- Kathy Westmoreland
Kathy Westmoreland (born
August 10 ,1945 inTexarkana, Arkansas ) is an American singer.After growing up in
Abilene, Texas , the daughter of a professional singer (father) and a professional dancer (mother), she moved toCalifornia in 1962 with her sisters (professional singersMelody Westmoreland andChristie Westmoreland ) and brother Brent (professional drummer/singer). She teamed up with friend andGarden Grove High School classmateSteve Martin in amusical comedy act, working together at theBirdcage Theater atKnott's Berry Farm and playing localcoffee house s.A
soprano , Westmoreland sang musical comedies andopera , performingoratorio s and traveling with theMetropolitan Opera National Company by the age of eighteen. Returning to California, she joined the singing groupThe Sandpipers , who had a major hit with the song "Guantanamera ." She became a studio session singer, appearing on numerous television shows such as those ofRed Skelton ,Tim Conway andBobby Darin . She was one ofJimmy Joyce 's singers,Ray Conniff 's singers,Johnny Mann and many others, including vocals on recording sessions with hundreds of major artists. In 1970 she was hired to sing backup vocals forElvis Presley , both in the studio and on stage, where he would introduce her as "the little girl with the beautiful high voice." She continued to perform with Presley until his death in 1977 and sang at his funeral at his request.In 1987, she published "Elvis and Kathy" that recounted her time with Presley. (ISBN 0-9618622-0-3)
Kathy continues to perform to sold-out crowds, ranging from nightclubs to country-rock-and dinner theaters to fan clubs, and appears in films, TV, radio interviews, and recordings. She is currently contributing to many projects, including
Dick Dale 's HBO special, and occasionally performing with her daughter Lindsey, a singer and dancer.External links
* [http://www.kathywestmoreland.us/ Kathy Westmoreland personal website]
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