Toni Harper-Dunlap

Toni Harper, who began her life as a jazz-singing child star, died in Palm Desert, CA on February 10th, 2023. She was 85 years old.

Toni trained in dance under Maceo Anderson. Her singing career began at seven when choreographer Nick Castle overheard her improvising jazz riffs. She performed her first international platinum hit "Candy Store Blues" at 9 years old in 1946 on the Ed Sullivan show. She also appeared on the Frank Sinatra show, and she headlined at Carnegie Hall in 1949 at 11 years old for Sarah Vaughn. Sarah Vaughn was her lifelong friend and mentor.

As an adult, Toni recorded for Verve, RCA and Columbia records and performed with greats Marty Paich, the Oscar Peterson quartet and others. She performed at Birdland with Count Basey and she sang at the famous Apollo theater. Toni toured Japan with Cannonball Adderley's sextet in 1963. She appeared in several films including How to Stuff a Wild Bikini in 1965.

After retiring from performing in 1966, Toni met the love of her life, Ron Dunlap, and she went on to have a high level career in the US Postal Service as assistant director of budgets for all of Los Angeles. She retired at 55 to spend more time with her grandchildren and Ron.

To all who knew her, she was a charismatic, bigger-than-life personality who knew how to find joy and creativity in every day. She is survived by her step-son and daughter-in-law, her beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren, her companion Charlie, and many friends. Toni was deeply loved and will be sorely missed.