Teddi King

Teddi King
Teddi King
Birth name	Theodora King
Born	September 18, 1929
Died	November 18, 1977 (aged 48)
Genres	Vocals
Years active	1949–1977
Labels	RCA, Coral, Audiophile

Teddi King (September 18, 1929 – November 18, 1977)^[1] was an American jazz and pop vocalist.

Born Theodora King in Boston, Massachusetts, United States,^[1] she won a singing competition hosted by Dinah Shore at Boston's Tributary Theatre, later beginning work in a touring revue involved with "cheering up the military in the lull between the Second World War and the Korean conflict."^[2] Improving her vocal and piano technique during this time, she first recorded with Nat Pierce in 1949,^[1] later recording with the Beryl Booker trio and with several other small groups from 1954 to 1955 (recordings which were available on three albums for Storyville). She then toured with George Shearing for two years beginning in the summer of 1952,^[1] and for a time was managed by George Wein.^[3] King later began performing for a time in Las Vegas.

Ultimately signing with RCA, she recorded three albums for the label, beginning with 1956's Bidin' My Time.

lupus, she managed to make a brief comeback with a 1977 album featuring Dave McKenna, and with two more albums recorded for Audiophile released posthumously. She died of the disease on November 18, 1977. King's style, influenced by Lee Wiley, Mildred Bailey and Mabel Mercer, has won her a small but devoted cult following.^[3]