Died On This Date (January 1, 2013) Patti Page / American Pop Legend
themusicsover Patti Page (Born Clara Ann Fowler)
November 8, 1927 – January 1, 2013
Patti Page was an American singer who has been called the biggest selling female singer of the ’50s. Born into poverty in Oklahoma, Page began singing professionally after she graduating high school in 1945. Her first appearance of note was a 15-minute segment on KTUL radio in Tulsa. That lead to a touring gig with the Jimmy Joy Band who ultimately settled in Chicago where she met Benny Goodman who helped her land her first contract with Mercury Records. Over the next several years, Page scored huge hits with “Tennessee Waltz,” “With My Eyes Wide Open, I’m Dreaming,” “(How Much Is That) Doggie In The Window,” and many more. Between 1950 and 1965, she had 15 singles that sold over a million copies each. Over the course of her career, she sold more than 100 million records. Page made records into the ’80s and continued to perform as many as 50 dates a year until the time of her passing. She also appeared in such films as Elmer Gantry and Boys’ Night Out. In 2007, Jack White had a hit with “Conquest,” which was a hit for Page during the early ’50s. Patti Page was 85 when she passed away on January 1, 2013.
Thanks to Paul Bearer for the assist.
What You Should Own
With 18 gold and three platinum albums, and a three-time Emmy winning primetime variety show, Andy Williams was a force to be reckoned with during the ’60s and ’70s. Williams launched his career with six recordings for an X Records, and RCA Victor label, in 1953. A year later he made his first of many appearances on Tonight Starring Steve Allen which led to his signing to Cadence Records and his first hits. By the mid ’60s, Williams was recording for Columbia and had purchased the Cadence master tape catalog which also included recordings by the Everly Brothers and the Chordettes. He soon launched Barnaby Records which had hits with Ray Stevens’ “Everything Is Beautiful” and “The Streak.” He also signed a young Jimmy Buffett to his first record deal at Barnaby. Meanwhile, Williams was quickly becoming the most popular pop vocalist of his era. At one point during the ’60s, he was awarded the most expensive recording contract in history. As a solo performer with 18 gold records, his award count was eclipsed by only 
Marvin Hamlisch was a New York City born composer who is one of just two people (the other being Richard Rodgers) to have won an Emmy, an Oscar, a Tony, a Grammy, and a Pulitzer Prize. His total count was four Emmys, three Oscars, one Tony, four Grammys, one Pulitzer Prize, plus two Golden Globes. A child prodigy, Hamlisch was just seven when he was accepted to Julliard’s pre-college division. Years later, his first job was as Barbra Streisand’s rehearsal pianist for Funny Girl. His movie score credits include The Way We Were, The Sting, Ordinary People, The Spy Who Loved Me, and Sophie’s Choice. For Broadway, he composed the award-winning score for A Chorus Line among others. A songwriter as well, Hamlisch wrote hits for Lesley Gore and Carly Simon. Marvin Hamlisch was 68 when, on August 6, 2012, he died following a brief illness. Cause of death was not immediately released.
