Gogo DeLys

Gogo DeLys (born Marie Gabrielle Belanger; August 17, 1908 – February 19, 2003)[2][3] was an American singer in vaudeville and with the Jimmy Grier Band and on old-time radio. Her last name was also sometimes transcribed as Delys.[4]

Gogo DeLys
Born
Marie Gabrielle Belanger

August 17, 1908[1]
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
DiedFebruary 19, 2003 (aged 94)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationSinger
SpouseRobert Redd
Children1

Early years

Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, DeLys performed in a talent show while she was a law student at USC. A talent scout saw her and turned her career plans from law to singing.[5]

Career

Dubbed "the Canadian Canary" by newspaper columnist Walter Winchell, DeLys was active professionally from the 1920s into the 1940s.[5] In 1928, she performed in vaudeville shows headed by Eddie Peabody[4] and Paul Ash.[6]

Prior to January 1931, DeLys had moved from Vancouver to Los Angeles, singing on radio station KHJ, where Radio Digest magazine said, "she promptly became an instantaneous hit".[7] By June 1931, DeLys had become the female vocalist with Georgie Stoll and his orchestra.[8] The following year she sang with Jimmy Grier's orchestra.[9] On October 29, 1932, she recorded "Second Hand Heart (for sale)" with Grier and his orchestra on the Victor label.[10]

On radio, DeLys sang with Jerry Joyce's Boys.[11] She also sang on Little Ol' Hollywood,[12] and on Your Hit Parade,[12]: 362  and Carefree Carnival.[13]

In 1936, she had her own twice-weekly program on CBS,[14] and, in 1937, she was featured with The Norsemen, James Melton, and Don Voorhees' orchestra in a series of transcribed programs sponsored by Rexall.[15]

In July 1937, Mid-Summer Night's Serenade debuted on CBS with DeLys as its star. A review in the trade publication Radio Daily described the program as "a well-balanced 15 minutes of evening music ..."[16]

Death

On February 19, 2003, DeLys died of natural causes in St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California, at age 94.[5]

Personal life

DeLys retired after marrying Robert Redd. The couple had one child, actress Mary-Robin Redd.[3]

References
  1. Biography. Accessed April 18, 2023.
  2. Biography. Accessed April 18, 2023.
  3. Lent, Harris M., III (2008). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2003: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. p. 102. ISBN 978-0-7864-5208-8. Retrieved November 25, 2019.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. "Peabody gets in some extra banjo strings". Los Angeles Evening Express. California, Los Angeles. July 2, 1928. p. 9. Retrieved November 25, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Horwitch, Lauren (March 6, 2003). "Gogo DeLys". Variety. Archived from the original on November 25, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  6. "(Oriental theater advertisement)". Chicago Tribune. Illinois, Chicago. October 1, 1928. p. 34. Retrieved November 25, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Gogo Delys". Radio Digest. XXVI (3): 43. January 1931. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  8. "Stoll music wins favor". Los Angeles Evening Express. California, Los Angeles. June 3, 1931. p. 15. Retrieved November 25, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Burns 'Em Up!". The Marshall News Messenger. Texas, Marshall. November 16, 1932. p. 5. Retrieved November 26, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Gogo De Lys (vocalist)". Discography of American Historical Recordings. Regents of the University of California. Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  11. "KFWB, Hollywood". The Fresno Morning Republican. California, Fresno. June 16, 1931. p. 10. Retrieved November 25, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 202. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
  13. Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Oxford University Press. p. 139. ISBN 978-0-19-984045-8. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  14. "(photo caption)". Radio Mirror. 5 (4): 35. February 1936. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  15. "200 stations to get Rexall spring spots". Radio Daily. March 10, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  16. "'Mid-Summer Night's Serenade'". Radio Daily. July 16, 1937. p. 5. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
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