So sorry to hear today that we lost Blossom Dearie over the weekend. I first discovered her when a landlord asked me to make tapes from his extensive record collection. I agreed, with no idea I’d be hooked for the rest of my life on her charming voice and skilled piano playing. If you don’t know her work and enjoy jazz vocals, cabaret, American songbook standards, check her out.
Fresh Air replayed Terry’s 1998 conversation with Dearie today. Blossom says in it that she took voice lessons throughout her life and was always told that she was breathing wrong. She decided to focus on her piano playing instead of worrying about her voice. So glad she did.