| I was born Virginia-May Betty Duquette in Goderich,
Ontario. My career as a singer began in 1938 with the summer big
band at the Mosaic Temple in Windsor, Ontario. As an enthusiastic
twelve year old I knew I had found my niche. One year later I met
Princess Elizabeth for having saved two British airmen from drowning.
I was given the honour of meeting the future Queen and shaking her hand.
On this occasion I also performed with the R.A.F. band.
In 1944 I performed my first professional engagement with
The
Bert Worth Big Band. Various other engagements followed, including
a radio broadcast hosted by Gordie Tapp on CKNX in 1945. In
this year I also moved to London, Ontario and started performing with
the
Scotty McLaughlin Big Band. Opportunity knocked when Louis
Prima came to to town for a performance at the London Arena in 1946.
Keely
Smith was stuck in New York City and the word was out that Betty Duquette
was the only singer that could carry the day and that's exactly what she
did!
Over the years I had the pleasure of performing with many
other artists throughout southern Ontario such as The Johnny and Bobby
Downs Big Band, The Barney Venuta Big Band (under the name Virginia
- May), Les Brown and his Band of Renown, Dick Jergen's Orchestra,
Frank
Evans, Eddie Graff, Gid Rowntree and his Swing Stylists,
Dino
Grandi, Henry Questa, Norman Amadio Trio, Virgil Scott
and Chuck Jackson's All Stars.
My life has been filled with music and I hope that you
may share my enthusiasm as you play my CD.
Enjoy, Ginny Lynn |
Ginny Lynn
|
