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        Not Pete Atkin >> Off-topic >> Blossom Dearie RIP
        
(Message started by: Tiny_Montgomery on Today at 19:59)

Title: Blossom Dearie RIP
Post by Tiny_Montgomery on Today at 19:59

I was very sad to hear about the death of the great jazz singer and pianist Blossom Dearie, at her apartment in Greenwich Village, NY, on Saturday, at the age of 82. Blessed with a subtle, little-girl-lost voice, Dearie was pretty much untouchable when it came to interpreting a song lyric. I presume Clive and Pete are fans and will be equally sad at her passing.

Title: Re: Blossom Dearie RIP
Post by Pete Atkin on Today at 22:57

Absolutely right. The little-girl sound of her voice put some people off, but those people missed out seriously. Her taste and judgement and musical skills (in singing and in playing piano) were as near impeccable as makes no difference. It says it almost all that the immortal Johnny Mercer wrote his last song for her (the wonderful My New Celebrity Is You, a song any fan of Clive's lyrics would surely love - "So Scorpio or Taurus / Grab an old thesaurus / Write yourself a chorus / For your favourite few / These people who adore us / They're the ones to blow a kiss to / But anyone can see / My new celebrity / Is you"). And it was her real name!

Title: Re: Blossom Dearie RIP
Post by Kevin Cryan on 10.02.09 at 07:04

on 02/09/09 at 22:57:09, Pete Atkin wrote :

Absolutely right. ..... Her taste and judgement and musical skills (in singing and in playing piano) were as near impeccable as makes no difference. .............!

From Russell Davies (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/davies/), whose BBC Radio 2 Song Show , broadcast on Sundays at 9pm, "celebrates the art, craft and inspiration of the popular song".

Quote:

*** It is with regret that we note the passing of Blossom Dearie on February 7th, a performer who often features in the Song Show. We will be paying full tribute to her in our programme on the 22nd February. ***

Kevin Cryan

Title: Re: Blossom Dearie RIP
Post by Rob Spence on 10.02.09 at 08:14

I once spent a week in France with no music to hand besides Blossom Dearie and Pete Atkin. I was fine.

Title: Re: Blossom Dearie RIP
Post by Ian Ashleigh on 13.02.09 at 11:27

A printed obituary was in The Times yesterday, here is a link to its on-line sister.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article5711400.ece