Joni James

Joni James (born Giovanna Carmella Babbo, on September 22, 1930) is an American singer of traditional pop music.

Related Topics:
September 22 - 1930 - American - Traditional pop music

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She was born in Chicago, Illinois of Italian extraction in 1930. As an adolescent, she studied drama and ballet, and on graduating from high school, went with a local dance group on a tour of Canada. She then took a job as a chorus girl in the Edgewater Beach Hotel in her native Chicago. After doing a fill-in in Indiana, she decided to pursue a singing career. Some executives at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) spotted her in a television commercial, and she was signed by MGM in 1952. Her first hit, "Why Don't You Believe Me?" sold over a million copies. She had a number of hits following that one, including "Your Cheatin' Heart" (a cover of Hank Williams' hit) and "Why Don't You Believe Me".

Related Topics:
Chicago, Illinois - 1930 - Drama - Ballet - Dance - Canada - Singing - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer - Television - 1952 - Hank Williams

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In 1964 she retired from music, in part also because her husband, Anthony Acquaviva (a music director) was in bad health and needed her attention. For many years she was out of the public eye, but began touring again in the mid-1990s following Acquaviva's death.

Related Topics:
1964 - 1990s

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On October 5 1997 she married retired Air Force General Bernard Adolph Schriever, 20 years her senior. They honeymooned in France and the Greek Isles. Gen. Schriever passed away on June 20 2005.

Related Topics:
October 5 - 1997 - Bernard Adolph Schriever - France - Greek Isles - June 20 - 2005

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For her contribution to the recording industry, Joni James has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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