Julie London: The Intimate Voice of Cool Jazz and Pop

Julie London was an American singer and actress whose signature style blended jazz, pop, and blues into a uniquely intimate sound. Hailing from Santa Rosa, California, she is best remembered for her sultry, understated vocal delivery on the multi-million-selling single "Cry Me a River," which became her definitive career hit.

Early Career

Born Julie Peck in 1926, she was discovered while working as an elevator operator and began her career as a film actress in the 1940s. Her transition to singing began more informally, with her 1955 debut album, "Julie Is Her Name," famously recorded in a single session with only bass and guitar accompaniment.

Breakthrough

London's breakthrough was immediate with the release of that debut album and its lead single, "Cry Me a River," in 1955. The song became a massive commercial success, selling over one million copies and propelling the album to number two on the Billboard charts, establishing her as a new voice in cool jazz and pop.

Key Tracks

Cry Me a River - This Arthur Hamilton composition became her signature song, defining her smoky, confessional style and achieving gold certification.

Fly Me to the Moon - Her 1963 rendition on the album "Latin in a Satin Mood" showcased her ability to reinvent popular standards with a smooth, bossa nova inflection.

You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To - A standout track from her debut that perfectly encapsulated the sparse, intimate jazz trio setting that became her trademark.

Throughout the late 1950s and 1960s, Julie London released a prolific string of albums for Liberty Records, including "Lonely Girl," "About the Blues," and "Make Love to Me," often collaborating with arranger and conductor Bobby Troup, whom she later married. Her music, while not always topping the charts, maintained a consistent presence and cultivated a dedicated audience drawn to her intimate vocal jazz style. She also continued her acting career, most notably appearing on television in the medical drama "Emergency!" alongside Troup.

Similar artists who explored intimate vocal jazz and pop from the same era include Peggy Lee, who shared a talent for subtle, nuanced phrasing. June Christy offered a similar cool jazz approach from the West Coast scene. The music of Julie London also finds a stylistic cousin in the early work of Chris Connor, another adept interpreter of jazz standards.

The music of Julie London remains a staple on classic jazz and easy listening radio stations, featured across various online radio streams that celebrate mid-century vocalists. Her recordings continue to be discovered by new listeners through these curated radio formats.

Listeners can explore the timeless cool jazz and pop catalog of Julie London on the radio stations featured here.