Singer. Born Shirley Luster in Springfield, Illinois, she began her career singing in the Bill Oetzel Orchestra at 13. During the 1940s big band era, she was in Stan Kenton's Orchestra and song "Tampico", Kenton's biggest-selling record. In 1954, she released her own albums "Something Cool" and "The Misty Miss Christy" which included her husband, multi-instrumentalist Bob Cooper. She also appeared on a number of television programs, including "Adventures in Jazz", "The Steve Allen Show", "The Tonight Show", "Jackie Gleason Show", "Nat King Cole Show" and "Playboy's Penthouse". She retired from the music business in 1969, but was reunited with the Kenton Orchestra and performed at jazz festivals during the 1970s and 1980s. She died of kidney failure at age 64 in Sherman Oaks, California.
Singer. Born Shirley Luster in Springfield, Illinois, she began her career singing in the Bill Oetzel Orchestra at 13. During the 1940s big band era, she was in Stan Kenton's Orchestra and song "Tampico", Kenton's biggest-selling record. In 1954, she released her own albums "Something Cool" and "The Misty Miss Christy" which included her husband, multi-instrumentalist Bob Cooper. She also appeared on a number of television programs, including "Adventures in Jazz", "The Steve Allen Show", "The Tonight Show", "Jackie Gleason Show", "Nat King Cole Show" and "Playboy's Penthouse". She retired from the music business in 1969, but was reunited with the Kenton Orchestra and performed at jazz festivals during the 1970s and 1980s. She died of kidney failure at age 64 in Sherman Oaks, California.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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