Kate Smith American singer Date of Birth: 01.05.1907 Country: USA

Biography of Kate Smith

Kate Smith was an American singer, best known for her rendition of "God Bless America" by Irving Berlin. She was born in Greenville, Virginia. Her professional music career began in 1930 when she met Ted Collins, the vice president of Columbia Records. Collins helped Kate get on the radio in 1931, and one of her first hit songs was "That's Why Darkies Were Born."

In 1932, Smith starred in the film "Hello Everybody!" alongside Randolph Scott and Sally Blane. She started recording professionally in 1926 and had her biggest hits in the 1940s. Some of her notable songs include "The Woodpecker Song" in 1940, "The White Cliffs of Dover" in 1941, "Rose O'Day" in 1941, "I Don't Want to Walk Without You" in 1942, "There Goes That Song Again" in 1944, "Seems Like Old Times" in 1946, and "Now Is the Hour" in 1947.

Kate Smith's weight was often the subject of mockery, but Ted Collins helped her overcome her insecurities. He focused solely on her vocal talent and ignored her excess weight. Kate's first major success came through her radio performances, often accompanied by Jack Miller's Orchestra. She eventually had her own radio show called "Kate Smith Sings," which initially aired twice a week and later expanded to six times a week.

Throughout her career, Smith had various radio programs, including "Kate Smith and Her Swanee Music" from 1931 to 1933, "The Kate Smith Matinee" and "The Kate Smith New Star Revue" from 1934 to 1935, "Kate Smith's Coffee Time" from 1935 to 1936, and "The Kate Smith A&P Bandwagon" from 1936 to 1937. In 1937, her program transformed into "The Kate Smith Hour," a variety show featuring comedy, music, and drama. The show's guests included renowned actors and singers of the time, and comedians such as William Abbott, Lou Costello, and Henry Youngman became regulars.

Kate Smith also worked as a representative for various commercial organizations like Studebaker, Pullman, and Jell-O. In her later years, she faced serious health problems due to diabetes and her weight, which confined her to a wheelchair. She passed away on June 17, 1986, in Raleigh at the age of 79. Kate Smith was laid to rest in the Saint Agnes Cemetery in Lake Placid, New York. However, disputes arose between the cemetery management and the executors of Smith's will. One point of contention was her desire to be buried in a spacious mausoleum due to her fear of confined underground spaces. The cemetery's policy favored avoiding large tombs and grand monuments. Eventually, the representatives of Smith were able to negotiate a small exception with a substantial donation of $25,000.