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Judy Garland

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Judy Garland was born in 1922 as Frances Ethel Gumm in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Her parents were vaudeville performers and she was on stage by the age of two, together with her two older sisters as The Gumm Sisters. Later the sisters chose the name Garland. In 1935, at thirteen, she signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. At first she got small parts in ensemble musicals. Her breakthrough came with Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz (1939), which also made her signature song Over the Rainbow famous.

Music and breakthrough

She then played leading roles in MGM musicals such as Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), Easter Parade (1948) and Summer Stock (1950). In A Star Is Born (1954) and Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) she showed that she could handle dramatic roles too, and for both she received an Oscar nomination. She recorded eleven studio albums between 1939 and 1962. With her live record Judy at Carnegie Hall (1961) she became the first woman to win a Grammy for Album of the Year. Her voice was a powerful contralto, which she used in many genres.

Influence

Garland struggled with dependence on medication, which damaged her health. She died in 1969, aged 47. Her films and recordings were preserved in the American national archives, and six of her recordings were given a place in the Grammy Hall of Fame. For pop history she is important as the great singer of the classic film musical, who sang and acted in one breath.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Over the Rainbow. Notice the big leap at the start of the melody and how her voice begins warm and almost whispering and slowly grows stronger.

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Categories: Artists