Dearie

"Dearie" is a popular song.

The music was written by David Mann; the lyrics, by Bob Hilliard. The song was published in 1950.

The song is about reminiscences, and often sung as a duet. When done as a duet, each one of the singers asks the other whether he or she remembers a number of long-ago events, and then says "if you remember, you're much older than I." When sung as a solo, the same questions are directed at the audience.

In 1950, some of the best-known versions were by Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians (with a vocal by Kenny Gardner), by Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae, by Ray Bolger and Ethel Merman, and by Lisa Kirk and Fran Warren.

The Guy Lombardo record was recorded on January 26, 1950 and released by Decca Records as catalog number 24899. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on March 31, 1950 and lasted 9 weeks on the chart, peaking at #5.

The Jo Stafford/Gordon MacRae record was recorded on January 14, 1950 and released by Capitol Records as catalog number 858. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on March 3, 1950 and lasted 11 weeks on the chart, peaking at #12.

Blossom Dearie

Blossom Margrete Dearie (April 28, 1924 – February 7, 2009) was an American jazz singer and pianist, often performing in the bebop genre and remembered for her light and girlish voice. One of the last supper club performers, she performed regular engagements in London and New York City over many years.

Early life

Dearie was born on April 28, 1924, in East Durham, New York, to a father of Scots Irish (Ulster) descent and a mother of Norwegian descent. As a child she studied classical piano but switched to jazz in her teens.

Career beginnings

After high school, Dearie moved to New York City to pursue a music career and began to sing in groups such as the Blue Flames (with the Woody Herman Orchestra) and the Blue Reys (with Alvino Rey's band) before starting her solo career.

Dearie moved to Paris in 1952 and formed a vocal group, the Blue Stars of France, which included Michel Legrand's sister, Christiane Legrand, and Bob Dorough. In 1954 the group had a hit in France with a French-language version of "Lullaby of Birdland". The Blue Stars would later evolve into the Swingle Singers. While in Paris, Dearie met her future husband, the Belgian flutist and saxophonist Bobby Jaspar. On her first solo album, released two years later, she played the piano but did not sing.