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Desmond Carrington looks at the careers of entertainers who created their own unique style. The star in the spotlight is Anne Shelton.

From the table- top stage in an intimate nightclub to a full house at the Palladium, Desmond Carrington looks at the careers of entertainers who wrote the rule book and created their own unique style. This week's star in the spotlight is Anne Shelton.

In the early 1940s Anne Shelton began singing professionally with Ambrose and his Orchestra. It was wartime and very soon she was performing for personnel at their bases across Britain as well as broadcasting her own radio request programme, Calling Malta, on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Overseas service. At that time, a German song about Lili Marlene was popular and when Anne recorded an English version, it quickly led to her being called "the Lili Marlene girl".

Her biggest record hit was Lay Down Your Arms in 1956, the success of which kept Elvis Presley off of the number one spot for several weeks. Anne remained hugely popular with those who had served during the war, and this fact led to her many contributions to the Not Forgotten Association over many years until her death in 1994.

Today, appropriately, it is she who is not forgotten, not least because of her warm and affectionate voice and gentle presence which helped millions to cope with one of the darkest times of the 20th century.

30 minutes

Music Played

  • Jackie Gleason

    Cabaret

    • Taste Of Brass.
    • EMI.
    • 7243 5 81356.
  • Anne Shelton

    Taking A Chance On Love

    • Shelton Sound.
    • VOCALION.
    • cdea 6141.
  • Anne Shelton

    Begin The Beguine

    • Best Of Ambrose And His Orchestra.
    • SPECTRUM.
    • 544 276.
  • Anne Shelton

    Lay Down Your Arms

    • Best Of Anne Shelton.
    • SPECTRUM.
    • 544 256.
  • Anne Shelton

    Lili Marlene

    • In The Still Of The Night.
    • VOCALION.
    • cdea 6036.
  • Anne Shelton / Bing Crosby

    Easter Parade

    • Thank You Captain Miller.
    • ANNE SHELTON.
    • ASCD 01.
  • Anne Shelton

    Tangerine

    • Shelton Sound.
    • VOCALION.
    • cdea 6141.
  • Anne Shelton

    You'Ll Never Know

    • Lili Marlene.
    • ASV LIVING ERA.
    • CD AJA 5150.
  • Anne Shelton

    I'Ll Be Seeing You

    • Thank You Captain Miller.
    • ANNE SHELTON.
    • ASCD 01.
  • Jackie Gleason

    Cabaret

    • Taste Of Brass.
    • EMI.
    • 7243 5 81356.

Broadcast

  • Fri 18 Sep 2009 19:00