Gogo DeLys

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Gogo DeLys
Born
Marie Gabrielle Belanger

1908
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
DiedFebruary 19, 2003
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationSinger

Gogo DeLys (born Marie Gabrielle Belanger, 1908 - February 19, 2003)[1] was an American singer in vaudeville and with the Jimmy Grier Band and on old-time radio. Her last name was also seen as Delys.[2]

Early years[]

Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, DeLys performed in a talent show while she was a law student at the University of Southern California. A talent scout saw her and turned her career plans from law to singing.[3]

Career[]

Dubbed "the Canadian Canary" by newspaper columnist Walter Winchell, DeLys was active professionally from the 1920s into the 1940s.[3] In 1928, she performed in vaudeville shows headed by Eddie Peabody[2] and Paul Ash.[4]

Before January 1931, DeLys had moved from Vancouver to Los Angeles, singing on radio station KHJ, where Radio Digest magazine said, "she promptly became an instantaneous hit".[5] By June 1931, DeLys had become the female vocalist with Georgie Stoll and his orchestra.[6] The following year she sang with Jimmy Grier's orchestra.[7] On October 29, 1932, she recorded "Second Hand Heart (for sale)" with Grier and his orchestra on the Victor label.[8]

On radio, DeLys sang with Jerry Joyce's Boys.[9] She also sang on Little Ol' Hollywood,[10] and on Your Hit Parade,[10]: 362  and Carefree Carnival.[11] In 1936, she had her own twice-weekly program on CBS,[12] and in 1937 she was featured with The Norsemen, James Melton, and Don Voorhees' orchestra in a series of transcribed programs sponsored by Rexall.[13] In July 1937, Mid-Summer Night's Serenade debuted on CBS with DeLys as its star. A review in the trade publication Radio Daily described the program as "a well-balanced 15 minutes of evening music ..."[14]

Death[]

On February 19, 2003, DeLys died of natural causes in St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California, at age 95.[3]

Personal life[]

DeLys retired after marrying Robert Redd.[1]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Lent, Harris M., III (2008). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2003: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. p. 102. ISBN 978-0-7864-5208-8. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Peabody gets in some extra banjo strings". Los Angeles Evening Express. California, Los Angeles. July 2, 1928. p. 9. Retrieved November 25, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c Horwitch, Lauren (March 6, 2003). "Gogo DeLys". Variety. Archived from the original on November 25, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  4. ^ "(Oriental theater advertisement)". Chicago Tribune. Illinois, Chicago. October 1, 1928. p. 34. Retrieved November 25, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Gogo Delys". Radio Digest. XXVI (3): 43. January 1931. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  6. ^ "Stoll music wins favor". Los Angeles Evening Express. California, Los Angeles. June 3, 1931. p. 15. Retrieved November 25, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Burns 'Em Up!". The Marshall News Messenger. Texas, Marshall. November 16, 1932. p. 5. Retrieved November 26, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Gogo De Lys (vocalist)". Discography of American Historical Recordings. Regents of the University of California. Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  9. ^ "KFWB, Hollywood". The Fresno Morning Republican. California, Fresno. June 16, 1931. p. 10. Retrieved November 25, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 202. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
  11. ^ Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Oxford University Press. p. 139. ISBN 978-0-19-984045-8. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  12. ^ "(photo caption)". Radio Mirror. 5 (4): 35. February 1936. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  13. ^ "200 stations to get Rexall spring spots". Radio Daily. March 10, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  14. ^ "'Mid-Summer Night's Serenade'". Radio Daily. July 16, 1937. p. 5. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
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