Saturday, May 22, 2010

Ketty Lester "Love Letters"


Ketty Lester

Another beautiful day in Bahrain

Hello Jazzlovers,

My unpacking has been very slow by choice, due to making my decision to lighten my load. Some of the work is mindless, on the other hand, some of it is like a trip down memory lane. I have only loved Intimately 5 people in my life and I have been finding little things from each of them,(smile) and thinking of each of them, I have caught myself writing mental love letters to them. The interesting thing about these love letters is that the focus is on the things that brought us together rather than the things that tore us apart ( it is so good getting emotions out of the way) I did remain friends with them, except for the last one.( but that is a blog all by it's self.....)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4aTLurY3gw


This song "Love Letters" kept running through my head and I caught myself singing it under my breath.I had not thought of this song in years!! Some of you might remember Ketty Lester as Helen Grant on "Days Of Our Lives in the 1970, but I remember her from this song and my stepmother remembered her music. I found this album in the Woolworth's bargin bin years ago while I was in university and played it over and over although I have not listened to it in years it remains part of my favorites in music.. Here is a 2002 live version...Love Letters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuZvb51Xwjw


Trivia Days of Our Lives had the first interracial kiss on a Soap Opera...Ketty Lester was the daughter of a farmer, she was born in Hope, Arkansas August 16, 1934 , one of a family of 15 children, and first sang in her church and school choirs. She won a scholarship to study music at San Francisco State College, and in the early 1950s began performing under the name Ketty Lester in the city's Purple Onion club. She later appeared as a contestant on the game show You Bet Your Life, and toured Europe as a singer with Cab Calloway's orchestra
Here is one I remember from 1965..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDtM0_zEmPY&feature=related

Ketty Lester gave up singing commercially, and turned to acting. She was reportedly offered the role eventually taken by Diahann Carroll in the 1968 TV series Julia, and appeared in a variety of movies including Up Tight! (1968), Blacula (1972), and Uptown Saturday Night (1974). She established herself as a television actress in the 1970s and 1980s, playing the roles of 'Helen Grant' in the soap opera, Days of our Lives from 1975 to 1977, and 'Hester-Sue Terhune' on the NBC television series Little House on the Prairie from 1978 to 1983, as well as making short appearances in many other series. But for me I loved her music.. "Here is Deep Purple"...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50_5i19hrCs&feature=related


Music has always played an important place in my life, because Music knows how I feel...Living in the now makes the past so clear. When looking back at ramicications of past actions are viewed without emotional baggage it is amazing what you see....

Well jazzlover in signing off on a love letter I think it very fitting to end with Ketty Leaster 1962 recording of "P.S. I Love You"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61n-NoYKEGE&feature=related


Well Jazzlover until Next time,

Keep the beat.....

Oh one more!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfa5uCjpouA&feature=related


DWJazzLover

5 comments:

  1. Oh, what wonderful gems, D!! Thanks for sharing. I love that sultry, honey-toned voice of hers. Is she on iTunes? I'll have to check her out more.

    And I love your second to the last paragraph about the important music has played in your life. I know how you feel. A Soul that bathes itself in the sweetness of music is beautiful, indeed!

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  2. Thank you Thomas, I love it when at least one person get's it.
    We all have wounds but giving credit to the things that get us through is a plus..I love these Women, their dues are in their voices and they have always been there when I needed them..Now is my time to say thank you...

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  3. I must admit, my recall of Ms. Lester had been limited to her acting in the 70s (she was very memorable as the smack-talking cab driver in Blacula), and only recently did I discover (via Wikipedia) that she was/is also a jazz singer. I'm constantly amazed by the talent, versatility, and the limitations placed upon our people in the entertainment industry.

    Thanks for sharing!

    Snatch JOY!

    One.

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  4. Ms. Lester paid a key role on Little House on the Prairie. Thanks for remembering her outstanding talent. Love, Cuz

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  5. Opps, my bad, Ms Lester played a key role on Little House on the Prairie...got to get my vision checked again.

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