Bea Wain
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Bea Wain (born April 30, 1917 in New York City) was a Big Band-era vocalist.
As a child, Wain performed piano on the NBC radio series "Children's Hour." She led the vocal group "Bea and the Bachelors," with Al Rinker, Ken Lane, and John Smedberg. In 1937, Wain joined former Tommy Dorsey arranger Larry Clinton and His Orchestra where she was featured in a number of hit songs, including “Deep Purple”, “Martha”, “Heart and Soul”, and “My Reverie.” In 1939, she was voted the most popular female band vocalist in a Billboard Magazine poll. She began her solo career in 1939 with a number of hits, including “I’m Nobody’s Baby,” “Do I Worry?,” and “Kiss the Boys Goodbye.”
Wain is considered by many to be one of the best female vocalists of her era, possessing a natural feel for swing-music rhythms not often found among white singers of the day. As regards technique, she excelled in pitch and subtle utilization of dynamics. She also communicated a feminine sensuality and sang with conviction, in an unforced manner reminiscent of her contemporary in the Duke Ellington orchestra, Ivie Anderson. Following her musical career, Bea and her late husband, veteran radio announcer Andre Baruch, worked as a husband and wife disc jockey team in New York and Florida.
Bea's version of "My Reverie" was used in the Robin Williams movie One Hour Photo.
Bea is living at the Sunrise assisted living off Wilshire in Beverly Hills as of December 12, 2006.
[edit] References
- ArtistDirect.com: Bea Wain, accessed 17 October 2005.
- Bea Wain & Bea and the Bachelors at Solid!, accessed 18 October 2005.
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