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Dinah Shore (born '''Frances Rose Shore''' February 29 , 1916 - February 24 , 1994 ) was an American Singer and Actress . She was most popular during the Big Band era of the 1940s and 1950s. She became one of the popular "girl singers" from that era. She enjoyed a string of popular hits and afterwards became a successful actress for a number of years, being compared to singers such as Doris Day . Since she debuted in the 1940s, many more successful female singers have appeared in popular music, including Connie Francis and Patti Page . CHILDHOOD AND RISE TO SUCCESS Born to Solomon and Anna Stein Shore, Jewish immigrants from Russia , she lived in Winchester, Tennessee . When she was two years old, she was stricken with Polio (infantile paralysis), a disease that was not handled well at the time. Her parents provided intensive care for her and she recovered and overcame the disease. However, she continued to have a slightly deformed foot and limp, which did not physically impede her. As a small child she loved to sing, encouraged by her mother, a contralto with operatic aspirations. Her father would often take her to his store where she would perform impromptu songs for the customers.1 In 1924 she moved with her family to Nashville, Tennessee , where her father had opened a department store. Although shy because of her limp, so she became actively involved in sports and other types of activities. She performed at a night club when she was 14 years old. She also visited the Grand Ole Opry and got a job at a radio station. When her mother died unexpectedly of a heart attack, Shore decided to pursue her education. She went to Vanderbilt University , where she participated in many events and activities. She graduated from the university in 1938. She decided to return to pursuing her career in Singing , so she went to New York City to audition for Orchestras and Radio Stations . In many of her auditions, she sang the popular song "Dinah." When disc jockey Martin Block could not remember her name, he called her the "Dinah girl," and soon after the name stuck, becoming her stage name. She eventually was hired as a vocalist at radio station WNEW, where she sang with Frank Sinatra . She also recorded and performed with the Xavier Cugat orchestra. Eventually, she signed a recording contract with RCA Victor records in 1940. CAREER IN THE 1940S AND 1950S While recording on RCA Victor's Bluebird label, she released her first recording, "Yes, My Darling Daughter" and it became a major hit for her. Shore's singing came to the attention of Eddie Cantor , and he signed her as a regular on his popular radio show, ''Time to Smile'', in 1940. Shore credits him for teaching her self-confidence, comedic timing and the ways of connecting with an audience.2 Dinah Shore was a featured vocalist on '' The Chamber Music Society Of Lower Basin Street '', a showcase for traditional dixieland and blues songs. She recorded with the two ''Basin Street'' bands for RCA Victor ; one of her records was the eponymous "Dinah's Blues." Shore soon became a successful singing star with her own radio show in 1943, ''Call to Music''. Also in 1943, she appeared in her first movie, '' Thank Your Lucky Stars ''. The movie starred Eddie Cantor, and she soon went to another radio show, "Paul Whiteman Presents". During this time, the United States was involved in World War II and Shore became a favorite with the troops. She had major record hits, including "I'll Walk Alone" and ''Blues In the Night'', one of her first of many number-one hits to come. To support the troops overseas, who liked her singing, she participated in USO tours to Europe . She met a young Actor ready to go into military service named George Montgomery . They married on December 3 , 1943 . Despite their marriage, Montgomery soon went into service. When he returned from the service, they settled in San Fernando, California . In 1948 , their first child was born, a daughter named Melissa Ann, and they also adopted a son in 1954 named John David before moving to Beverly Hills . Shore continued appearing in radio shows throughout the 1940s. She performed in radio shows including ''Birds Eye-Open House'' and ''Ford Radio Show''. One of her most popular recordings was '''' (1946) and '' Fun And Fancy Free '' (1947). In early 1946 , she moved to another label, Columbia Records . In 1950 she made her television show debut on the '' Ed Wynn Show '' and also made a guest appearance on Bob Hope 's first television show. After being on many other people's television shows, she got her own, '' The Dinah Shore Show '' in 1951 . She did two fifteen minute shows a week for NBC . She won her first Emmy for the show in 1955 . The show was sponsored by Chevrolet automobiles. The sponsor's theme song ("See the U.S. in your Chevrolet ") became the singer's signature piece. She continued to appear in Chevrolet advertising through the 1950s. LATER CAREER From 1970 through 1980 , Shore hosted two daytime programs, ''Dinah's Place'' (1970- 1974 ) on NBC and '' Dinah! '' (later ''Dinah and Friends'') in syndication from 1974 through 1980. On her show ''Dinah!'', she once had the misfortune of interviewing the comedian Andy Kaufman in his Tony Clifton guise. He took deliberate offense at her questions and eventually tipped a pan of eggs over her head. This happened live on the air in front of a large TV audience and Shore's producers cut to an impromptu commercial as Kaufman was escorted out of the studio. Shore was married to actor George Montgomery from 1943 to 1962 and had a daughter, Melissa Ann, known today as Melissa Montgomery-Hime, executor of the Dinah Shore Trust and the owner of the rights to most of Shore's television series. Shore later adopted a son, Jody Montgomery. After her divorce from Montgomery, she briefly married Maurice Smith. In the early 1970s, Shore had a long and happy Public Romance with actor Burt Reynolds , who was 20 years her junior. The relationship gave Shore an updated, sexy image, and took some of the pressure off Reynolds in maintaining his image as a ladies' man. Shore, with her Dixie drawl and demure manner, was always identified with the South, and guests on her shows often commented on it. She famously spoofed this image by playing Melanie in ''Went with the Wind,'' the famous '' Gone With The Wind '' parody for '' The Carol Burnett Show ''. Shore won nine Emmy s, a Peabody Award and a Golden Globe . Shore guest starred on '' Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special '', calling Pee-wee on his picturephone and singing ''The 12 Days of Christmas''. Throughout the special, Pee-wee walks past the picturephone, only to hear her going past the original 12 days ("...on the 500th day of Christmas...") GOLF Shore, who played golf herself, was a long-time supporter of women's professional golf. In 1972, she helped found the Colgate Dinah Shore golf tournament, which today, now known as the Kraft Nabisco Championship, remains as one of the four Major Golf Tournaments on the LPGA Tour . The tournament is held each March near Shore's home in Rancho Mirage, California. In acknowledgment of her contributions to golf, Shore was made an honorary member of the World Golf Hall Of Fame in 1994. DEATH AND LEGACY Dinah Shore died in Beverly Hills, California of Ovarian Cancer at age 77. Her ashes were divided and she has two burial sites. Half were interred in the Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California and the other half interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery (Cathedral City) near her beloved second home in Palm Springs, California . Shore's legacy resonates posthumously, with a 1998 album featuring the arrangement skills of Andre Previn combined with the re-releasing of some of her classic recordings like ''April in Paris'', and ''My Funny Valentine'', garnering moderate success. MAJOR RECORDINGS
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