Songbird Silenced

Frances Langford, a great American songstress, died yesterday at age 91. She will be remembered for many things, including her appearances with the Bob Hope USO shows and her introduction of songs like “You Are My Lucky Star” and “Hooray for Hollywood” in movies during the early part of her career. But my favorite Langford memory involves her very funny work with Don Ameche in “The Bickersons,” a radio show about a battling married couple. In fact, “The Bickersons” were so popular that I borrowed from them during my campaign for a local school board. My radio spots featured a similar bickering couple discussing the need for female representation on an all-male board. And guess what? I won.

Langford’s beautiful voice was never more appreciated than when she sang “I’m in the Mood for Love” to soldiers while entertaining them during World War II. Because of her popularity with these GIs, Time Magazine named her The Sweetheart of WW II.

In the immortal words of Bob Hope, “Thanks for the memories, Frances.”