Singer number one:
Elva Ruby Connes was born on October 5th 1907 and died in 1997. Elva Ruby Connes is better know under her stage name Mrs. Miller. She was an American singer who's voice has been compared to the sound of "roaches scurrying across a trash can lid."
In 1934 Mrs. Miller moved to Claremont, California together with her husband, appropriately called Mr. Miller.
She had long been an aspiring singer, having performed here and there with local choirs and recording 45" cuts for friends and family (Mr. Miller apparently had quite some extra cash lying around).
At one point a young pianist by the name of Fred Bock noticed her special singing qualities and invited her to record a demo version of Petula Clark's "Downtown". The result, to say the least, was rather interesting and Capitol Records bigwig Lex de Azevedo saw financial potential and oversaw the recording of Mrs. Miller's debut "Mrs. Miller's Greatest Hits".
Within a period of 18 months Mrs. Miller attained unbelievable fame and "Mrs. Miller’s Greatest Hits", filled with contemporary pop covers, sold over 250.000 copies within 3 weeks. As a result she went on a nation wide promo tour making various appearances on TV and radio shows. A rare live recording from that time can be found here.
Mrs. Miller: Downtown.
Mrs. Miller - Greatest Hits
1. Downtown
2. The Shadow Of Your Smile
3. A Hard Day's Night
4. Dear Heart
5. Chim Chim Cher-ee
6. These Boots Are Made For Walkin'
7. A Lover's Concerto
8. Let's Hang On
9. Catch A Falling Star
10. Gonna Be Like That
11. My Love
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Singer number two:
Singer number two went by the name of Florence Foster Jenkins, who graced the earth between 1868 and 1944 (yes when I'm talking history's worst singers I mean history's worst singers). Florence Jenkins was an American soprano who became famous for her complete lack of rhythm, pitch and tone... pretty much all things you need to be a singer.
Florence Foster Jenkins was born from very wealthy parents in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania around 1868. At a very early age she demonstrated the desire to become a singer but her parents objected due to the excruciating quality of her voice and would not support such a career choice.
After her father passed away when she was 39, she inherited a fairly large sum of money which acquired her the freedom to persue her long life dream of becoming a vocalist.
She moved to Philadelphia (and later New York) and became involved in the musical life in both city's. She founded (and funded) the Verdi Club, took singing lessons, and began giving recitals. She gained tremendous popularity in her unconventional way. Her audiences apparently loved her for the amusement she provided rather than her musical ability.
In her lifetime Jenkins recorded nine aria's of five 78's which have been re-released on three CD's.
Florence Foster Jenkins: Die Zauberflöte Der Hölle Rache (Mozart).
Florence Foster Jenkins - The Glory (????) of the Human Voice
1. Mozart : Die Zauberflöte/La flûte enchantée: (Queen Of The Night Aria)
2. Liadoff: The Musical Snuff-Box
3. McMoon: Like A Bird
4. Delibes: Lakme: Où va la jeune Hindoue? (Bell Song)
5. McMoon: Serenata Mexicano
6. David: La Perle du Brésil: Charmant Oiseau
7. Bach-Pavlovich: Biassy
8. Johann Strauss, Jr.: Die Fledermaus/La Chauve-souris:Adele's Laughing Song
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Singer number three:
From the far east we have Wing Han Tsang, popularly known simply as Wing. This now New Zealander was born in Hong Kong and is primarily known for her appearance on an episode of Southpark.
Wing moved from Hong Kong to New Zealand to become both kiwi and singer at nursing homes and hospitals. Not limited by conventional musical ideas on tone, pitch and rhythm she soon became somewhat popular and created a demand for a CD. Her debut is called The Phantom of The Opera and features amongst others... The Phantom of The Opera and is followed by an avalanche of cover records on which Wing brutally slaughters The Carpenters, The Beatles and AC/DC.
In 2007 Wing first set foot on American soil performing at the SXSW festival and had full episode of for mentioned South Park dedicated to her.
Wing: For Those About To Rock (AC/DC)
Wing - Sings More AC/DC
1. Hells Bells
2. For Those About To Rock
3. Eyes Of A Child
4. Feelings
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