Biography
Born in England, big-band vocalist Beryl Davis grew up on the road with the orchestra fronted by her father, bandleader Harry Davis, eventually stepping forward as its featured singer. She next performed across Europe in the company of Stéphane Grappelli, George Shearing, and Ted Heath. Recruited in 1944 into Glenn Miller’s Army Air Force Orchestra, she remained with the unit after his death to entertain the troops alongside Johnny Desmond and the Crew Chiefs. Bob Hope discovered her and introduced her to Hollywood audiences on his program; she then spent a year performing duets with Frank Sinatra on Your Hit Parade. Engagements with Benny Goodman, Vaughn Monroe, and David Rose came afterward. In 1954 she united with Jane Russell, Rhonda Fleming, and Connie Haines to establish a gospel quartet whose recordings included the hit “Do Lord.” Davis sustained the big-band tradition in later decades through appearances with Mel Tormé, the Gene Krupa Orchestra, and the Kay Kyser Band, as well as on the tour A Salute to Glenn Miller. She died in October 2011 at age 87 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.