At the MGM, they used to keep the Brown Derby restaurant open for me so I could go in there after a show - and they’d keep the pianist on too. I landed up in there one night with Shirley Bassey after she had been to see my show. Two Welsh battlers for whom, whatever you wanted to say, life hadn’t worked out too bad. We sang some songs. I did ‘Kansas City’. Shirley decided to do ‘Summertime”. The pianist wanted to know what key she would like to sing it in. Shirley said, ‘No idea, love. I sing in the cracks’. I hadn’t heard anyone use that expression since I was in the clubs in Wales. Then she sang it, unaccompanied. Shook the walls. Brilliant
I know it ain’t gonna happen but wouldn’t it be cool to hear DSB’s showbiz stories in her own autobiography. We can but dream. Cheers Mike K
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