Dianh Shore 1980 Inductee

Photo
Dinah      Shore
1980 Inductee
 

Dinah Shore, with her "silky, light-as-air voice," was one of the most popular recording stars of the forties.  Through her
sunny optimism and southern charm, she was able to maintain a presence in American broadcasting for more than 50
years.  She was named to the list of the "most admired woman in the world" four times.
Dinah was born Frances Rose Shore in Winchester, Tennessee in 1917.  While at Vanderbilt University, she sang at a
local radio station and took the name Dinah from her show's theme song, the Ethel Waters blues-inspired "Dinah".
      Her career then took her to New York in 1937, where she sang with the Xavier Cugat band and made her recording
debut with Cugat ("The Breeze and I").  She recorded more than 70 hit songs, the first of which was "Yes, My Darling
Daughter" in 1940.  That success was quickly followed by such hits as "Blues in the Night," "Shoo Fly Pie," "Buttons
and Bows," and "Dear Hearts and Gentle People."  During World War II, Dinah entertained American troops in Europe,
becoming the first woman to visit GIs on the front lines.  She won the USO Medallion Award for her service.
     She appeared in several movies and in the 1950s, established herself as a TV star, hosting first The Dinah Shore
Show and later The Dinah Shore Chevy Show.  Her show's signature song, "See the USA in your Chevrolet, America's
the greatest land of all," helped make the low-priced Chevy the most widely selling car up to that point in history. She is
most remembered for blowing her viewers a big kiss at the end of each show.
     After the Chevy Show, Dinah went on to host three daytime television programs.  Her TV career ended in 1991 on
cable TV where she hosted A Conversation with Dinah on the Nashville Network.
     Dinah founded the Dinah Shore Classic, one of the first money-winning tournaments for women golfers, in 1972.
She received Emmy Awards in 1956, 1957, 1973, 1974, and 1976 for Best Female Singer, Best Female Personality,
and Best Actress in a Musical or Variety Series.  She died of cancer in 1994.

Page updated January 1, 2004   page created October 22, 2003

Page research and presentation by Doris Tucker, Infoage Virtual Volunteer