Go Slow

June 1, 2017
A biography of the American actress and pop singer.Julie London (1926-2000) may not be a household name, but during the 1950s and '60s, she was a popular singer known for her sultry, "spectral" voice, as pop-culture historian Owen describes it in this absorbing biography. However, as the author shows, she had never intended to be a singer. In fact, London begrudgingly took on the role after her future husband, Bobby Troup, convinced her to give it a shot when her acting career had begun to sputter. As a singer, London established herself as an unlikely talent, and her status as one of the age's pre-eminent sex symbols was cemented by her throaty vocals and provocative, sensual album covers. Born Nancy Gayle Peck in Stockton, California, London began her career in 1943 when she was discovered in a department store in Los Angeles. She was cast mostly in small parts in various B-movies, never really breaking through to leading-lady status. It wasn't until the dissolution of her first marriage to the domineering and aloof Jack Webb and London's eventual romantic involvement with Troup, a respected musician, that she began to pursue her musical career. London would go on to release numerous albums of standards and covers, including her breakthrough debut "Julie Is Her Name," which featured her best known song, "Cry Me a River." But for an early crossover star who managed to remain in the public eye for more than two decades, London was surprisingly cagey about her celebrity and career. As a reluctant singer, she never truly believed in her ability, and her lack of confidence and self-esteem plagued her throughout her career. Returning to acting later in life as star of the TV show Emergency!, London's consistent and long-running career disproves her own doubts. An affectionate and complex portrait of London that will help rekindle an interest in her life and work.

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June 1, 2017

This biography is an overdue appreciation of a chanteuse capable of squeezing every bit of meaning and emotion out of ballads like her hit "Cry Me a River" with her whispery, sometimes raspy singing voice. Julie London (1926-2000) originally hoped to use her good looks to fashion an acting career and soon attracted the attention of a talent scout--and first husband, Jack Webb (Dragnet). Her marriage floundered and she began appearing in crime dramas and Westerns, in which she played "second fiddle to a horse." Her second husband, actor, singer, and songwriter Bobby Troup, saw her potential as a lounge singer. Her face and voluptuous figure were perfect for 1950s album covers. Despite her limitations as an actress, she continued to appear in films (including a role opposite Gary Cooper in 1958's Man of the West), while building a following in clubs and college campuses. When singing and acting opportunities dried up, Webb employed London and Troup in supporting roles in the hit 1970s TV series Emergency! VERDICT A study in contradictions (despite her provocative image, she was morally conservative in her private life, preferring a quiet home life) who claimed to be a "has been that never was," London made the most of what she had. Recommended.--Stephen Rees, formerly with Levittown Lib., PA

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