Monday, February 10, 2014

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Angela Lansbury

Artist:Angela Lansbury
Song:Beauty and the Beast
Album:Beauty and the Beast: Soundtrack





Angela Lansbury was born in England but has been in Hollywood since the 40s. She was never a star until the 80s TV show Murder, She Wrote. And then she just nailed the theme for the 1991 Disney film Beauty and the Beast. I'm sure a lot of folks didn't know she could sing. She was born Oct. 16, 1925 in Poplar, East London, England. Her mother was actress Moyna McGill and her father was politician Edgar Lansbury. He died when Angela was nine years old. The family moved to the US and ended up in Los Angeles in the early 40s. Angela met screenwriter John Van Druten at a party. And he thought she would be perfect for a film he had written. Gaslight was Angela's film debut in 1944. She signed with MGM and appeared in National Velvet and The Picture of Dorion Gray. But for the most part, she was unhappy with her roles at MGM and left in 1952. She seemed to flounder until starring in the 1966 Broadway musical Mame. She won a Tony and appeared a lot on the stage in the 70s. Her career revival came as Jessica Fletcher in the TV mystery show Murder, She Wrote. That show was a huge success and ran from 1984-96. Disney had tried to produce a Beauty and the Beast film for years. But with the success of The Little Mermaid, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken were hired to turn Beauty and the Beast into a musical. It was a huge success and Angela was hired to voice the teapot Mrs. Potts. She says she did it for her grandchildren. She did a great job on the title song and it won the Best Song Oscar. The song was also a hit single by Peabo Bryson and Celine Dion. This 2010 CD release of the soundtrack has that recording, all the songs from the film and a new version of Beauty and the Beast recorded by American Idol winner Jordin Sparks. Angela Lansbury has performed a lot on stage in recent years. She is currently appearing in a London production of Blithe Spirit. Here's Angela Lansbury performing Beauty and the Beast on the 2002 TV special Mormon Tabernacle Choir Presents the Joy of Christmas with Angela Lansbury.

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