FM
Biography
Joanie Sommers (born February 24, 1941) is an American singer. Once billed as "The Voice of the Sixties," Sommers is a versatile vocal stylist—able to shift between sultry and starry-eyed at a moment's notice—as is evident in her diverse body of work, ranging from vocal jazz and swing, to teen pop and northern soul. Predominantly an interpreter of jazz and pop standards, she worked with some of the top arrangers and musicians of the day. Though also well-remembered for her Pepsi commercial jingles, her public conception remains inexorably tied to her decidedly uncharacteristic hit single, "Johnny Get Angry".
Born Joan Drost in Buffalo, New York, as a child growing up Sommers would often sing to herself as a way of dealing with her difficult upbringing. Though having not received any musical training, Sommers began her career as a jazz singer in Los Angeles, California. In 1960, she recorded a demo with composer/arranger Tommy Oliver, earning her a recording contract with Warner Bros. Sommers. Her debut single, "One Boy" from the musical Bye Bye Birdie, reached #54 on the Billboard Hot 100.
