Sylvia Syms (December 2, 1917 – May 10, 1992) was an American jazz singer. One music journalist noted that she was "One of America's most distinguished cabaret and jazz singers with a profound appreciation of lyrics".
Biography Syms was born Sylvia Blagman in Brooklyn, New York. As a child, she had polio. As a teenager, she went to jazz nightclubs on New York's 52nd Street and received informal training from Billie Holiday. She made her debut in 1941 at Kelly'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 conducted her 1982 album, Syms by Sinatra.
She was signed to a contract by Decca Records, having her major success with a recording of "I Could Have Danced All Night" in 1956, which 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.
Syms had a lung removed around 1972. The operation did not stop her from performing as Bloody Mary in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific at the Chateau de Ville Dinner Theater.
She died of a heart attack while on stage in the Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City on May 10, 1992. She was 74 years old.
Discography Year Title Label1952 Songs By [10" version]Atlantic1954 After Dark [10"]Version Records1954 Sylvia Sings [EP]Atlantic1955Songs By [12" version]Atlantic1956 Sylvia Syms Sings Decca1957 Songs of Love Decca1959 Torch Song Columbia1961 That Man Kapp1964 Fabulous 20th Century Fox1965 Sylvia Is! Prestige1967 For Once in My Life Prestige1968 In A Sentimental Mood (reissue of 1964 'Fabulous' LP)Movietone1970 Love Lady Stanyan1976 Lovingly Atlantic1978 She Loves to Hear the Music A&M1982 Syms by Sinatra Reprise1984 A Jazz Portrait of Johnny Mercer DRG1989Then Along Came Bill DRG1992 You Must Believe in Spring Elba 2004 The Columbia Years Columbia
Films The Goldbergs (1950) The Blue Veil (1951) Night Without Sleep (1952) It Happens Every Thursday (1953) Some of My Best Friends Are... (1971) Born to Win (1971)
Television Eddie Condon's Floor Show – 1949 The Tonight Show – 1954 The Tonight Show – 1955 The Tonight Show – 1956 The VIP Show of the Year – Sep 9, 1956 The Tonight Show – October 1956 Stars of Jazz – Dec 17, 1956 Art Ford's All-Star Jazz Party – 1958 Playboy's Penthouse – Sep 23, 1961 Playboy's Penthouse – Apr 21, 1962 The Merv Griffin Show – 1962 The Merv Griffin Show – 1963 The Tonight Show – Sep 17, 1963 The Mike Douglas Show – 1965 The Merv Griffin Show – Jun 29, 1966 Donald O'Connor Show – Oct 21, 1968 The Merv Griffin Show – 1969 The Mike Douglas Show – 1969 The Mike Douglas Show – Aug 9, 1970 The Tonight Show – Aug 6, 1972 The Mike Douglas Show – Aug 11, 1974 The Merv Griffin Show – 1974 The Tonight Show – Feb 25, 1975 The Merv Griffin Show – 1978 The Dick Cavett Show – Nov 16, 1978 Dinah! – Nov 17, 1978 Over Easy – Nov 24, 1978 Over Easy – May 23, 1980 Glenn Miller: A Moonlight Serenade – Dec 1, 1984 American Masters: The Long Night of Lady Day – Aug 3, 1986 Buddy Barnes Live at Studio B – 1986
References
External links Sylvia Syms biography on oldies.com Sylvia Syms manuscript, printed music, and sound recordings, Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers University