Stevens, Sally

Sally Stevens wore about every hat you can musically in the movies. She practically grew up on a sound stage, not as a performer, but as the daughter of a performer who, among other things, dubbed the vocals for one of the myriad Munchkins in 1939’s The Wizard of Oz.

It must have had a deep impact—pun intended, when you see the list of films she’s worked on—as she went on to enrol in the University of Southern California, performing and recording music before she even graduated. She toured as a dancer and vocalist with Nat “King” Cole and was a Las Vegas showgirl before eventually finding her bread and butter as a session vocalist and vocal contractor. She is also listed at times as a choral contractor and a music contractor, as well as a choral director and conductor.

Her film and television credits are estimated in the 400s. One of her most famous television credits being as a singer on The Simpsons theme. She also served as the choral director for the Academy Awards from 1987 through 2003, took a four-year break from that and returned to resume those duties in 2007 and 2008.

As a vocalist, other television highlights include The Carol Burnett Show, A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Danny Kaye Weekly Variety Show, The Judy Garland Show, The People’s Choice Awards, The Red Skelton Hour, and The Tonight Show. She has also served as a vocal contractor and vocalist for the Grammys.

Her film credits are legion, and much too numerous to list in their entirety, so here is a small sampling of the films on which Sally can be heard as a vocalist: Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Cry Baby, Deep Impact, The Exorcist, The Fantastic Four, The Greatest Story Ever Told, Hello, Dolly!, In the Mood, Jurassic Park, Kelly’s Heroes, Lady Sings the Blues, Mulan, A New Life, The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band, Poltergeist, Quest for Camelot, The Rescuers, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, There’s Something About Mary, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Waiting to Exhale, X-Men: The Last Stand, and Zigzag.

For a decade, Sally performed with Burt Bacharach as part of a world tour. She has also co-written songs with Burt, as well as Don Ellis, Dave Grusin, and Mike Melvoin, and has recorded with an eclectic group of artists and bands, including Avenged Sevenfold, Joan Baez, Harry Connick, Jr., Neil Diamond, David Foster, Art Garfunkel, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Erich Kunzel, Michel Legrand, The Manhattan Transfer, Johnny Mathis, The Ohio Players, Elvis Presley, Linda Ronstadt, P.F. Sloan, Triumvirat, Gino Vannelli, and Stevie Woods.

Sally has also worked as a photographer and a vocal coach: One of her most famous assignments was coaching Michelle Pfeiffer on The Fabulous Baker Boys, which turned out pretty well for everyone involved. She is also an actress, in her copious free time, and appeared as a choir member in the 2007 Eddie Murphy comedy Norbit. The choir in the movie is The Hollywood Film Chorale’s Gospel, which Sally directs.

Joan Baez recordings
Guantanamera (Jose Marti/Pete Seeger/Hector Angulo)
(A&M 1516-S, 2634-S) (US 45)

Sources:

Stevens, Sally

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