Kathy Barr

American singer
Kathy Barr
Birth nameMarilyn Sultana Aboulafia
Born(1929-06-04)June 4, 1929
The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
DiedJune 21, 2008(2008-06-21) (aged 79)
Hollywood, Florida
GenresPop, jazz, opera
Occupation(s)Vocalist
LabelsRCA Victor
Spouse(s)
Milton L. Schwartz
​
​
(m. 1954; ann. 1956)​
Irwin H. Glickman
​
(m. 1966)​
Musical artist

Kathy Barr (born Marilyn Sultana Aboulafia; June 4, 1929 – June 21, 2008) was an American vocalist who performed and recorded popular, jazz, musical theater, and operettas. Her stage name was drawn from the first and married surname of her maternal grandmother, Katie Barr.[1]

Biography

Barr was born on June 4, 1929, in the Bronx, New York, to Ovadia "Ovid" Aboulafia (1900–1978), who, himself, was born in Çeşme, Turkey, and Eabeta "Tessie" Barr (1908–1978), a native New Yorker.

Barr flourished from the 1950s through the mid-1960s in musical theater, nightclubs, television, and radio.[2] She was acclaimed for her coloratura soprano range,[3] three and one-half octaves by at least one account (see Annotations below, "Vocal Range Context"),[a][4] and her ability to sing pop, jazz, and classical.

Upon marrying for the second time, in 1965, Barr retired from as a recording artist, although she continued to perform club dates (one-nighters) and regional musical theater productions until around 1968. These later roles included Billy Dawn (Judy Holliday's role) in Born Yesterday (November 25, 1967–January 7, 1968) at the Hamlet Street Theater (now named the Rauh Theater) in Pittsburgh; and a hymn singer seeking to save men's souls in Guys and Dolls, starring Tony Martin, at the Meadowbrook Theater Restaurant in Cedar Grove, New Jersey (May 29, 1968–June 30, 1968).[5]

Personal life

Her first marriage was to Milton ("Milt" or "Milty") Leon Schwartz (1901–1992),[6] on June 20, 1954, in The Bronx. Schwartz, who was 27 years older, had been a saxophonist with the Al Trace Orchestra;[7] he was co-owner with Ralph Mitchell (né Ralph Michelev; 1916–2004) of the acclaimed Chicago jazz club the Preview Lounge, at 7 West Randolph Street, that ran from about 1945 until the summer of 1960. At the same address, Schwartz and Mitchell also owned the Modern Jazz Room (formerly the Encore Room and formerly Mambo City), upstairs.

Her and Schwartz' marriage was annulled in New York Supreme Court on May 28, 1956,[8] refereed by Ed Koch[9] (who years later become Mayor of New York City).

In 1958, news media reported that Aboulafia was officially changing her name to Kathy Barr.[10]

In 1965, in Manhattan, under her birth name, "Marilyn Aboulafia," she married Irwin M. Glickman (1930–2011).[11] In 1966, she and Glickman had a daughter — Sylvia Beth Glickman. In 1968, reflecting on her disappointment about her first marriage, Barr confided that she was happy in her second marriage and declared, "This time, I wanted to work at it."[5]

Barr died in Hollywood, Florida, on June 21, 2008.

Her daughter Sylvia married Jeffrey Zina Johnston in 2005. Sylvia and Jeff had two sons, both born in Hollywood, Florida: John Michael Thunder Johnston, born in 2005, and Lightning James Marshall Hawk Johnston, born in 2008.[citation needed]

Discography

Albums

Label Cat No. Released Album
Artist(s) 		Side A Side B Notes
LPM–1562
November
1957[12]
Follow Me
––––––––––
Kathy Barr
Jerry Fielding
(arranger & conductor)
  1. "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" (audio)
  2. "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" (audio)
  3. "Cuddle up a Little Closer" (audio)
  4. "How Long Has This Been Going On?" (audio)
  5. "I'm Just Wild About Harry" (audio)
  6. "Give Me Something to Remember You By" (audio)
    ––––––––––
    Mx runout H2 PP5757 – 1S I A1
  1. "Bye Bye Blackbird" (audio)
  2. "Love Is Here to Stay" (audio)
  3. "Day In, Day Out" (audio)
  4. "Fine and Dandy" (audio)
  5. "I Know He's Mine" (audio)
  6. "Follow Me" (audio)
    ––––––––––
    Mx runout H2 PP-5758 – 1S I B1
George T. Simon
(sleeve notes)
Sid Kuller
(sleeve notes)
Peter Gowland
(cover photo)[13]
––––––––––
OCLC 12875997 (all editions)
LSO–1000
LOP–1000
SF–5005
EPA–4168
CPS–141
1958

Selections From
The Desert Song[14]
––––––––––
Giorgio Tozzi as The Red Shadow
Kathy Barr as Margo
Peter Palmer (1931–2021)
(supporting role)
Eugene Morgan
(né Eugene Byron Morgan; 1909–1974)
(supporting role)
Warren Galjour
(né Warren Joseph Galjour; 1917–2009)
(supporting role)
With Male Chorus and Orchestra
A. Lehman Engel
(1910–1982)[15]
(conductor)
  1. "Prelude and Opening Chorus" (audio)
  2. "The Riff Song" (audio)
  3. "O' Pretty Maid of France" (audio)
  4. "Why Did We Marry Soldiers?" (audio)
  5. "French Military Marching Song" (audio)
  6. "Romance" (audio)
  7. "Then You Will Know" (audio)
  8. "I Want a Kiss" (audio)
  9. "The Desert Song" (audio)
    ––––––––––
    Mx label H2PP–7449
  1. "Finale" – Act I (audio)
  2. "Opening Chorus" ("My Little Castagnette") – Act II (audio)
  3. "Eastern and Western Love" (audio)
  5. "The Sabre Song" (audio)
  7. "Finale" – Act II (audio)
    ––––––––––
    Mx label H2PP–7450
Leonard Louis Levinson
(1904–1974)
(sleeve notes)
"Beautiful young Kathy Barr is the Margot of our production."
Victor Kalin
(né Victor Benson Kalin; 1919–1991)
(illustration)
––––––––––
OCLC 5857234 (all editions)
A–48
1964

Do It Again
––––––––––
Kathy Barr
Jerry Fielding
(arranger & conductor)
  1. "Just Squeeze Me" (audio)
  2. "Should I" (audio)
  3. "Do It Again" (audio)
  4. "My Sugar Is So Refined" (audio)
  5. "How Come You Do Me Like You Do" (audio)
    ––––––––––
    Mx label HPS–285
  1. "How Little We Know" (audio)
  2. "It All Depends on You" (audio)
  3. "All of You" (audio)
  4. "You're Driving Me Crazy" (audio)
  5. "Don'cha Go 'Way Mad" (audio)
    ––––––––––
    Mx label HPS–286
Peter Whorf Graphics[b]
(né Peter Lee Whorf; 1931–1995)
(design)
Wally Heider
(1922–1989)
(engineer)
Leslie Carr
(liner notes)
(illustration)
Linda Bartlett
(photography)
Recorded at
United Recording Corp.
Hollywood, California
––––––––––
OCLC 796372591 (all editions)

Singles

Label Cat No. Released Artist(s) Side A Side B Notes
RCA Victor
RCA 		20–7036
45–7036
10373 		1957 Kathy Barr
With Orchestra
Directed by
Jerry Fielding 		"Welcome Mat" (audio)[16]
(©1957)
By Jerry Fielding
––––––––––
Mx label H2PW–5447 		"A Slip of the Lip"
(©1957)[17]
By Walter Kent &
Tom Walton
(words & music)
––––––––––
Mx label H2PW–5446 		George T. Simon
(sleeve notes)
Sid Kuller
(sleeve notes)
––––––––––
OCLC 1116161307 (all editions)
EPA–4168
1958

Selections From
The Desert Song
––––––––––
Giorgio Tozzi as The Red Shadow
Kathy Barr as Margo
Peter Palmer (1931–2021)
(supporting role)
Eugene Morgan
(né Eugene Byron Morgan; 1909–1974)
(supporting role)
Warren Galjour
(né Warren Joseph Galjour; 1917–2009)
(supporting role)
With Male Chorus and Orchestra
A. Lehman Engel
(1910–1982)[15]
(conductor)
  1. "The Riff Song" (audio)
  2. "The Desert Song" (audio)
    ––––––––––
    Mx label H 2 PH–7856
  1. "Romance" (audio)
  2. "One Alone"
    ––––––––––
    Mx label H 2 PH–7857
Leonard Louis Levinson
(1904–1974)
(sleeve notes)
"Beautiful young Kathy Barr is the Margot of our production."
Victor Kalin
(né Victor Benson Kalin; 1919–1991)
(illustration)
––––––––––
OCLC 5857234 (all editions)
‡ Audio courtesy of YouTube

Radio transcription disc

  • "Kathy Barr." Magic in Music. Radio transcription disc. Program 42. Series: END-570. Prog. Time 25:00. Armed Forces Radio & Television Service (AFRTS). → via Rand's Esoteric OTR, a blog of Randy Riddle (profile at Duke University) at randsesotericotr.podbean.com. Free access icon[18]
    Note: The program, hosted by Lt. Bob Osterberg, USMC (né Robert Pierce Osterberg; 1929–2016), interviewed Kathy Barr and featured tracks from her new album, Follow Me. The show title, Magic in Music, is titled Magic of Music on the AFRTS disk label.[19][20]

Musical theater roles

  • Marinka, as Marinka (leading soprano role)
Winter Garden Theatre, New York
Australia touring production
Tivoli circuit, Melbourne: Opened May 28, 1948, at the Tivoli Theater, Melbourne[21]
At the age of 19, Barr was elevated to the role of Marinka after being the understudy for Kathryn Grayson[22]
  • Wizard of Oz, as Dorothy Gale (leading soprano role)
Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, August 1 thru August 6, 1949

References

Annotations

  1. ^ Vocal range context: Most people can hit three to four octaves. Mariah Carey has a range of five and one-half octaves, as exhibited in her 1994 hit, "All I Want for Christmas Is You." Prince, some speculate, may have sung notes across six octaves. The "Star Spangled Banner," considered difficult to sing, covers an octave and a half.(Washington Post, December 1, 2022) (Håkansson, Mikkelsen, Jakobsen, Elemans, November 29, 2022)
  2. ^ Peter Whorf (né Peter Lee Whorf; 1931–1995) Richard Whorf was one of three sons of the actor Richard Whorf.

Citations

  1. ^ Naturalization, "Katie Barr," October 29, 1924.
  2. ^ Leader-Herald, December 17, 1953, p. 12.
  3. ^ Journal and Courier, March 8, 1959, p. 20.
  4. ^ Buffalo Evening News, November 25, 1957, p. 39.
  5. ^ a b Morning Call, June 17, 1968, p. 13.
  6. ^ Newsday, December 16, 1953, p. S50.
  7. ^ Down Beat, January 1, 1940, p. 17.
  8. ^ Chicago Daily Tribune, May 25, 1956, p. 2.
  9. ^ Daily News, June 6, 1956, p. 4.
  10. ^ Cedar Rapids Gazette April 22, 1958, p. 24.
  11. ^ New York, Marriage Licenses, 1965.
  12. ^ Cash Box, November 9, 1957, p. 32.
  13. ^ AFRTS (audio), May 2, 1958 (at 11:03).
  14. ^ Hi-Fi, September 1958, pp. 98–99.
  15. ^ a b Claghorn, 1973, p. 142.
  16. ^ "Welcome Mat," 1957, p. 1228.
  17. ^ "A Slip of the Lip," 1957, p. 1444.
  18. ^ Old Radio Times, September-October, 2009, p. 23.
  19. ^ Desert Sun, October 25, 1959, p. 26.
  20. ^ Times-News, October 25, 1959, p. 26.
  21. ^ Argus, May 29, 1948, p. 3.
  22. ^ Argus, April 5, 1948, p. 3.

Sources

  • Argus (The) (April 5, 1948). "Tivoli Stage Shows to be Filmed Here". Argus. No. 31697. Melbourne. p. 3 (cols. 1–3; bottom) – via Trove. Free access icon
  • Argus (The) (May 29, 1948). "Operetta Opens at Tivoli". Argus. No. 31744. Melbourne. p. 5 (col. 1) – via Trove. Free access icon
  • Buffalo Evening News; Lawson, Nell (aka Mrs. Fred Kosslow; né Helen Lawson; 1908–1969) (November 25, 1957). "Disc Date" (column) → "Kathy Barr" (PDF). Vol. 155, no. 39. p. 37 (Section 3; col. 2) – via Fultonhistory.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) Free access icon
    "Kathy Barr, stunning red-haired singer of American birth and Turkish ancestry, has a three and one-half octave voice and the things she does with it in her RCA-Victor debut long-play titled Follow Me are a revelation. She is a subtle interpreter of 'Tip-Toe Through the Tulips,' 'My Heart Belongs to Daddy' (she borrows nothing from Mary Martin), 'Bye, Bye Blackbird,' and others with music arranged and conducted by Jerry Fielding."
  • Cedar Rapids Gazette (The) (April 22, 1958). "Pretty Singer to Change Her Name". Vol. 76, no. 103. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  • Chicago Daily Tribune; Lyons, Herb (May 25, 1956). "Tower Ticker" (column) "Milt Schwartz". Vol. 115, no. 125. p. 2 (Part 2; digital image 18) – via Newspapers.com.
    "Still good friends."
  • Chicago Tribune Magazine (Section 9); Leonard, Will (né William Daniel Leonard; 1912–1977) (December 15, 1974). "The Jazz and the Glory". pp. 43 (digital image 220), 44, 47, 49–50 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • Håkansson, Jonas; Mikkelsen, Cathrine; Jakobsen, Lasse; Elemans, Coen P.H., PhD (November 29, 2022). "Bats Expand Their Vocal Range by Recruiting Different Laryngeal Structures for Echolocation and Social Communication". PLOS Biology. 20 (11): e3001881. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3001881. PMC 9707786. PMID 36445872.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) Open access icon LCCN 2003-212293 (publication); ISSN 1544-9173 (print), ISSN 1545-7885 (online); OCLC 52767259 (all editions) (publication); doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3001881 (article); EBSCOhost 160486282 (article).
  • Herald Statesman (The) (December 19, 1974). "Obituaries" → "Eugene Morgan". Vol. 112, no. 31. p. 16 (col. 2, top) – via Newspapers.com.
  • Hi-Fi; Thornton, John Robert (1914–1994) (September 1958). "Stereo Reels and Records" → "Romberg: The Desert Song – Highlights" (PDF). Hi-Fi. Vol. 1, no. 8. New York: Ziff-Davis Publishing Co. pp. 98–99 – via WorldRadioHistory.com, a site maintained by David Frackelton Gleason (born 1946), Cleveland.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) Free access icon LCCN 87-644437; ISSN 2689-6176; OCLC 5994920 (all editions).
  • Morning Call (The); Lewis, Dan (June 17, 1968). "Kathy Barr Can't Quit". Vol. 172, no. 145. Paterson, New Jersey: Donald Gowen Borg (1906–1975) (publisher). p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  • Daily News; Albelli, Alfred Abraham (1901–1983) (June 6, 1956). "No Kids to Hug Her, Educated Bosom, Sues". Daily News. Vol. 37, no. 297 (Late ed.). p. 4 (digital image 376) – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • Desert Sun (The) (January 10, 2016). "Robert 'Red Barron' Osterberg" (paid notice: obituary). Vol. 89, no. 86. Palm Springs, California. p. 30A.
    Via:
    1. Legacy.com. (ID: 16422651) Free access icon.
    2. Newspapers.com.
    3. ProQuest (US Newsstream).
    4. ProQuest (US Newsstream).
  • Journal and Courier; Flowers, James (March 8, 1958). "Gave Up Math – Accident Turns Actress Into a Singer". Lafayette, Indiana: Central Press Association. p. 20 (digital image 36) – via Newspapers.com.
    "Of Turkish ancestry, Kathy was born in Manhattan, the only child of Tess and George Aboulafia. Christened Marilyn Sultana, she took her professional name from her grandmother when she decided on a singing career."
  • Newsday; Wilson, Earl (December 16, 1953). "It Happened Last Night" (syndicated column) "Big-Name Hunter ... ". Vol. 14, no. 87 (Final, Long Island ed.). p. S50 (digital image 49) – via Newspapers.com.
  • Old Radio Times (The) (September–October 2009). "OTRR Acquires New Episodes & Upgraded Sound Encodes for July/Aug". → "Magic of Music". "Kathy Barr". No. 45. p. 23. OCLC 763181778.
    1. Via OTRR blog (PDF) – via www.otrr.org. Free access icon
    2. Via Internet Archive. 22 February 2020. Free access icon
  • Times-News (The) (October 25, 1959). "Was Announcer for Marine Players" – "Marine, T.F. Man, Looking Forward to Reunion as Band Plays Here Today". Vol. 41, no. 193. Twin Falls, Idaho. p. 26.
    1. Via Newspapers.com.
    2. Via Internet Archive. 25 October 1959. Free access icon
  • Washington Post; Somasundaram, Praveena (December 1, 2022). "Mariah Carey's Vocal Range Is Better Than Most Humans'. Bats Surpass It". ISSN 2641-9599
    1. Via blog. ProQuest 2743827933 (US Newsstream database)
  • "Naturalization Petition: Katie Barr." New York, U.S., State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1794–1943. Re: Katie Barr – Birth date: September 12, 1884 → Birth place: Tadnapel, Austria → Arrival date: June 29, 1894 → Arrival place: New York, New York → Spouse: Max → Petition No. 56497. October 29, 1924 – via Ancestry.com.
  • New York, New York, Marriage License Indexes, 1907–2018. Re: Irwin Glickman and Marilyn Aboulafia → Manhattan, New York City → 1965 → License Number: 5088 – via Ancestry.com.
Copyrights
  • Catalogue of Copyright Entries. "Third Series." "Music".Vol. 11, Part 5, No. 2. July–December 1957. "A Slip of the Lip". © Mayfair Music Corp.; 19 July 1957; Class E (musical composition) Unpublished [EU]485831. U.S. Govt. Print. Off. 1957. p. 1444 – via Internet Archive (University of Michigan Library). Free access icon
  • Vol. 11, Part 5, No. 2. July–December 1957. "I Wouldn't Let You Wipe Your Feet off on My Nice Clean Welcome Mat". © Arpege Music Co.; 30 August 1957; Class E (musical composition) Unpublished [EU]490815. U.S. Govt. Print. Off. 1957. p. 1228 – via Internet Archive (University of Michigan Library). Free access icon

External links

  • Brooklyn Eagle; Salerno, Alfred "Al" (1918–2008) (May 29, 1951). "Brooklyn and Broadway Nightlife" (column) "Contract for Kathy Barr". Vol. 110, no. 148 (Late News ed.). p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • Nostalgia and Now; Gasten, David (May 13, 2011). "Meet 50's Cheesecake Singer: Kathy Barr". Nostalgia and Now, the WordPress blog of Andrew John Godfrey of Sulphur, Louisiana. The author, David Gasten, is (or was) connected with the blog, This Is Vintage, of Swing City Productions, Los Angeles. Retrieved August 20, 2013. Free access icon
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