June Christy: Eight Audio Clips

No singer better captures the sound of the Los Angeles area than June Christy. Back in the early 1980s, over a summer, I recall driving down to Newport Beach. The air was muggy, the neon signs were blurry in the haze, and a breeze was coming in off the Pacific. I was in a convertible at dusk heading off to meet a friend for sushi. As I drove, I had a mix of Christy on cassette. There was something about that hip orange-juice voice, the air and the neon that was pure magic. I remember thinking I'd never hear her in a better setting, and to this day that thought holds true.

Here's eight Christy songs that yesterday made me want to take that drive again.

Here's June Chisty singing I Can't Give You Anything But Love in July 1946, backed by John Anderson (tp), Kai Winding (tb), Bob Cooper (ts), Arnold Ross (p), Dave Barbour (g), Eddie Safranski (b) and Shelly Manne...



Here's Christy singing Look at Me Now, c. late 1940s...



Here's Christy singing My Heart Belongs to Only You in November 1952, backed by Frank Beach, Ray Linn, Shorty Rogers and Joe Triscari (tp); Harry Betts, Tommy Pederson, Herbie Harper and Si Zentner (tb); Gus Bivona and Al Gershoff (as); Bob Cooper and Ted Nash (ts); Bob Gioga (bar); Buddy Cole (p); Vincent Terri (g); Phil Stephens (b); Alvin Stoller (d) and Pete Rugolo (arr,cond)..



Here's Christy singing Spring Is Here in May 1963, accompanied by Bud Shank (as), Al Viola (g) and Don Bagley (b)...



Here's Christy live on TV singing Midnight Sun in the late 1950s. Her performance ends at 3:21, but the person who uploaded the clip did so twice...



Here's Christy in June 1957 singing Lost on a Summer Night backed by the Pete Rugolo Orchestra...



Here's Christy singing This Is a Lovely Way to Spend an Evening in 1965 backed by the Stan Kenton Orchestra...



And here's Christy with Bobby Troup in 1972 on Los Angeles TV singing Troup's Meaning of the Blues, Daddy and Lonely Girl...