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Joan Edwards (radio singer)

Summary

Joan Edwards (February 13, 1919 – August 27, 1981)[1] was an American film actress and singer-songwriter in the old-time radio era.[2] She was perhaps best known for her work on the radio version of Your Hit Parade.[3]: 778  She also was a vocalist for Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra.

Joan Edwards
Edwards in 1945
BornFebruary 13, 1919
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedAugust 27, 1981 (aged 62)
New York City, New York, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Alma materHunter College
OccupationSinger
SpouseJulius Schachter
Children3 daughters, 1 son
Parent

Early years edit

Edwards' father was Ben Edwards, a music publisher and talent agent. Music ran in her family; uncle Gus Edwards was a vaudeville entertainer, uncle Leo Edwards wrote music, and aunt Dorothy Edwards was a vocal teacher.[4] Despite the family's show business background, she was urged to go in a different direction. In fact, Gus Edwards told her, "Stay out of show business."[5]

As a child, Edwards had a heart murmur, and doctors advised her to start playing the piano "to keep her busy outside of school hours."[6] She graduated from George Washington High School in Manhattan,[7] where she directed the glee club. She went on to major in music at Hunter College,[8] planning to be a teacher. However, her interest in singing and playing the piano won out, leading to a career in music.[7]

Radio edit

Edwards' early appearances on radio came "via small stations in New York City."[2] Her first network appearance was on Fred Allen's program.[9]

Beginning March 3, 1941, Edwards had her own program, Girl About Town, on CBS. The 15-minute show was broadcast Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:30 p.m. Eastern time. Although her singing was featured, she played the piano for one song in each episode.[10]

In December 1941, Edwards was selected as the new female soloist on Your Hit Parade.[11] Three years later, an article in Tune In magazine observed, "Joan Edwards sets something of a record, lasting through the regimes of three male singers -- Barry Wood, [Frank] Sinatra, [Lawrence] Tibbett -- in a three-year period."[12] Her tenure on the program eventually reached five years,[8] and the list of male singers' names grew to include Dick Todd and Johnny Mercer.[13] She was dropped from Your Hit Parade in 1947 when the sponsor, American Tobacco Company, changed format, using guest stars rather than regular soloists.

Edwards was a regular on The Danny Kaye Show[3] and on Songs for Sale.[14] She was also heard on George Jessel's program, Duffy's Tavern,[5] Here's to Romance,[15] and Swing Session,[10]

On March 3, 1952, Edwards began a morning disc jockey program on WCBS-AM in New York City.[16]

Television edit

Edwards had her own program, The Joan Edwards Show, on the DuMont Television Network in 1950. The 15-minute program was broadcast on Tuesday and Thursday nights at 7:45 p.m. A review in the trade publication Variety called Edwards "a capable singer" with "a well-tailored presentation backed by good camera work."[17] She also was seen in a TV version of her Girl About Town radio program from 1941 to 1942, which was broadcast by CBS on its New York station WCBW.[18]

Personal appearances edit

Edwards' first job after finishing at Hunter College was performing with Rudy Vallee.[4] Her guest appearance on his radio program was so successful that she toured the United States with Vallee and his orchestra for eight months.[5] She also appeared with bandleader Paul Whiteman and with her uncle, vaudevillian Gus Edwards.[2] A December 6, 1941, newspaper article reported that she had "played the leading vaudeville theaters in the country."[11] In the early 1940s, she also was "appearing at one of Broadway's top night clubs."[10]

In 1942, Edwards performed at the Copley-Plaza hotel in Boston, Massachusetts, with what one newspaper columnist called "the year's most unusual night-club contract."[19] The time off was reserved so that she could fly to New York City to perform on Your Hit Parade on Saturdays.[19] In 1950, she appeared on stage at the Capitol Theatre in a show with bandleader Russ Morgan and others.[20]

Film edit

Edwards appeared in Hit Parade of 1947.[7]

Composing edit

 
Jingle writers Edwards and Lyn Duddy at work in 1960.

Edwards was co-composer of the Broadway musical Tickets, Please! (1950).[8][21] She also "wrote scores for nightclub revues as well as many successful advertising jingles."[8] Edwards and Lyn Duddy wrote the songs for Arthur Godfrey's songbook Arthur Godfrey's TV Calendar Songs, published 1953.

Personal life edit

Edwards was married to Julius Schachter, a violinist who died in 1976. They had three daughters and one son.[8]

Death edit

Edwards died in Manhattan, New York, of an apparent heart attack, August 27, 1981.[8]

Partial discography edit

References edit

  1. ^ Castronova, Frank V., ed. (1998). Almanac of Famous People. Detroit: Gale. p. 530. ISBN 0-7876-0045-8.
  2. ^ a b c Grunwald, Edgard A., Ed. (1940). Variety Radio Directory 1940-1941 (PDF). New York City, New York: Variety, Inc. p. 927. Retrieved 1 May 2016.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4. P. 177.
  4. ^ a b Peacock, Ray (January 20, 1942). "Joan Didn't Mind Parents, But She's doing All Right". Texas, Corpus Christi. Associated Press Features. p. 2-B. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c "Little Miss Contrary". Radio Romances. 24 (4): 53. September 1945. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  6. ^ "Your Hit Parade" (PDF). Radio Album. December 1938. p. 16.
  7. ^ a b c Mara, Margaret (August 14, 1946). "She Is Determined to Keep Makeup Artists Out of Her Hair". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. New York, Brooklyn. p. 15. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  8. ^ a b c d e f Flint, Peter B. (August 29, 1981). "Joan Edwards, Radio Singer and Star of 'Your Hit Parade'". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  9. ^ Lewis, Martin (April 8, 1939). "Airalto Lowdown" (PDF). Radio Guide. pp. 13, 40. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  10. ^ a b c "Joan Edwards Heads New Song Series as 'Girl About Town'". Harrisburg Telegraph. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. March 1, 1941. p. 28. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  11. ^ a b "Blues Singer Called Back". The Mason City Globe-Gazette. Iowa, Mason City. December 6, 1941. p. 11. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  12. ^ "Your Hit Parade" (PDF). Tune In. May 1945. pp. 9–11. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  13. ^ Dunning, John (1998). "Your Hit Parade". On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. pp. 738–740. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
  14. ^ Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. P. 310.
  15. ^ "Joan Edwards Guest On "Here's to Romance" Tonight at Seven, WHP". Harrisburg Telegraph. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. March 17, 1945. p. 16. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  16. ^ "Joan Edwards Wins DJ Strip on CBS". Billboard. February 23, 1952. p. 10. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  17. ^ "Joan Edwards". Variety. July 5, 1950. p. 28. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  18. ^ Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1979). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows: 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-25525-9. P. 307.
  19. ^ a b Rathbun, Joe (October 18, 1942). "Joe's Radio Parade". The Times Recorder. Ohio, Zanesville. p. 11. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  20. ^ "Long Runs, Fast Faders Pull Stem Combo Take to 342G". Billboard. May 6, 1950. p. 51. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  21. ^ "Tickets, Please!". Playbill. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  22. ^ "Wax Worth Watching" (PDF). Radio Today. November 1938. p. 53. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  23. ^ "Wax Worth Watching" (PDF). Radio Today. August 1939. p. 14. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  24. ^ Rayno, Don. Paul Whiteman: Pioneer in American Music. Volume II: 1930-1967. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2013, p. 705.
  25. ^ "Record Reviews". Billboard. June 3, 1950. p. 118. Retrieved 3 May 2016.

External links edit

  • Sheet music for Girl About Town, composed by Joan Edwards, as printed in Radio and Television Mirror September 1941

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