June Christy (November 20, 1925 – June 21, 1990), born Shirley Luster, was an American vocalist, best known for her work in the cool jazz genre. Her success as a singer began with The Stan Kenton Orchestra. She pursued a solo career from 1954 and is best known for her debut album Something Cool. Upon her death, she was hailed as "one of the finest and most neglected singers of her time." June Christy was born as Shirley Luster in Springfield, Illinois. She moved with her family to Decatur, Illinois when she was three years old. She began to sing with the Decatur based Bill Oetzel Orchestra at the young age of 13. While attending Decatur High School she appeared with Oetzel and his society band, the Ben Bradley Band, and Bill Madden's Band. After high school she moved to Chicago, changed her name to Sharon Leslie, and sang with a group led by Boyd Raeburn. Later she joined Benny Strong's band. In 1944, Strong's band moved to New York, while at the same time Christy was quarantined in Chicago with scarlet fever. In 1945, after hearing that Anita O'Day had left Stan Kenton's Orchestra, she auditioned and got the role as a vocalist. At first, she bore a heavy resemblance to Anita O'Day, both physically and vocally. During the time when she sang in the Orchestra, she changed her name once again, this time to June Christy. Her unique voice produced successful hits such as "Shoo Fly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy," the million-selling "Tampico" in 1945, and "How High the Moon". "Tampico" was Kenton's biggest-selling record. When the Kenton Band temporarily disbanded in 1948, she sang in nightclubs for a short time, and reunited with the band two years later in 1950.


Tracklist:

01 - Rock Me to Sleep
02 - The Gypsy in My Soul
03 - I'm Glad There Is You
04 - They Can't Take That Away from Me
05 - It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
06 - My One and Only Love
07 - When Lights Are Low
08 - I Can Make You Love Me (If You Let Me)
09 - Easy Living
10 - Blue Moon
11 - All God's Chillun Got Rhythm
12 - Baubles, Bangles and Beads
13 - Aren't You Glad You're You
14 - Looking for a Boy
15 - Small Fry

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Part 1
Part 2

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