I always liked Keely. Back in the day, the long ago day, casinos in Las Vegas had what were called free lounge shows where acts like Louis Prima/Keely Smith would perform on stages behind or near the bar (as opposed to the main showroom where the A performers did their gig). I once saw Louis and Keely (with the irrepressible Sam Butera) perform in one of the casino lounges. She had a pleasant voice and adopted the mien of the totally bored and indifferent singer. I liked her.

Zitat

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Keely Smith, the Grammy winning singer known for her solo recordings of jazz standards as well as her partnership with her first husband, Louis Prima, died Dec. 16 in Palm Springs, Calif. She was 89 and had been suffering from heart failure, according to her publicist, Bob Merlis.

Her hits included “Bei Mir Bist Du Schön” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” “That Old Black Magic,” which she reprised with Kid Rock at the 2008 Grammy awards, made a big impression on pop culture: Kermit the frog, wearing a wig, performed as Smith on the early Muppets show “Sam and Friends,” singing “That Old Black Magic.” Smith and Prima also performed the hit at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration.

Born Dorothy Jacqueline Keely in Norfolk, Va., she was of Cherokee and Irish parentage. She started out singing at a naval air station band and got her first paying job at age 15 with the Earl Bennett band.

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http://variety.com/2017/music/news/keely...ima-1202643232/

God's rest, Keely.

Aw...one of my mother's favorite singers.

She used to say that Keely and Louis Prima were the Sonny and Cher of their day.

Maybe I'll listen to some Keely Smith tonight on Pandora.

I remember watching her on Ed Sullivan with Louis Prima. A fun act, that occasionally masked the quality of their music.