Julie London

JULIE LONDON d2000. American singer, actress at her peak during the 1950s, widely known for her beauty poise and smoky sensual voice. She recorded 32 albums in a career that began in 1955 with a live performance at the 881 Club in Los Angeles. Billboard named her the most popular female vocalist for 1955-1957. She was the subject of a 1957 Life cover article, in which she was quoted as saying ; "It's only a thimbleful of a voice and I have to use it close to the microphone. But it is a kind of oversmoked voice and it automatically sounds intimate". Her signature song "Cry Me A River"  was written by her high-school classmate, Arthur Hamilton and was produced by Troup. The recording became a million-seller after its release in December 1955 and also sold well on re-issue in April 1983. Whilst primarily regarded as a singer, London also made over 20 films, most notably alongside Gary Cooper in "Man Of The West" (1958) and on TV in Rawhide (1960). She suffered a stroke in 1995 and then endured poor health until her death aged 74 in 2000.