Joni James pictured on the cover of her 1962 I'm Your Girl album.
Joni James was born Giovanna ‘Joan’ Carmello Babbo on September 2, 1930. She later tired of all the mispronunciations of her name and it was changed to Joni James.
Her 1952 recording of Why Don’t You Believe Me was No.1 for six weeks and she had six other songs that reached the Top 10 Hits list. She retired from the music industry in 1964 to take care of her her sick husband Tony Acquaviva until his death in 1986.
After his death she returned to the music industry but couldn’t regain the magic of the 1950′s she sold millions of records.
Her website mentions no concerts since 2003 so she is apparently retired and will be 74 next week.
Joni singing Maybe You’ll Be There one of the best easy listening songs I have ever heard.
Joni singing the Frank Sinatra hit You Make Me Feel So Young
