Dawn, Dolly (1916–2002)

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Dawn, Dolly (1916–2002)

American big-band singer. Name variations: Billie Starr. Born Theresa Maria Stabile, Feb 3, 1916, in Newark, New Jersey; died Dec 11, 2002, in Englewood, New Jersey; cousin of Dick Stabile (bandleader).

Launched career as Billie Starr; given the name Dolly Dawn, sang with George Hall's orchestra (1935), which broadcast nationally six days a week from the Taft hotel on CBS radio; led a group of 7 carved out of the band called "Dolly Dawn and Her Dawn Patrol"; granted leadership of the band by Hall who became her manager (1941); hit records include "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie," "You're a Sweetheart," "Robins and Roses" and "Little Yellow Basket"; recordings reissued (1976 and 2001). Walter Winchell coined the term "canary" for female singers when referring to her; inducted into Big Band Hall of Fame (1998).

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