Jazz Superstar Keely Smith Dies at 89

Jazz superstar Keely Smith, best known for her immortal duets with her late husband Louis Prima, has died of heart failure at 89.

Smith began her professional career her hometown of Norfolk, Virginia when Prima hired her to sing with his band while she still a teenager.

Smith was known for her cool demeanor, her deep smoky voice, and distinct black pageboy haircut, a counter-balance to the high-energy trumpet-playing Prima.

They won the very first Grammy award for best pop vocal performance by a duo for their 1959 hit “That Old Black Magic.”

Smth’s solo career thrived after divorcing Prima in 1961, making albums and becoming a top attraction in nightclubs in Las Vegas and New York.

 

 



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