AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Fran Warren

Artist:Fran Warren w/Claude Thornhill

Song:A Sunday Kind of Love

Album:The Complete Fran Warren with Claude Thornhill

Though Fran Warren had solo success in the 50s, her 1947 single A Sunday Kind of Love recorded with big band leader Claude Thornhill is her signature song. That was when big band music was dying. She was born Frances Wolff Mar. 4, 1926 in The Bronx, NY. Fran idolized Billie Holiday and at age 16 she auditioned for Duke Ellington. This led to a stint with Art Mooney's band. She was making decent money for an 18 year old and she was on the radio three times a week. But Mooney patterned his band after Glenn Miller and Fran wanted to sing jazz. As he did for many musicians, Billy Eckstine gave her that opportunity and also named her Fran Warren. Charlie Barnet heard Fran on the radio and hired her to replace Kay Starr. After 18 months, Fran tired of the constant touring and moved to Claude Thornhill. A Sunday Kind of Love was Fran's first recording with Thornhill. It was a hit and it became Fran's signature song and a jazz standard. Many singers have recorded the song. A Sunday Kind of Love was written by Barbara Belle (Fran's manager), Anita Leonard, Stan Rhodes and Louis Prima. Prima recorded the song but Thornhill's recording was released first. The doo wop group The Del Vikings scored a hit with the song in 1957. And it was a top five country hit for Reba McEntire in 1988. Ella Fitzgerald, Jo Stafford, Dinah Washington and Etta James are among the singers who have recorded A Sunday Kind of Love. It's on this Collector's Choice CD. Fran went solo in 1948 with RCA Records. A duet with Tony Martin I Said My Pajamas (And Put on my Pray'rs) was a top five pop hit. in 1950. She also recorded for MGM in the 50s. When her recording career faded, Fran appeared in Broadway musicals like Mame, South Pacific and The Pajama Game. She toured with Harry James. She would have been a big star in the 30s but she was born too late. Fran Warren continued to tour until she died on Mar. 4, 2013 at age 87. Here's Fran Warren performing A Sunday Kind of Love and I Remember You 1978.