Shelley Moore (March 10, 1932 – June 23, 2016) was an English-born American jazz singer. Her diverse repertoire ranged from traditional to offbeat jazz tunes, including her own compositions and her interpretations of Great American Songbook tunes.
She was born in Essex, England, and in the 1950s performed in nightclubs and for American troops in England. A demo recording Moore made at the age of 21 came to attention of EMI Records and the label signed her to make “covers.” But the budding songstress wasn’t happy with the kind of material she was being asked to do. So Moore jumped over to the small Esquire label, a company that recorded Annie Ross and Cleo Laine.The result was a pair of four-song EPs released in the late ‘50s: “Portrait of Shelley” and “Kool Kanary,” with Moore covering standards including “Out of Nowhere” and “Too Marvelous.” She also appeared on British television and radio.
Then came the break that changed her life: Moore was asked to join English guitarist, singer and bandleader Vic Lewis’ orchestra, an ensemble that was modelled after Stan Kenton’s band. The group travelled to the United States, and Moore fell in love with the country. While here, she secured a work permit and joined the band of drummer-singer Ray McKinley.
Here's "So In Love" from above album.
She settled in Beverly Hills in 1961, and things took off. She was signed by Argo Records and recorded her first American album, “For the First Time,” a disc that included keyboardist Ramsey Lewis and saxophonists Eddie Harris and Plas Johnson. But Moore was also being pulled in another direction. She met record-industry attorney Ken Golden and the two were married in 1963 after which she retired from the music industry to raise their two children, Danny and Bryna.
After taking up singing again, she started performing throughout Los Angeles. She regularly performed with a combination of musicians at various Orange County restaurants and clubs, including Bay Colony Restaurant in Orange, Bistro 400 in Santa Ana, the Rainbow House in Fullerton, and Kikuya in Huntington Beach.
Moore recorded “You Can Count on Me,” her 1991 album of standards and her originals performed with saxophonist and fellow English-expatriate Benn Clatworthy and his quartet. The band and the vocalist were in the middle of an extended engagement at the Cattlemen’s Wharf in Anaheim when they went into the studio.
“That’s one of the things I don’t understand,” Moore said during a recent interview at her Huntington Beach residence. “Jazz is part of America’s heritage, but it is more treasured abroad than it is here. We have a lot of wonderful musicians in Europe, but everyone owes a debt to America for jazz. I’ve never figured that out.”
Her personality also shined on stage, as she would share witty remarks and tell stories of her life and music. In a review of Moore’s show at Bay Colony Restaurant on Dec. 12, 1993, former Orange County Register jazz reporter Steve Eddy wrote: “In an era when it seems as if so much singing depends on electronic gimmickry and bombast for effect, it’s reassuring to know that people like Moore are around. She offers an audience-pleasing helping of warmth and sincerity.”
She made two more albums; “Moore Moods” released on Cexton Records and an impromptu five song CD of a live performance with the talented pianist Ron Kobayashi.
A long-time Westminster, California resident, she died on June 23, 2016, aged 84. No place or cause of death was provided.
(Edited mainly from Wikipedia, All About Jazz & LA Times)