Jo Stafford

I heard Jo Stafford interviewed on Fresh Air last week. I didn't realize she'd just died and this was a tribute.

She was one of my favorite pre-rock singers. But my first introduction to her voice was rather odd. I went to see The Kentucky Fried Movie and over the credits was the bizarre version of "Carioca" sung off-key and out of rhythm. Turns out it was by Darlene and Jonathan Edwards, pseudonyms for Stafford and husband Paul Weston, who did intentionally bad versions of standards. In fact, they won a Grammy for Best Comedy Album in 1961.