House Treasures – Our father’s first LP “Miyoshi Umeki”

Just sharing this memory of one of our house treasures with you. This was the first known vocal LP (33 1/3 rpm) that our father owned. He bought it not long after its release in 1956 and our mother just loved “I’m In The Mood For Love” as she sang it. We kept this LP with us until now..

In case you are interested, the back sleeve copy reads:

Arthur Godfrey has an eye and ear for unusual talent, and his latest discovery—Miyoshi Umeki—is probably the most bewitching “bird of paradox” he has ever presented on TV.

Visually, the tiny Oriental nightingale possesses the fragile beauty and delicate grace of a Japanese print, while vocally, she displays all the modern technique and polished phrasing of a really hep Occidental canary.

Godfrey first introduced Miyoshi to American audiences on his CBS-TV show “Talent Scouts” at the beginning of 1956. The doll-like performer—attired in a quaint kimona—astonished both the famous red-head and his audience by singing a sultry version of “How Deep Is The Ocean” in perfect English, enhanced by the merest trace of an exotic accent. She won by an overwhelming vote, and subsequently appeared on Godfrey’s daily CBS shows for five weeks in succession.

Miyoshi handles an English lyric most effectively, but Godfrey is particularly charmed when she sings an American song in Japanese. Therefore Miyoshi has recorded 12 American tunes in Japanese for this album, which she respectfully dedicates to her “favorite boss.” The material includes such typical Tin Pan Alley standards as “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man,” “Teach Me Tonight,” “Over the Rainbow,” “I’m In The Mood For Love,” and “S’Wonderful.”

Born 22 years ago on the small Japanese island of Hokkaido—youngest in a family of nine children—Miyoshi was the first Japanese girl to sing American songs in Tokyo. After perfecting her English by listening to American records, Miyoshi first sang with a U.S. Army jazz band on a 15 minute radio show, following which she joined Tokyo’s top jazz outfit, the Tsunoda Sextette (e.g. “The Benny Goodman of Japan”) as band vocalist.

In 1955, Miyoshi—by then an established Japanese star of records, motion pictures, night clubs and the theater—decided it was time to try her luck in America. Under the management of Art Whiting (whose Marine Corporal son spotted her act in Tokyo and advised his father to sign her) Miyoshi has made such rapid career strides in America that by this time next year she may very well be as big a star here as she is in Japan.

Following her impressive debut on radio and TV, Mercury Records inked her to a long-term contract and her first single platter for the label was received most enthusiastically by disk jockeys and record reviewers across the country.

At the same time she launched a series of highly successful nightclub appearances, and this October Godfrey booked her back for two more weeks as a guest on both his daytime and nighttime TV and radio shows. Her most recent triumph was being cast opposite Academy Award winner William Holden for a leading role in the film “Sayonara.” Incidentally Miyoshi sings a poignant love song of the same title from this LP.

In view of the progress the petite thrush has made in her brief lifetime, it seems only fitting that her lovely and unusual name—Miyoshi—means “Beautiful Life.”

Miyoshi winning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Sayonara in 1958

Miyoshi as she sings "I'm In The Mood For Love"