Apr 28, 1926 – Feb 7, 2009
Blossom Dearie, born on Apr 28, 1926 in East Durham, NY, passed away on Feb 07, 2009 in New York, NY.
Obituary
NEW YORK (AP) — Blossom Dearie, a classically trained pianist who transformed herself into a jazz singer with a unique baby-doll voice heard in New York and London cabarets for three decades, has died at 82.
Dearie died of natural causes Saturday at her Manhattan home, said her manager, Donald Schaffer. No specific cause of death was given.
"She lived for her music, and she lived to perform her music. She had impeccable taste," Schaffer said.
Born April 29, 1926, in East Durham, N.Y., Marguerite Blossom Dearie dropped her first name to bolster a musical career that began with early training in piano and moved to jazz vocals. By the mid-1940s, she was a member of the Blue Flames, associated with Woody Herman's orchestra and with the Alvino Rey band.
Dearie began her solo career in postwar Paris. With an octet called the Blue Stars, she recorded a French version of the jazz standard "Lullaby of Birdland." She was briefly married to Belgian saxophonist Bobby Jaspar and later signed a six-album contract with jazz impresario Norman Granz, the owner of Verve Records. The New York Times called the resulting albums cult classics.
Dearie appeared regularly at London nightclubs in the 1960s. She founded her own label, Daffodil Records, in New York in 1974, writing the music to lyrics by Johnny Mercer and others. She gained national attention by appearing on NBC's "Today" show during its early years.
Dearie liked to poke fun at composers she thought pretentious or overrated. A favorite target was Andrew Lloyd Webber, responsible for the music for "Jesus Christ Superstar" and other hit musicals.
Her last record was the 2003 single "It's All Right to be Afraid," dedicated to victims and survivors of the Sept. 11 terror attacks. She last performed in 2006 at a cabaret in midtown Manhattan.
She is survived by an older brother, a niece and a nephew.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press
May God give you strength and comfort during this difficult time. I am so sorry for your loss. Sending sincere condolences and prayers to her family and friends. She is greatly missed. Please take comfort in knowing that she touched the lives of so many.
Jen Kessler
February 12, 2025
Her voice may have been childlike, but her musicianship was mature and admired by many other musicians. Some of her renditions of popular songs were perfection. I'd put her "Surrey with the Fringe on Top" against any other I've ever heard.
ANGUS BROWNFIELD
November 16, 2022 | Friend
Blossom Dearie's sweet soft voice is one that should be heard by all. Her character and personality is something that would be immediately welcoming in person. Her music and piano playing helps me forget all my troubles and lifts my mood almost immediately. An absolute angel of a woman. Bless her soul!!
M G
November 29, 2021
I found out I have many things similar to Dearie. Me and her have similar first names (Margery and Margrete), Born same month with very close dates, born in the same state. Wouldve loved to meet her and bring this up.. its almost fate to discover this lovely woman !
Margery Gonzalez
November 29, 2021 | New York, NY
I'm too young to have grown up with Blossom Dearie. I discovered her listening to an interview on NPR's "Fresh Air" with Teri Gross. It was almost instant magic. The lovely gentle, tender and vulnerable quality of her voice and music touched my heart in a unique way and always will.
L B
November 02, 2020 | Philadelpia, PA
Blossom Dearie was brought to my attention when attending a dinner party in Sydney Australia in the 1980’s I purchased soon after and have enjoyed them ever since.
John Stagg
September 23, 2020 | Significant Other
It was as a student in the 1960s that I first encountered Blossom. She had a late night show on BBC radio. She became a much-valued friend. It was not just her music--especially, "Soon It's Gonna Rain", a particular favourite--but also her manner; gentle, confidential, lightly humourous--hers was the approach of a civil and uplifting presence I greatly needed in those very demanding days. I had a small room in the top floor of a North London (Muswell Hill) Rooming House. From there I could...
Michael Vickers
April 07, 2020 | East Grinstead, Sussex
One of a kind is an overused phrase, but in Blossom Dearie's case it is spot-on. Everyone that enjoyed her music (in case they missed this one selection of hers) should listen to Gershwin's composition "Little Jazz Bird". This is a clear, quiet and snappy performance of a beautifully simple melody created by one of our best composers. To me this is emblematic of Blossom's wonderful work.
Barry Nulph
November 01, 2017 | Palm Desert, CA
1 x 8 =8
2 x 8 = 16
3 x 8 = 24
4 x 8 = 32
and 5 x 8 = 40, you know
6 x 8 = 48
7 x 8 = 56
8 x 8 = 64
9 x 8 = 72
and 10 x 8 = 80, that's true
Cartoon Man
July 11, 2017 | Walkersville, MD
