Music was always an important part of Judy Holliday's life, both personally and professionally. An avid record collector, she enjoyed listening to a wide range of musical styles, but favored legendary blues singer Billie Holiday most. Beginning as far back as her performances with The Revuers, Judy delighted audiences with her musical talents. On film, she evolved from comically crucifying "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" in Born Yesterday, to strumming a ukulele and breezily singing "Dolores" in The Marrying Kind, to dueting with Jack Lemmon on "Let's Fall In Love" in It Should Happen To You, to ultimately booming out a bevy of show-stopping tunes in the MGM musical Bells Are Ringing. Radio and television audiences were also treated to the songstress side of Judy when she appeared on several episodes of the radio program The Big Show, the Max Liebman TV variety specials and various incarnations of Perry Como's television show.
Despite her obvious talent and love of music, she did not begin making records until 1956 when she made the Broadway soundtrack of Bells Are Ringing and a 45 single of the title song from her film Full of Life. As her personal relationship with jazz musician Gerry Mulligan blossomed, so did her ability as a songwriter. Their musical union was a perfect partnership of her lyrics and his music. Their first song to be introduced to the public was "It Must Be Christmas," performed by Dinah Shore on her Christmas television special. When illness forced Judy into semi-retirement, she leaned heavily on her songwriting as a creative outlet. By April of 1961, Judy and Gerry felt comfortable enough performing their own songs to record an album. Holliday With Mulligan was recorded, but the record company opted not to release it. The project remained on the shelf for 19 years before finally being released in 1980...15 years after Judy's death. To hear .mp3 samples of 37 Judy Holliday songs click the Virtual Jukebox logo below. For more detailed information about a specific recording, select a title from the image map below.
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