Sylvia Syms (singer)
Encyclopedia
Sylvia Syms was an American
jazz
singer.
She was born Sylvia Blagman in Brooklyn
, New York
, United States
. As a child, she had polio. As a teenager, she went to jazz-oriented nightclub
s on New York's 52nd Street, and received informal training from Billie Holiday
. In 1941 she made her debut at a club called 'Billy's Stable'.
In 1948, performing at the Cinderella Club in Greenwich Village
, she was seen by Mae West
, who gave her a part in a show she was doing. Among others who observed her in nightclubs was Frank Sinatra
who considered her the "world's greatest saloon singer." Sinatra subsequently conducted her 1982 album
, Syms by Sinatra
.
She was signed to a recording contract
by Decca Records
, having her major success with a recording of "I Could Have Danced All Night
" in 1956. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
. Syms made regular appearances at the Carlyle in Manhattan. At times, impromptu, while enjoying a cocktail in the bar of the Carlyle, she would walk on stage and perform with the cabaret's other regular, Bobby Short
.
She died on stage at the Algonquin Hotel
in New York from a heart attack
, aged 74.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
singer.
She was born Sylvia Blagman in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As a child, she had polio. As a teenager, she went to jazz-oriented nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s on New York's 52nd Street, and received informal training from Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
. In 1941 she made her debut at a club called 'Billy's Stable'.
In 1948, performing at the Cinderella Club in Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
, she was seen by Mae West
Mae West
Mae West was an American actress, playwright, screenwriter and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned seven decades....
, who gave her a part in a show she was doing. Among others who observed her in nightclubs was Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
who considered her the "world's greatest saloon singer." Sinatra subsequently conducted her 1982 album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Syms by Sinatra
Syms by Sinatra
Syms by Sinatra is a 1982 album by Sylvia Syms, arranged by Don Costa, and conducted by Frank Sinatra .-Track listing:# "Hooray for Love" # "All My Tomorrows"...
.
She was signed to a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
by Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
, having her major success with a recording of "I Could Have Danced All Night
I Could Have Danced All Night
"I Could Have Danced All Night" is a song from the musical My Fair Lady, with music written by Frederick Loewe and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, published in 1956...
" in 1956. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
. Syms made regular appearances at the Carlyle in Manhattan. At times, impromptu, while enjoying a cocktail in the bar of the Carlyle, she would walk on stage and perform with the cabaret's other regular, Bobby Short
Bobby Short
Robert Waltrip "Bobby" Short was an American cabaret singer and pianist, best known for his interpretations of songs by popular composers of the first half of the 20th century such as Rodgers and Hart, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Harold Arlen, Vernon Duke, Noel Coward and George and Ira Gershwin.He...
.
She died on stage at the Algonquin Hotel
Algonquin Hotel
The Algonquin Hotel is a historic hotel located at 59 West 44th Street in Manhattan . The hotel has been designated as a New York City Historic Landmark....
in New York from a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
, aged 74.
Album discography
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Songs By [10" version] | Atlantic Atlantic Records Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz... |
| 1954 | After Dark | Version Records |
| 1955 | Songs By [12" version] | Atlantic |
| 1956 | Sylvia Sings | Decca Decca Records Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades.... |
| 1957 | Songs of Love | Decca |
| 1959 | Torch Song | Columbia Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company... |
| 1961 | That Man | Kapp Kapp Records Kapp Records was an independent record label started in 1954 by David Kapp, brother of Jack Kapp . David Kapp founded his own label after stints with Decca Records and RCA Victor Records. Kapp licensed its records to London Records for release in the UK.In 1967, David Kapp sold his label to MCA Inc... |
| 1964 | Fabulous | 20th Century Fox |
| 1965 | Sylvia Is! | Prestige Prestige Records Prestige Records was a jazz record label founded in 1949 by Bob Weinstock. The company was located at 203 South Washington Avenue in Bergenfield, New Jersey, and recorded hundreds of albums by many of the leading jazz musicians of the day, sometimes issuing them under the names of several... |
| 1967 | For Once in My Life | Prestige |
| 1970 | Love Lady | Stanyan Records |
| 1976 | Lovingly | Atlantic |
| 1978 | She Loves to Hear the Music | A&M A&M Records A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:... |
| 1982 | Syms by Sinatra Syms by Sinatra Syms by Sinatra is a 1982 album by Sylvia Syms, arranged by Don Costa, and conducted by Frank Sinatra .-Track listing:# "Hooray for Love" # "All My Tomorrows"... |
Reprise Reprise Records Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:... |
| 1984 | A Jazz Portrait of Johnny Mercer | DRG |
| 1990 | Then Along Came Bill | DRG |
| 1992 | You Must Believe in Spring | Elba Records |
| 2004 | The Columbia Years | Columbia |