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Born in Medford, Massachusetts in 1923, her father was Robert E. Wood, a Boston radio singer in the 1920s, who with wife Gertrude Anderson-Wood, was the influence which had encouraged both Gloria and her older sister Donna to cultivate their vocal skills. Shortly after leaving high school in 1941, Gloria joined Donna in The [[Horace Heidt]] Band. In 1947, [[Kay Kyser]] offered Gloria the emotional problem of replacing Donna in his Campus Kids vocal group when she died on April 8, 1947 at the age of 29. Wood also became the lead singer for Kyser on occasion and enjoyed several hits. She went on to become one of the members of [[Judd Conlon#The Rhythmaires|The Rhythmaires]] vocal group which worked with [[Bing Crosby]] for almost ten years. Crosby would occasionally showcase her apart from the group, notably on the [[Philco Radio Time|Philco]] shows of March 17 and 31, 1948 when, in duet with him, she reprised her Kyser success, "Saturday Date." They sang another of her Kyser hits, "[[(I'd Like to Get You on a) Slow Boat to China|On a Slow Boat to China]]" on Philco June 1, 1949. She can also be heard on Crosby's 1950 recording and subsequent air checks of "[[Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (song)|Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer]]," where she supplies the voice of Rudolph.<ref name="auto">{{cite journal |last=McQuade |first=Martin |title=Zing a Little Zong |journal=BING magazine |date=Winter 2007 |pages=36–42 }}</ref> Her recording of "The Woody Woodpecker Song" with Kyser's orchestra sold more than 4 million copies.<ref name="dn">{{cite news |title=Gloria Wood Has Vocal Talent |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26447331/gloria_wood/ |accessdate=23 December 2018 |work=The Daily Notes |agency=United Press |date=April 30, 1958 |location=Pennsylvania, Canonsburg |page=2|via = [[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
Born in Medford, Massachusetts in 1923, her father was Robert E. Wood, a Boston radio singer in the 1920s, who with wife Gertrude Anderson-Wood, was the influence which had encouraged both Gloria and her older sister Donna to cultivate their vocal skills. Shortly after leaving high school in 1941, Gloria joined Donna in The [[Horace Heidt]] Band. In 1947, [[Kay Kyser]] offered Gloria the emotional problem of replacing Donna in his Campus Kids vocal group when she died on April 8, 1947 at the age of 29. Wood also became the lead singer for Kyser on occasion and enjoyed several hits. She went on to become one of the members of [[Judd Conlon#The Rhythmaires|The Rhythmaires]] vocal group which worked with [[Bing Crosby]] for almost ten years. Crosby would occasionally showcase her apart from the group, notably on the [[Philco Radio Time|Philco]] shows of March 17 and 31, 1948 when, in duet with him, she reprised her Kyser success, "Saturday Date." They sang another of her Kyser hits, "[[(I'd Like to Get You on a) Slow Boat to China|On a Slow Boat to China]]" on Philco June 1, 1949. She can also be heard on Crosby's 1950 recording and subsequent air checks of "[[Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (song)|Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer]]," where she supplies the voice of Rudolph.<ref name="auto">{{cite journal |last=McQuade |first=Martin |title=Zing a Little Zong |journal=BING magazine |date=Winter 2007 |pages=36–42 }}</ref> Her recording of "The Woody Woodpecker Song" with Kyser's orchestra sold more than 4 million copies.<ref name="dn">{{cite news |title=Gloria Wood Has Vocal Talent |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26447331/gloria_wood/ |accessdate=23 December 2018 |work=The Daily Notes |agency=United Press |date=April 30, 1958 |location=Pennsylvania, Canonsburg |page=2|via = [[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>


Wood also had an extensive film career as a [[ghost singer]], her earliest venture in this field being in ''[[Diamond Horseshoe]]''. Uncredited, she is the voice of [[Adele Jergens]] in [[The Bowery Boys]] movie, ''[[Blues Busters (film)|Blues Busters]]''; and one of the voices (with Trudy Stevens) of [[Vera-Ellen]] in ''[[White Christmas (film)|White Christmas]]''. Twice she was a partial stand-in for [[Marilyn Monroe]] in ''[[River of No Return]]'' and ''[[Let's Make Love]]''.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,936931,00.html |title=Nobody Knows Gloria Wood |journal=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=26 May 1958 |issn=0040-781X}}</ref> She appears in ''[[Gaby (film)|Gaby]]'' singing "[[Where or When]]," and sang for one of the twins in ''[[The Parent Trap (1961 film)|The Parent Trap]]'', Ladyfish in ''[[The Incredible Mr. Limpet]]'' and [[Lucille Ball]]'s young nephew in ''[[Mame (film)|Mame]]''.<ref name="auto"/>
Wood also had an extensive film career as a [[ghost singer]], her earliest venture in this field being in ''[[Diamond Horseshoe]]''. Uncredited, she is the voice of [[Adele Jergens]] in [[The Bowery Boys]] movie, ''[[Blues Busters (film)|Blues Busters]]''; and one of the voices (with Trudy Stevens) of [[Vera-Ellen]] in ''[[White Christmas (film)|White Christmas]]''. Twice she was a partial stand-in for [[Marilyn Monroe]] in ''[[River of No Return]]'' and ''[[Let's Make Love]]''.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,936931,00.html |title=Nobody Knows Gloria Wood |journal=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=26 May 1958 |issn=0040-781X}}</ref> She appears in ''[[Gaby (film)|Gaby]]'' singing "[[Where or When]]," and sang for one of the twins in ''[[The Parent Trap (1961 film)|The Parent Trap]]'', Ladyfish in ''[[The Incredible Mr. Limpet]]'' and [[Lucille Ball]]'s young nephew in ''[[Mame (film)|Mame]]''.<ref name="auto"/>


Wood recorded more than 2,500 singing commercials both on radio and television.<ref name="lsj">{{cite news |last1=Hackett |first1=Walt |title='Voice' Can Be Artistic |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26444641/gloria_wood/ |accessdate=23 December 2018 |work=Lansing State Journal |date=August 10, 1958 |location=Michigan, Lansing |page=47|via = [[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> One of the best known of these was for [[Rice-A-Roni]] (…the San Francisco treat); but she may be best remembered as the voice of the orbiting Tinker Bell in the [[Peter Pan (peanut butter)|Peter Pan]] peanut butter ads. Wood was utilized on numerous cartoons, beginning in 1948 in [[Walter Lantz]]'s ''[[Wet Blanket Policy]]'', where she was heard singing the famous [[Woody Woodpecker]] Song. On television, Wood supplied various voices for The Bugs and Daffy Show and That's Warner Bros.!; as well as that of [[Minnie Mouse]] and other characters on several [[Walt Disney]] programs.<ref name="auto"/> Wood wed in 1955, and it was around this time that she joined The [[Johnny Mann]] Singers.<ref name="auto"/>
Wood recorded more than 2,500 singing commercials both on radio and television.<ref name="lsj">{{cite news |last1=Hackett |first1=Walt |title='Voice' Can Be Artistic |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26444641/gloria_wood/ |accessdate=23 December 2018 |work=Lansing State Journal |date=August 10, 1958 |location=Michigan, Lansing |page=47|via = [[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> One of the best known of these was for [[Rice-A-Roni]] (…the San Francisco treat); but she may be best remembered as the voice of the orbiting Tinker Bell in the [[Peter Pan (peanut butter)|Peter Pan]] peanut butter ads. Wood was utilized on numerous cartoons, beginning in 1948 in [[Walter Lantz]]'s ''[[Wet Blanket Policy]]'', where she was heard singing the famous [[Woody Woodpecker]] Song. On television, Wood supplied various voices for The Bugs and Daffy Show and That's Warner Bros.!; as well as that of [[Minnie Mouse]] and other characters on several [[Walt Disney]] programs.<ref name="auto"/> Wood wed in 1955, and it was around this time that she joined The [[Johnny Mann]] Singers.<ref name="auto"/>
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[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:20th-century women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American women singers]]

Revision as of 17:40, 16 June 2019

For the film actress born with this name, see K. T. Stevens.
Gloria Wood
Born(1923-09-08)September 8, 1923
Medford, Massachusetts
DiedMarch 4, 1995(1995-03-04) (aged 71)
Los Angeles, California
Occupation(s)Singer, voice actress
Years active1941–1995

Gloria Wood (September 8, 1923 – March 4, 1995) was an American singer and voice actress. Her rare voice was in the four-octave range. She was able to imitate other voices.

Background and career

Born in Medford, Massachusetts in 1923, her father was Robert E. Wood, a Boston radio singer in the 1920s, who with wife Gertrude Anderson-Wood, was the influence which had encouraged both Gloria and her older sister Donna to cultivate their vocal skills. Shortly after leaving high school in 1941, Gloria joined Donna in The Horace Heidt Band. In 1947, Kay Kyser offered Gloria the emotional problem of replacing Donna in his Campus Kids vocal group when she died on April 8, 1947 at the age of 29. Wood also became the lead singer for Kyser on occasion and enjoyed several hits. She went on to become one of the members of The Rhythmaires vocal group which worked with Bing Crosby for almost ten years. Crosby would occasionally showcase her apart from the group, notably on the Philco shows of March 17 and 31, 1948 when, in duet with him, she reprised her Kyser success, "Saturday Date." They sang another of her Kyser hits, "On a Slow Boat to China" on Philco June 1, 1949. She can also be heard on Crosby's 1950 recording and subsequent air checks of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer," where she supplies the voice of Rudolph.[1] Her recording of "The Woody Woodpecker Song" with Kyser's orchestra sold more than 4 million copies.[2]

Wood also had an extensive film career as a ghost singer, her earliest venture in this field being in Diamond Horseshoe. Uncredited, she is the voice of Adele Jergens in The Bowery Boys movie, Blues Busters; and one of the voices (with Trudy Stevens) of Vera-Ellen in White Christmas. Twice she was a partial stand-in for Marilyn Monroe in River of No Return and Let's Make Love.[3] She appears in Gaby singing "Where or When," and sang for one of the twins in The Parent Trap, Ladyfish in The Incredible Mr. Limpet and Lucille Ball's young nephew in Mame.[1]

Wood recorded more than 2,500 singing commercials both on radio and television.[4] One of the best known of these was for Rice-A-Roni (…the San Francisco treat); but she may be best remembered as the voice of the orbiting Tinker Bell in the Peter Pan peanut butter ads. Wood was utilized on numerous cartoons, beginning in 1948 in Walter Lantz's Wet Blanket Policy, where she was heard singing the famous Woody Woodpecker Song. On television, Wood supplied various voices for The Bugs and Daffy Show and That's Warner Bros.!; as well as that of Minnie Mouse and other characters on several Walt Disney programs.[1] Wood wed in 1955, and it was around this time that she joined The Johnny Mann Singers.[1]

Wood died on March 4, 1995 from complications of diabetes. At that time, she was known as Gloria Wood-McGeorge.

Cartoon voices

History and discography

References

  1. ^ a b c d McQuade, Martin (Winter 2007). "Zing a Little Zong". BING magazine: 36–42.
  2. ^ "Gloria Wood Has Vocal Talent". The Daily Notes. Pennsylvania, Canonsburg. United Press. April 30, 1958. p. 2. Retrieved 23 December 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Nobody Knows Gloria Wood". Time. 26 May 1958. ISSN 0040-781X.
  4. ^ Hackett, Walt (August 10, 1958). "'Voice' Can Be Artistic". Lansing State Journal. Michigan, Lansing. p. 47. Retrieved 23 December 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
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