Nancy Norman
Encyclopedia
Nancy Norman was an American
vocalist.
Nancy Norman studied voice while attending Roosevelt High School
. Then, World War II
erupted. Many of her classmates of Japanese
descent, along with their families, were sent to relocation facilities
outside of Los Angeles. During this time, Nancy learned that the renowned "Swing and Sway" big band
leader Sammy Kaye
was going to be holding a contest in Los Angeles. She entered the Who Wants to Sing With the Band contest and Sammy Kaye was so impressed with Nancy that he immediately signed her on as one of his "girl singers" in his "Swing and Sway" band. At just 4’11”, barely 100lbs, and just 16 years old, "Little Nancy Norman" as she was frequently introduced, was underaged and had to be accompanied by her mother when she traveled back to New York City
, as well as traveling to other cities with the Sammy Kaye Orchestra.
Miss Norman was Sammy Kaye’s lead female singer from 1942 to 1945. Hits featuring Nancy Norman's vocals in the 1940s include: Chickery Chick, Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night of the Week)
, and There Will Never Be Another You
. Norman had three songs in the Top 10 according to Billboard
’s top jukebox played songs. Chickery Chick spent four and a half months on the charts, and one month at the top of the charts in 1945, an impressive feat for this young singer. Nancy Norman also introduced several classic songs such as You'll Never Know
, and As Time Goes By
. She performed with the Sammy Kaye Orchestra across the country including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago
, and Philadelphia. However, following one performance in Boston
, Massachusetts
with her suggestive rendition of I'm A Big Girl Now
, Miss Norman fell to the fate of being "banned in Boston"
from ever again performing in that city.
In 1948 Nancy Norman married Robert Jacobs and relocated back to Beverly Hills, California. She still resides in her native Los Angeles in the same Westside home that she and her husband built shortly after their marriage. Miss Norman had three children.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
vocalist.
Nancy Norman studied voice while attending Roosevelt High School
Theodore Roosevelt High School (Los Angeles)
See also Roosevelt High School for schools of the same nameTheodore Roosevelt High School is a high school located in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles, California named for the 26th president of the United States....
. Then, World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
erupted. Many of her classmates of Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
descent, along with their families, were sent to relocation facilities
Japanese American internment
Japanese-American internment was the relocation and internment by the United States government in 1942 of approximately 110,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese who lived along the Pacific coast of the United States to camps called "War Relocation Camps," in the wake of Imperial Japan's attack on...
outside of Los Angeles. During this time, Nancy learned that the renowned "Swing and Sway" big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
leader Sammy Kaye
Sammy Kaye
Sammy Kaye , born Samuel Zarnocay, Jr., was an American bandleader and songwriter, whose tag line, "Swing and sway with Sammy Kaye", became one of the most famous of the Big Band Era.-Biography:...
was going to be holding a contest in Los Angeles. She entered the Who Wants to Sing With the Band contest and Sammy Kaye was so impressed with Nancy that he immediately signed her on as one of his "girl singers" in his "Swing and Sway" band. At just 4’11”, barely 100lbs, and just 16 years old, "Little Nancy Norman" as she was frequently introduced, was underaged and had to be accompanied by her mother when she traveled back to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, as well as traveling to other cities with the Sammy Kaye Orchestra.
Miss Norman was Sammy Kaye’s lead female singer from 1942 to 1945. Hits featuring Nancy Norman's vocals in the 1940s include: Chickery Chick, Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night of the Week)
Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night of the Week)
"Saturday Night " is a popular song.The music was written by Jule Styne, the lyrics by Sammy Cahn. The song was published in 1944....
, and There Will Never Be Another You
There Will Never Be Another You
"There Will Never Be Another You" is a popular song with music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Mack Gordon for the Twentieth Century Fox musical Iceland starring Sonja Henie...
. Norman had three songs in the Top 10 according to Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
’s top jukebox played songs. Chickery Chick spent four and a half months on the charts, and one month at the top of the charts in 1945, an impressive feat for this young singer. Nancy Norman also introduced several classic songs such as You'll Never Know
You'll Never Know
"You'll Never Know" is a popular song. The music was written by Harry Warren and the lyrics by Mack Gordon, based on a poem written by a young Oklahoma war bride named Dorothy Fern Norris....
, and As Time Goes By
As Time Goes By (song)
"As Time Goes By" is a song written by Herman Hupfeld in 1931. It became most famous in 1942 when it was sung by the character Sam in the movie Casablanca. The song was voted #2 on the AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs special, commemorating the best songs in film. It was used as a fanfare for Warner...
. She performed with the Sammy Kaye Orchestra across the country including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and Philadelphia. However, following one performance in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
with her suggestive rendition of I'm A Big Girl Now
I'm a Big Girl Now
I'm a Big Girl Now was an American television series that ran one season during the strike-shortened 1980-1981 season. The series starred Diana Canova as Diana Cassidy and Danny Thomas as Dr...
, Miss Norman fell to the fate of being "banned in Boston"
Banned in Boston
"Banned in Boston" was a phrase employed from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century to describe a literary work, motion picture, or play prohibited from distribution or exhibition in Boston, Massachusetts, USA...
from ever again performing in that city.
In 1948 Nancy Norman married Robert Jacobs and relocated back to Beverly Hills, California. She still resides in her native Los Angeles in the same Westside home that she and her husband built shortly after their marriage. Miss Norman had three children.