Lee Wiley: Manhattan

[miltsar]

I love lee wiley and this is my favorite of her albums....Plus it was great to see the Globe Theater at 1:29. My dad took me to see Gentlemen Prefer Blondes there for my 10th birthday...it was the only present I asked for ( yes I was a bit of a girlie boy ! )

[stevers62]

What a TREAT!!! I've never seen a number of those recording session photos, and the footage of NY just makes me want to go back. Lee was SUCH a treasure. I wish more people knew of her great recordings. Thanks for posting!!

[Atticus70]

This fabulous version was recorded in 1950 and not in 1951! Thanks for posting!

[tragester]

Thanks to who ever uploaded this. As I look for music to memorialize my mom's recent passing, this definitely will be a part of my mom's story. I remember listening to this Lee Wiley album when I was a kid visiting my dad's loft in NYC during the early 60's. Thanks for the memories.

[renew2day]

@2:55, there's Judy Garland, in brief view from her movie, "The Clock". Love that movie.

Piper Laurie gave an acclaimed performance of Lee Wiley, in a tv special, "Something About Lee Wiley", sometime ago.

[skbirds]

@renew2day Yep! you caught it! -- that's Judy. I'll have to look for that Piper Laurie special. Would love to see it.

[alkuhn1]

Not ever to be forgotten. Been listening to her records for sixty years or so. Is there anyone better? alkuhn1

[umbro19480824]

私は写真ではなく動くリー・ワイリーが見たい。若い頃の彼女が見­たい。

[Robertgrade]

I loved this one.  Song and scenes.

[warrenclarkable]

Nice one too by Bobby Hackett.

[skbirds]

@warrenclarkable DEFINITELY!

[Nxk71]

Music to my ears

[edwardjames50]

I've always seen a resemblance between Lee Wiley and that fabulous actress, Ann Dvorak.

[skbirds]

@edwardjames50 yes, you're right, I think!

[PureSoapCleans]

Thank you for this gem. I am a young man who happens to love this kind of music and Lee Wiley is one of my favorite singers and also Jo Stafford. Your video clip is also very tastefully done, I thank you for sharing this music here with us, you have an exquisite taste, I can tell for the way you put all this together. Thanks a million!

[baausa]

Lovely rendition of the song and great images. Thanks.

[puffpuffy]

I only love Lee Wiley singing this song!!!

[waki27221]

We'll have Manhattan The Bronx and Staten Island too. It's lovely strolling through The zoo! It's very fancy On old Delancy Street you know. The subway charms us so When balmy breezes blow To and fro. And tell me what street Compares with Mott street In July? Sweet pushcarts gently gli-ding by. The great big city's a wonderous toy Just made for a girl and boy. We'll turn Manhattan Into an isle of joy! We'll go to Yonkers Where true love conquers In the whiles...,

[miltsar]

Lee Wiley...Dawn Powell...Rogers n Hart ! ...what more can I say but thanx !

[stahrmonroe]

love it, but i have to ask, are there no video footages of this lovely woman?

[skbirds]

@stahrmonroe If there are any video/film clips of Lee Wiley, I've yet to find them, and I've searched. If anyone has found any, would love to see them!

[Rena1934]

@skbirds there is nothing, not even her family knows about the existence of one and I've contacted them so I know. How sad!!!!

[croybass]

Hi- Which family did you contact? I can ask around if you're still interested. She's a relative of mine and my okie family have a lot of stuff. I recall some member in California has a lot of stuff too.

[Rena1934]

@croybass I've contacted her nieces Jerrie Willey, Nancy Willey, Toni Willey and Lisa Shewmaker =)

[croybass]

@Rena1934 You've discovered one of her secrets- name "Willey" was a change to "Wiley". We have a "Willey" family reunion every two years and even have a facebook page I've started. I just posted a question to the broader family. though I'd think her nieces would have good info and documents. Some of the family i've posted to are in contact with the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame because of Lee (she was born in Fort Gibson) so they may by chance have something..

[Rena1934]

@croybass but OMG of course I am still interested! I've never given up hope! =)

[croybass]

@Rena1934 Just remembered- Several yrs ago my grandmother showed around a lovely Japanese woman that was producing a movie about Lee.. Lee often stayed with my great-grandmother in Muskogee. Will let you know if I get anything.

[Rena1934]

@croybass sure, I've seen that documentary about the Japanese woman, she was so lucky to have met your grandmother! =) and yeah, please, let me know!! You'd be making someone's dream come true!!! :)

[skbirds]

@Rena1934 yes, it really is! How could that be? With such a great library of wonderful recordings, you would think there would be something on film. So glad you are in contact with her family. i hope they know there are many who still appreciate her.

[edwardjames50]

@stahrmonroe ~ I've never seen Lee Wiley on film, sadly. I tend to think that there is none.

[whenjazzwasking]

Classy singer, one of the originals.

[qualisign]

Hey skbirds:

MANY thanks. Relentlessly f-ing beautiful. For years I've fantasized film versions of Dawn Powell's Manhattan-in-the-40s and 50s novels with LW on the soundtrack. You've converged on what I'd envisioned. Do some more?

Best,

Rob

[skbirds]

@qualisign Thanks! and I love Dawn Powell, too.

[TexasCookie70]

Great video! Lee Wiley was amazing and this is such a great version of "Manhattan". One of the most neglected of the great female jazz singers. Thanks for posting this.

[bigcity233]

Beautifully done! Wiley was a great talent! The pictures of my home town when my parents were young knocked me out - great pics!

[Urbino237]

Great video - accompanying one of the most neglected female jazz vocalists - one of my all-time favourites.

[renenkel]

Beautiful video, very nicely done. Thanks for posting it!

[renata1934]

wow, I uploaded this song to my "leewileyandfriends" account but I gotta say that I admire what you did on this video, those images of old New York and the pictures of Lee, it's a lovely thing! it almost made me cry, that's the NY that she knew :)

thanks!!

[skbirds]

Thank you! I'm so glad that you like it. I love your Lee Wiley posts! More people should have a chance to hear her wonderful recordings.