Myrna Smith | |
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| Born | Myrna Yvonne Smith (1941-05-28)May 28, 1941 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | December 24, 2010(2010-12-24) (aged 69) Canoga Park, California, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1960–2010 |
| Spouse | |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
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Musical artist | |
Myrna Yvonne Smith (May 28, 1941 – December 24, 2010)[1] was an American songwriter and singer.
Smith became a high school English teacher inSouth Brunswick, New Jersey in the 1960s, while she also pursued her singing career. She was an original member ofDionne Warwick's Gospelaires group which later evolved intothe Sweet Inspirations. The Sweet Inspirations backed Dionne Warwick,Aretha Franklin and countless others, and later served asElvis Presley's backing group.[2] When she joined, the lead singer of the Sweet Inspirations wasCissy Houston, the mother ofWhitney Houston and dynamic soprano featured on Aretha Franklin's "Ain't No Way". The Sweet Inspirations would secure their own contract withAtlantic Records and records several albums in the late 60s / early 70s.
In 1973, Smith began datingJerry Schilling, a friend and associate of Elvis who subsequently also managed theBeach Boys at one point. She was married to Schilling from 1982 to 1987.[3]
In the early 1980s, she co-wrote all of the songs onCarl Wilson's 1981 solo albumCarl Wilson, as well as a few of the songs on his 1983 solo albumYoungblood, and Wilson's contributions toThe Beach Boys' self-titled 1985 album.
While performing on the "Elvis: The Concert" European tour in March 2010, Smith developed pneumonia which eventually led to kidney failure and a stroke. She died on December 24, 2010, inCanoga Park, California, after an illness, five months short of her 70th birthday.[1]
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