Biography
Sylvia Blagman, 2 December 1917, Brooklyn, USA, d. 10 May 1992, New York City, New York, USA. One of America’s most distinguished cabaret and jazz singers with a profound appreciation of lyrics, Syms overcame polio as a child, and in her teens discovered the delights of jazz in the clubs of New York’s 52nd Street. Inspired and informally trained by Billie Holiday, she made her singing debut in 1941 at Kelly’s Stable, and in 1948 was spotted while performing at the Cinderella Club in Greenwich Village by Mae West, who gave her the part of Flo the Shoplifter in a revival of Diamond Lil. She subsequently appeared in the regional theatre on many occasions as Bloody Mary in South Pacific and as Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly!, and also acted in straight roles. Signed to Decca Records, she had a million-selling record in 1956 with an up-tempo version of ‘I Could Have Danced All Night’ from My Fair Lady, and enjoyed further success with ‘English....
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