can Get It; Yesterdays; They Didn't Believe Me; I'm Thrilled; You're Not The Kind; Taking A Chance On Love; I'm Thru With Love; Little White Lies; I've Got A Pocketful Of Dreams; Don't Worry 'Bout Me; Love Is Just Around The Corner; It's The Talk Of The Town; Lover, Come Back To Me; I Only Have Eyes For You; Moonglow; I Understand; These Foolish Things; I May Be Wrong; You're Blasé; Happy In Love.
Personnel: George Walters: trumpet; Chuck DiMaggio: altop sax, clarinet; Johnny Guarnieri: piano; Leo Guarnieri: bass; Frank Parish Or Frank Garisto: drums; June Christy: vocals.
A Friendly Session, Vol. 3
Johnny Guarnieri Quintet
Jasmine
Radio Recorders, Hollywood, April 17 - September 15, 1947.
Tracks: Introduction; Lullaby In Rhythm; Too Marvelous For Words; Get Happy; September In The Rain; How High The Moon; I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me; Alice Blue Gown; We'll Be Together Again; Robins And Roses; There's A Small Hotel; Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart; I Didn't Know What Time It Was; Idaho; S'posin'; Love Me Or Leave Me; September Song; When Your Lover Has Gone; Cross Your Heart (And Hope To Die); I'm Glad There Is You; Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered; Lucky In Love; Deep In A Dream; Dancing On The Ceiling; Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea; You Call It Madness (But I Call It Love); Remember Me; So Long [Sign-off].
Personnel: George Walters: trumpet; Chuck DiMaggio: altop sax, clarinet; Johnny Guarnieri: piano; Leo Guarnieri: bass; Frank Parish Or Frank Garisto: drums; June Christy: vocals.
The Swinging Chicks
Fran Warren / June Christy
Camay
Los Angeles, September 1950.
Tracks: S'posin'; He's Funny That Way; Taking A Chance On Love; Imagination; All God’s Chillun’ Got Rhythm
Personnel: Ernie Felice: accordion; Dick Anderson: clarinet; Claude Williamson: piano; unknown: guitar; unknown: bass.
Note: Session led by Ernie Felice. Album features one side for each singer: Fran Warren and June Christy.
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