Dorothy Lamour - The Moon Of Manakoora, 1943

Dorothy LAMOUR (née Mary Leta Dorothy Slaton) (b. 1914 New Orleans -- d. 1996, LA California). From the age of 4 she sung in the charity shows, at 14 she won a Miss Orleand beauty contest. When her mother re-married she moved to Chicago where she worked an elevator attendant in a department store and continued singing as Dorothy Lambour. In 1934 she was noticed by the bandleader Harry Kaye in a singing talents contest -- whom she married the foloowing year. As his band's vocalist she moved to NYC, where they both were engaged in a radio work and she made her first film appearance in a „B" movie short „The Stars Can't Be Wrong". Following this -- and with surname altered into „Lamour" she transferred to Los Angeles where she had her regular singing spot in NBC and passed a Paramount test for „The Jungle Princess" (1936). In this movie for the first time she wore her fateful sarong, which made her a nickname and a trademark „The Sarong Girl" for ever. That film was followed by a string of the movie successes: „Swing High, Swing Low" (1937) with Fred Mac Murray and Carole Lombard, „In High, Wide And Handsome" (1937) with Irene Dunne and Randolph Scott, „The Hurricane" (1937) with Jon Hall and Mary Astor -- a real breakthrough in her career, which elevated her to star status. The song „The Moon Of Manakoora" composed for that movie by a distinguished Connecticut-born pianist and conductor Alfred Newman provided Dorothy Lamour with her evergreen theme and a classic tune still performed today.

Recording:

Dorothy Lamour with Dick McIntire & His Harmony Hawaiians - The Moon Of Manakoora (Alfred Newman / Fred Loesser) (from the 1937 Universal picture "The Hurricane"), Decca 1943

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Hollywood
• star
• 1930s
• 1940s
• Hawaii
• movie
• classic
• legends
• film
• history
• 78s
• skellack
• nostalgia

[jbonfiglio85]

Gotta love Dick McIntire, one of the greatest steel guitarist

[acla9000]

Besides being a beautiful woman, she had a soft and agreeable voice! Thanks for posting!

[astaire8]

WE LOVED DOROTHY'S FILMS DURING WW2 HERE IN THE UK.

THEY BROUGHT A TOUCH OF MAGIC - HAPPY MEMORIES FOR ME...

Thank you so much..........

[trajan75]

My uncle was in the 1st Marine Division. He was at Guadalcanal and Peleliu, I believe. He never saw a native girl in a sarong or anyone who resembled Dorothy Lamour. He was happy to get back to the Bronx.

[sjk72]

@tenndawg65 No autotune?

[cuntylishus]

I would have (back then, obviously, ain't messing with no geriatrics!)

[EdwJenkins]

I heard this song by her wher i was very young and am still in love with her.I play this song on youtube ubder the name Buddy Jenkins but she gives it meaning. thanks for the memory Dorthy, one of your used to be very young love sick kids, Buddy Jenkins

[itaips]

vagabunda boa!

[tenndawg65]

The thing I love about singers and recordings of this era, no electronics. Just pure, raw vocal talent & passion.

[baghend]

Ohhh Ohh Ohhh Dorothy

gosh how many WW 2 guys had her photo in their helmets? Loved this song in The Hurricane- still and always a classic.

Did she have a happy life? I hope so.

-Bill

[majinmanzanera56]

Esa vos esa melodia

inquietan mi Alma

[jrakg]

Once heard, when I was a child, and never forgotten. - John Austin, Australia