Pauline Byrns

Background

She was born in Missouri.

Career

She was often credited as Pauline Byrne or Pauline Byrnes. Singer Mel Tormé said of her: "Oh, what a singer. I admired her so much".

In 1937 she moved to California and joined the singing group Three Hits and a Mission to replace Martha Tilton.

In 1938, Byrne was described by the magazine Records and Recording as "one of the finest vocalists to grace a bit of waxed jazz in some years. Her voice is a rich contralto, best in the lower register.." The group recorded with Bing Crosby, appeared in several movies in the early 1940s, including the Marx Brothers film The Big Store, and performed regularly on the Bob Hope Show on radio.

The version of Cole Porter"s "You"d Be So Nice to Come Home To" by Six Hits and a Mission made northern 11 on the United States charts in 1943.

She also recorded "Lullaby of Broadway" as a featured vocalist with the David Rose Orchestra, and in 1940 recorded "Gloomy Sunday" and "Don"t Fall Asleep" with the Artie Shaw Orchestra.

The Starlighters (unconnected to other groups of that name) recorded successfully for several labels in the late 1940s and early 1950s, including some records with Jo Stafford. Thereafter she retired from the music business. She died of cancer in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles at the age of 73.

Achievements

• At the age of 17 she won a talent contest in Washington, and began singing and touring with big bands.

Membership

She formed another vocal group, The Starlighters, with Hudson, Degen and Paris, in 1946. An early member of the group was Andy Williams.