Monday 19 April 2021

Who is Sylvia?


Canadian singer Sylvia Murphy died on 24 February this year. Sixty years ago today on 19 April, 1961, she recorded an appearance with Duke Ellington on the television variety show Music Makers. The show was broadcast on 24 April, 1961. Three excerpts from this show were recently posted to YouTube and here they are...








From the Sylvia Murphy YouTube channel:


Sylvia Murphy (1931-2021) was one of Canada's most popular singing stars in the 50s and 60s, appearing weekly on live Jazz, Swing, Big Band and variety shows to an audience of millions.  This channel shares some of her video and audio musical performances.

 

Her career began singing in nightclubs, then on the Coca-Cola "Refreshment Time" radio show.  She then moved to TV as featured signer on Billy O'Connor's TV shows.    From there, she worked with Jack Kane on shows such as Music Makers 58 and 59, Music 60 and the Jack Kane Show.   She also was a regular on the Wayne and Shuster Hour and Parade in the early 60s, as well as a number of variety shows and specials.

 

Almost all shows here were broadcast live on the CBC from 1957 to 1962.   Live programs were recorded by "kinescope" (a film camera pointed at an in-studio monitor) and later those kinescopes were converted to videotape, and now digital.  There were no re-runs, so these are the first return to wide audiences.






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