Lee Wiley, "Looking at You" (1939)

"Looking at you,
I'm filled with the essence of,
the quintessence of,
joy. 
Looking at you, /
I hear poets tellin' of
lovely Helen of
Troy."

-- Cole Porter, lyric writng at its most inspired

The great jazz singer Lee Wiley was part Cherokee Indian. A tall, handsome woman with olive skin and blonde hair, she was born in Port Gibson, Okla., on Oct. 9, 1915. She ran away from home at age 15. Two years later she sang with Leo Rieisman's band.  Her voice was gently husky, warmly sensual. Hearing her at a nightclub wsas an unforgettable experience. She died at 60./ (See New York Times, December 12, 1975). -- DL 

Comments

[Anne Harding Woodworth]

the quintessence of . . . lovely Helen of—

It doesn’t get any better than that. Thanks

[Robert Wrigley]

I can't understand how I could have been unaware of Lee Wiley before today.

[David Lehman]

She's terrific! I'm glad I could introduce her to you.