Dana Valery

Valery starred in three productions of the South African musical revue Wait A Minim!: The Original 1962 South African production; The 1964 London production; and the Broadway production which ran for 456 performances at the John Golden Theatre from 7 March 1966 – 15 April 1967.[2] Miss Valery recorded Original Cast Albums of all three productions.

In 1965, she appeared on the British television series called Ladybirds for ITV Southern England. In the programme, interviewers Shaw Taylor and Terence Carroll attempt to find out about the individual behind the image. She appeared on several different television shows in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s. One such appearance was as a panellist on the episode of the television game show, What's My Line? (on which she was a recurring panelist), that featured then-Governor of Georgia, Jimmy Carter, as a contestant.[3]

Dana Catalano made a career change later in life to become a healer. Her areas of expertise include Reiki and hypnotherapy. Her main practice is based in New York.[4]

She is married to Peter Catalano who has worked both as a musician, trained at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, and as an architect.[5]

The couple founded a company dedicating its efforts to good health and meaningful relationships. They have hosted the New York radio talk show, Natural Harmony which is dedicated to these ideals.

Valery's first USA album was an RCA collaboration album with Al Hirt and Boots Randolph titled Horns Of Plenty. Valery recorded a version of the Paul Simon song "You Don't Know Where Your Interest Lies" and released it as a single in January 1967, well before Simon & Garfunkel released their version in July 1967 as the B-side to "Fakin' It". Valery's version became a massive song on the Northern Soul scene, having been a popular spin at Wigan Casino.

Her solo debut album in the United States was called Not The Flower, But The Root on the Brunswick label in 1972. The Not The Flower But The Root album has been reissued on CD in Japan with one bonus track. Her follow up was Dana Valery in 1975. The cover artwork shows her wearing black against a black background, resulting in a cameo-like effect. This album can still be found on Internet record stores and auction sites. This album was issued on RCA's custom label – Phantom and was produced by Leslie West of Mountain. She recorded ten LP albums, two EPs, and a number of singles in South Africa prior to going abroad. In Johannesburg, Dana won two SARIE awards in (1964 and 1965) for Best Female Vocalist.[1]

• The Ed Sullivan Show – 3 March 1968, WCBS 52min
• The Kraft Music Hall – 17 July 1968, WNBC 52min
• The Kraft Music Hall – 16 October 1968, WNBC 52min
• The Jonathan Winters Show – 20 November 1968, WNBC 57min
• Operation Entertainment – 20 December 1968, WABC 52min
• The Jonathan Winters Show – 16 January 1969, WNBC 57min
• Operation: Entertainment – 31 January 1969, WABC 52min
• The Hollywood Palace – 15 February 1969, WABC 52min
• The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson — 13 June 1969
• The Jimmie Rodgers Show – 16 June 1969, WCBS 52min
• The Liberace Show – 12 August 1969, WCBS 52min
• The Hollywood Palace – 1 November 1969, WABC 52min
• The Ed Sullivan Show – 4 January 1970, WCBS 52min
• The Engelbert Humperdinck Show – 18 February 1970, WABC 52min
• The Ed Sullivan Show – 31 May 1970, WCBS 52min
• The Des O'Connor Show – 2 September 1970, WNBC 52min
• The Mike Douglas Show – 9 August 1974
• What's My Line? - 9 September 1974
• Tattletales - 20–26 June 1975 (with Tim Saunders)

• Coach (1978 movie) soundtrack "My Life's a Sing-a-Long"

• Bruce Swedien
• Leonard Feather, The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz
• Legends of Rock Guitar by Pete Prown and HP Newquist (1997)
• Pop Annual 1955–1999 by Joel Whitburn (2000)
• Top Pop Singles 1955–1999 by Joel Whitburn (2000)
• Woolfson, Malcolm (1992). But the Melody Lingers On: The "Inside Story" of the Johannesburg Operatic and Dramatic Society-Its Shows, Personalities, Triumphs, and Tribulations. (Perskor, Johannesburg). ISBN 0-628-03393-1

• Dana Valery at IMDb
• Dana Valery at the Internet Broadway Database
• Dana Valery Catalano's personal website
• Image from Ladybirds, U.K.,(1965)
• Image of Dana Valery's autograph