{{Short description|American former singer (born 1927)}} '''Doris Drew''' (born '''Doris Gruen'''; August 23, 1927) is an American former singer who performed on radio, television, and records and in personal appearances.
==Early years== Drew (born Doris Gruen<ref name="ccc">{{cite news |title=Don McNeil To Boost Buc Days |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/corpus-christi-caller-times/184368496/ |access-date=November 5, 2025 |work=Corpus Christi Caller |date=April 26, 1951 |page=B 1|via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> on August 23, 1927<ref name="wds">{{cite news |last1=Oakley |first1=Annie |title=The Theatre and Its People |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-doris-drew/184376459/ |access-date=November 5, 2025 |work=The Windsor Daily Star |date=October 3, 1950|via = Newspapers.com }}</ref>) was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. People became aware of her singing ability by the time she was 8 years old, and she performed in many school programs.<ref name="js" /> Drew grew up in a musically oriented environment, with her mother being a pianist and both brothers interested in music. As early as age 4 she experienced weekends when musicians came for what she described as "open house for San Antonio's musicmakers"; her brothers and their guests were "all stomping out a jazz tempo ... and my little 4-year-old foot stomping in time along with them."<ref name=rtm>{{cite magazine |last=Molina |first=Elsa |date=November 1956 |pages=26, 94-96 |title=Home Girl |url=https://archive.org/details/radiotvmirro00mac/page/26/mode/1up |magazine=TV Radio Mirror |access-date=November 8, 2025 }}</ref> After Drew's father died when she was young, she lived with various uncles and aunts who had ranches in the area and enjoyed the outdoor activities available on those ranches.<ref name="rtm" />
In 1946 she was a social hostess for the USO at Kelly Field when a band needed a singer. She volunteered, and success resulted.<ref name="wds" /> Her first professional booking came after she graduated<ref name="js"/> from Brackenridge High School.<ref name="plaza" /> After singing locally<ref>{{cite news |title=Mountain Top advertisement |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-antonio-light/184323876/ |access-date=November 4, 2025 |work=San Antonio Light |date=March 22, 1946 |page=6 B|via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> with Pete Brewer and Henry Sheldon<ref name="plaza">{{cite news |last1=Cary |first1=Renwicke |title=Around the Plaza |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-antonio-light/184365869/ |access-date=November 5, 2025 |work=The San Antonio Light |date=June 29, 1949 |page=C 1|via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> she moved to California.<ref name="js">{{cite news |title=Doris Drew Lassos Fine Singing Career |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jackson-sun-doris-drew/184316279/ |access-date=November 4, 2025 |work=The Jackson Sun |date=April 22, 1951 |page=12|via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> There she lived with her brother, musician Henry Gruen,<ref name="plaza2">{{cite news |last1=Cary |first1=Renwicke |title=Around the Plaza |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-antonio-light/184367016/ |access-date=November 5, 2025 |work=San Antonio Light |date=January 25, 1950 |page=C 1|via = Newspapers.com}}</ref>) and worked as a secretary while she sought opportunities to advance her musical career. Because her agent did not like her birth name, she said, "I knew I'd have to change it. One night, just as I was about to sing, he handed me a slip of paper with 'Doris Drew' written on it."<ref name="ev">{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=Nancy |title=Singer Pegs Hollywood Wolf as Mere Myth |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-vanguard-doris-drew/184430530/ |access-date=November 6, 2025 |work=Evening Vanguard |date=July 23, 1955 |location=California, Venice |page=8|via = Newspapers.com }}</ref>
==Career== Based in California, Drew sang in clubs and made personal appearances in and around Los Angeles. Her career gained momentum when she won a vocal contest sponsored by singer Frankie Laine and some disc jockeys in California.<ref name="js" /> Her selection from among 500 contestants<ref name="dn">{{cite news |last1=Mesmer |first1=Marie |title=Stage Review: Frankie Laine |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/184324369/ |access-date=November 4, 2025 |work=Daily News |date=September 1, 1948 |location=California, Los Angeles |page=28|via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> resulted in a week-long engagement for her to sing at the Million Dollar Theatre in Hollywood<ref name="js" /> with Laine as the headliner. A review of Drew's performance said: "In her stage debut yesterday, even though a little frightened, she exhibited a pleasing, warm and gracious personality. Her voice has exceptional quality. She handles both "Boogie Blues" and "How High the Moon" with finesse."<ref name="dn" /> Producer Milton H. Bren signed Drew to appear in the film ''Borderline'' (1950) after he heard her perform in a nightclub in Hollywood.<ref name="lat">{{cite news |last1=Schallert |first1=Edwin |title='Hasty Heart' Star Gets New Break With Wyman; O'Shea Joins 'Big Wheel' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/184326688/ |access-date=November 4, 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 15, 1949 |page=Part III - 7|via = Newspapers.com}}</ref>
Her performances at the Million Dollar Theatre led to a contract with MGM Records,<ref name="js" /> signed in April 1949.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=April 23, 1949 |page=46 |title=MGM Records Pacts Thrush Doris Drew |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ekUEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA46&dq=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&pg=PA46#v=onepage&q=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&f=true |accessdate=November 6, 2025 }}</ref> One of those recordings was "The Wedding Samba" with Ziggy Elman's orchestra. Other outcomes of her week at the theatre included an engagement at Ciro's nightclub and a personal-appearance tour in the eastern United States and parts of Canada. During a post-tour stop in Chicago she was a guest on local radio and television programs and made a guest appearance on the ''Johnny Desmond Goes to College'' network program. That performance earned her a return visit the next week, after which she was made a permanent cast member.<ref name="js" />
In February 1951 Drew signed with Mercury Records.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=February 10, 1951 |page=18 |title=Music as Written: Chicago |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xh8EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA18&dq=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&pg=PA18#v=onepage&q=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&f=true |accessdate=November 7, 2025 }}</ref> Her personal appearances included performing in venues in Cincinnati,<ref>{{cite news |title=Nigh Club Notes |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer/184367803/ |access-date=November 5, 2025 |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |date=February 12, 1950 |page=Section 3, page 7 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> New Orleans, Los Angeles, San Francisco,<ref name="wds" /> Montreal,<ref>{{cite news |title=MGM Recording Star In Lead at Esquire |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette/184378827/ |access-date=November 5, 2025 |work=The Gazette |date=March 29, 1950 |location=Canada, Quebec, Montreal |page=12|via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> and Kansas City.<ref name="kcs">{{cite news |title=Popular Records |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-doris-drew/184380526/ |access-date=November 5, 2025 |work=The Kansas City Star |date=September 23, 1951 |page=12 D|via = Newspapers.com }}</ref>
Drew co-starred with Bill Snary in ''Dreamboat'', a 30-minute program that debuted on April 9, 1951,<ref name="js" /> and was carried on ABC Radio.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=April 23, 1951 |title=Radio: The New Shows |url=https://time.com/archive/6886253/radio-the-new-shows-24/ |magazine=Time |access-date=November 6, 2025 }}</ref> She was the featured vocalist on Jack Carson's Tuesday-Friday radio program that debuted on July 6, 1954,<ref name="ria" /> on CBS,<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Velarde |first=Ed |date=July 17, 1954 |page=69 |title=The Jack Carson Show |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9RoEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA69&dq=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&pg=PA69#v=onepage&q=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&f=true |accessdate=November 7, 2025 }}</ref> and she sang on the ''Tennessee Ernie Show'' Monday-Friday television program that debuted on January 3, 1955,<ref>{{cite news |title=Doris Drew Will Be on Tennessee Ernie's TV Show |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-doris-drew/184389309/ |access-date=November 5, 2025 |work=The Daily Dispatch |date=December 30, 1954 |location=Illinois, Moline |page=12|via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> sharing vocal duties with Molly Bee.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Inge |first1=Gene |title=Lively Trio Sparks Tennessee Ernie Show |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-post-and-monrovia-news-post/184429061/ |access-date=November 6, 2025 |work=Daily News-Post |date=February 5, 1955 |location=California, Monrovia |page=Magazine Section - 1|via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> She subsequently joined the cast of Ford's Monday-Friday evenings program of the same name on CBS Radio.<ref>{{cite news |title=(photo caption) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-doris-drew/184430072/ |access-date=November 6, 2025 |work=The Daily Dispatch |date=March 16, 1955 |location=Illinois, Moline |page=22|via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> The Ford-Drew connection was resumed in 1958 when the ''Ford Road Show'' debuted on CBS Radio. Drew and Bee alternated as the featured female vocalists on the weekday afternoon program.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tennessee Ernie Back On CBS Radio; KFYO To Air Program For Shut-Ins |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lubbock-avalanche-journal/184440841/ |access-date=November 6, 2025 |work=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal |date=June 1, 1958 |page=Section VI - 4|via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> Drew was a member of the cast of the ABC-TV program ''Music for Fun'', which debuted on April 18, 1959.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vernon |first1=Terry |title=Tele-Vues |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/independent/184441605/ |access-date=November 6, 2025 |work=Independent |date=April 18, 1959 |location=California, Long Beach |page=C 1|via = Newspapers.com }}</ref>
In 1966 Drew (credited as Doris Drew Allen<ref name=hb/>) provided the singing voice of the title character in ABC-TV's animated special ''Alice in Wonderland or What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This?''. (Janet Waldo voiced Alice's speaking parts.)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Penton |first1=Edgar |title=Alice Drops Into TV Wonderland |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-herald-post/184443553/ |access-date=November 6, 2025 |work=El Paso Herald-Post |date=March 26, 1966 |page=Showtime - 10|via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> She reprised that role for a record album based on the show.<ref name=hb>{{cite book |last1=Ehrbar |first1=Greg |title=Hanna-Barbera, the Recorded History: From Modern Stone Age to Meddling Kids |date=August 27, 2024 |publisher=University Press of Mississippi |isbn=978-1-4968-5186-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5osXEQAAQBAJ&pg=PT152&dq=%22Doris+Drew%22+singer&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwidp9iwwdyQAxXEnGoFHebOJucQ6AF6BAgJEAM#v=onepage&q=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&f=true |access-date=November 6, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
==Personal life== Drew married Al Leibovitz, a comedian known professionally as Larry Allen, in Chicago in 1951.<ref name="ria">{{cite news |title=New WHBF Radio Show To Feature Wife of Former Rock Island Man |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus-doris-drew/125575720/ |access-date=November 5, 2025 |work=The Rock Island Argus |date=July 3, 1954 |page=18|via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> They had a son.<ref name="timbers">{{cite news |last1=Timbers |first1=Velma |title=Singer Doris Drew Enjoys Leisurely Pace on Visit Here |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/corpus-christi-times-doris-drew/184387923/ |access-date=November 5, 2025 |work=Corpus Christi Times |date=July 13, 1953 |page=7 B|via = Newspapers.com }}</ref>
==Critical response== When the trade publication ''Billboard'' reviewed Drew's performance in the Empire Room of the Schroeder Hotel in Milwaukee on May 15, 1951, it said, "Easy to stare at and beautifully gowned, she does a stand-out job of song selling and projection."<ref name=bbrev>{{cite magazine |last=Ollman |first=Ben |date=June 2, 1951 |page=34 |title=Empire Room, Schroeder Hotel, Milwaukee |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1B4EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA34&dq=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&pg=PA34#v=onepage&q=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&f=true |accessdate=November 7, 2025 }}</ref> The review said that Drew was "fairly well known" to record buyers but did not attract the Empire Room's typical customers. It suggested that "something added in the line of special material" would improve her act.<ref name="bbrev" />
''Billboard'''s review of the premiere of the radio program ''Dreamboat'' said, "Doris Drew sounded lush enough vocally, but the gal's speaking voice was mush-mouthed, shrill and over-animated."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Bundy |first=June |date=April 28, 1951 |page=10 |title=Dreamboat |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jh8EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA10&dq=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&pg=PA10#v=onepage&q=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&f=false |accessdate=November 7, 2025 }}</ref>
==Partial discography== ===1949=== *"A Rose Was a Rose"/"Bargain Day" (MGM 10449)<ref>{{cite magazine |date=June 18, 1949 |page=39 |title=Popular |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MfYDAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA39&dq=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&pg=PA39#v=onepage&q=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&f=true |accessdate=November 7, 2025 }}</ref> *"Billy"/"I Wish I Was Back in My Baby's Arms" (MGM 10563) with the Jud Conlon Quintette and Earle Hagen's orchestra<ref>{{cite magazine |date=November 19, 1949 |page=94 |title=Record Reviews |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LQ4EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PT93&dq=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&pg=PT93#v=onepage&q=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&f=true |accessdate=November 7, 2025 }}</ref>
===1950=== *"Willya Won'tcha"/"I've Got a Sunday Feeling in My Heart" (MGM 10677) with Russ Case's orchestra<ref name=bb>{{cite magazine |date=April 29, 1950 |page=110 |title=Record Reviews |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PgEEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA110&dq=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&pg=PA110#v=onepage&q=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&f=true |accessdate=November 6, 2025 }}</ref>
===1951=== *"Didn't Your Mother Ever Tell Ya' Nothin'?" (Mercury 5657) duet with Bob Connally with Ralph Marterie's orchestra <ref>{{cite magazine |date=June 23, 1951 |page=36 |title=Popular |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0x4EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA36&dq=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&pg=PA36#v=onepage&q=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&f=true |accessdate=November 7, 2025 }}</ref> *"I Wish I Was"/"Where's-A Your House?" (Mercury 5701) with Nook Schreier's orchestra<ref>{{cite magazine |date=September 22, 1951 |page=41 |title=Popular |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_hkEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA41&dq=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&pg=PA41#v=onepage&q=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&f=false |accessdate=November 6, 2025 }}</ref> *"Shut Up"/"Beautiful Brown Eyes" (Mercury 5370) with Lew Douglas's orchestra<ref>{{cite magazine |date=March 10, 1951 |page=29 |title=Popular |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Oh8EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA29&dq=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&pg=PA29#v=onepage&q=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&f=true |accessdate=November 6, 2025 }}</ref> *"Somebody Else Is Taking My Place"/"My Sentimental Heart" (Mercury 5626) with Lew Douglas's orchestra<ref>{{cite magazine |date=May 5, 1951 |page=38 |title=Popular |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ih8EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA38&dq=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&pg=PA38#v=onepage&q=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&f=true|accessdate=November 7, 2025 }}</ref> *"Sweet Violets"/"Them There Eyes" (Mercury 5673) with Cliff Parman's orchestra<ref>{{cite magazine |date=July 21, 1951 |page=32 |title=The Billboard Music Popularity Charts |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gB8EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA32&dq=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&pg=PA32#v=onepage&q=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&f=true |accessdate=November 7, 2025 }}</ref>
===1953=== *"Gumbo Ya Ya"/"Moon Is Blue" (Mercury 70194)<ref>{{cite magazine |date=July 11, 1953 |page=40 |title=Popular Record Reviews |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WwoEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA40&dq=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&pg=PA40#v=onepage&q=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&f=false |accessdate=November 8, 2025 }}</ref> *"Since You Went Away From Me"/"Side by Side" (Mercury 70096) with David Carroll's orchestra<ref>{{cite magazine |date=March 14, 1953 |page=46 |title=Popular Record Reviews |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RAsEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA46&dq=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&pg=PA46#v=onepage&q=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&f=true |accessdate=November 6, 2025 }}</ref>
===1956=== *"Be My Lovin' Baby"/"Abada-Abadu (Kahill 1015)<ref>{{cite magazine |date=December 1, 1956 |page=37 |title=Reviews of New Pop Records |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hgoEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA37&dq=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&pg=PA37#v=onepage&q=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&f=true |accessdate=November 7, 2025 }}</ref>
===1958=== *"Jack Fascinato Arranges Things" album (Stepheny MF 4004) with The Mellowmen<ref>{{cite magazine |date=June 30, 1958 |page=18 |title=Popular |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_AoEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA18&dq=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&pg=PA18#v=onepage&q=%22Doris%20Drew%22%20singer&f=true |accessdate=November 7, 2025 }}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Drew, Doris}}
Category:1927 births Category:20th-century American women singers Category:Brackenridge High School alumni Category:Singers from San Antonio Category:Traditional pop music singers Category:Possibly living people