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American jazz singer and pianist, Margrethe Blossom Dearie, was born April 28, 1924 in East Durham, New York. As a child she studied classical piano but switched to jazz in her teens. Often performing in the bebop genre and remembered for her light and girlish voice, she was one of the last supper club performers, hosting regular engagements in London and New York City across many years. After high school Dearie moved to New York City to pursue a music career and began to sing in groups such as the Blue Flames (with the Woody Herman Orchestra) and the Blue Reys (with Alvino Rey's band) before starting her solo career. She moved to Paris in 1952 and formed a vocal group, The Blue Stars of France, which included Michel Legrand's sister, Christiane Legrand, and Bob Dorough. In 1954 the group had a hit in France with a French-language version of "Lullaby of Birdland". The Blue Stars would later evolve into the Swingle Singers. While in Paris, Dearie met her future husband, Belgian flautist and saxophonist Bobby Jaspar. On her first solo album, released two years later, she played the piano but did not sing. One of her most famous songs from this period is "The Riviera", which was written and composed by Cy Coleman and Joseph McCarthy Jr. After returning from France, Dearie made her first six American albums as a solo singer and pianist for Verve Records in the late 1950s and early 1960s, mostly in a small trio or quartet setting. Dave Garroway, host of The Today Show and an early fan of Dearie, featured her on several occasions, increasing her exposure with the popular audience. In 1962, she recorded a radio commercial for Hires Root Beer. As it proved very popular, the LP Blossom Dearie Sings Rootin' Songs was released as a premium item that could be ordered for one dollar and a proof of purchase. This collection contains eight complete albums from this remarkable artist's most celebrated era, covering the years 1955 to 1962.

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Talk about stumbling into a treasure chest of sassy sophistication! It doesn't get any better than this.

     —Chris Spector, Midwest Record