Judy! Judy! Judy!

 Today is June 10, 2022. 100 years ago today, a little girl named Frances Gumm was born in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The youngest of three sisters, the girls performed on the vaudeville circuit and the family eventually settled in Southern California. Frances was a kid with a big voice that could touch your heart.  She couldn't even read music. She was an untrained singer, dancer and actress who grew up to become one of the most extraordinary and memorable talents in show business. Her name was changed to Judy Garland.

My gay card would be revoked if I didn't post something about Judy today -- so here you go. 

One of my favorite Garland recordings comes from a radio performance. Three years before MGM cast her (and then dropped her) from its film version of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, Judy did a number from the new Broadway hit. Here she is swingin' "I Got the Sun in the Morning (and the Moon at Night.")

I love her rendition of "But Not for Me" in the 1943 MGM musical, GIRL CRAZY.

Greer Garson, the ladylike and multi-Oscar nominated MGM star, had scored success in a couple of biopics in addition to winning a Best Actress Oscar for the World War 2 drama, MRS. MINIVER. She was pitched the chance to let hair down in a satirical musical number in MGM's all-star revue, 1945's ZIEGFELD FOLLIES. Greer turned it down. The number was given to Judy -- and she's perfect for it. Here she is as a glamorous Hollywood grand dame in "A Great Lady Gives an Interview."

As for dancing, she's a knock-out doing "The Portland Fancy" in 1950's SUMMER STOCK with Gene Kelly.

SUMMER STOCK also has Judy's iconic "Get Happy" number.

There will never be another like her. I leave you with a cut from Judy Garland's 1964 London Palladium concert with her daughter, Liza Minnelli. Judy sings "What Now, My Love."

"