AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Jo Stafford

Artist:Jo Stafford
Song:You Belong To Me
Album:The Columbia Hits Collection





Jo Stafford was one of the most popular vocalists of the pre-Rock 'N' Roll era. She had her first chart hit in 1944 and continued to chart until 1959. You Belong To Me was her biggest hit and dominated the charts in 1952. Like a lot of pop singers of this era, Jo Stafford started out as a jazz singer. She was born Nov. 12, 1917 in Coalinga, CA which is near Fresno. She performed as a child and sang with sisters Christine and Pauline as The Stafford Sisters on Los Angeles radio station KHJ. They started working as background singers in films and created the arrangement for Fred Astaire's performance of Nice Work If You Can Get It in the 1937 film Damsel In Distress. While working on the 1938 film Alexander's Ragtime Band, Jo joined the vocal group The Pied Pipers and this eventually led to interest from Tommy Dorsey's arranger Paul Weston. Dorsey liked them but the sponsor didn't so The Pied Pipers were never hired. Eventually four of the eight members were hired including Jo Stafford. She got some solo time there. They were signed to Johnny Mercer's new label Capitol by music director Paul Weston. At first Jo recorded with The Pied Pipers but left to go solo in 1944. Her tours with the USO earned her the nickname GI Jo. She had several top ten hits on Capitol and her own radio show. But when Weston left Capitol for Columbia in 1950, Jo went with him. They married in 1952. It gave her the advantage of first choice of songs. She continued to have hits in the 50s. and she even had her own TV show for a while. You Belong To Me topped the charts for 24 weeks and was one of the biggest hits of 1952. The song was written by Chilton Price who also wrote Tennessee Waltz. She was a music librarian at Louisville radio station WAVE. Country music artists Pee Wee King and Redd Stewart convinced her to publish her songs so she always shared credit with them. You Belong To Me was first recorded by country singer Sue Thompson and then Patti Page. The Duprees also had a top ten hit with it in 1962. But Jo Stafford's version is definitive. Jo Stafford also recorded with Weston as part of the comedy act Jonathan and Darlene Edwards. As her career wound down, Jo Stafford retired from performing in the mid-60s but continued to record on her own Corinthian label. She won the rights to her Columbia recordings in a breach of contract lawsuit. So this comp is on her label. Paul Weston died in 1996 and Jo Stafford died on July 16, 2008 at age 90. Here's a video for You Belong To Me by Jo Stafford.