Marlene VerPlanck (1933-2018)

Jazz and pop vocalist whose body of work centered on big band jazz, the American songbook and cabaret.[70]

What is Marlene VerPlanck (1933-2018) known for?

Marlene VerPlanck, born as Marlene Paula Pampinella, was a highly respected American jazz and pop vocalist with an extensive career spanning over several decades. She was born on November 11, 1933, in Newark, New Jersey. Marlene found her passion for music early in life and began performing as a teenager at just 19 years old.

As an alumnus of Bloomfield High School in Bloomfield, New Jersey, she first considered a career in journalism before fully pursuing her talent in music. She released her debut album, I Think of You with Every Breath I Take, at the age of 21 in 1955. This album featured prominent musicians like Hank Jones, Joe Wilder, Wendell Marshall, Kenny Clarke, and the uncredited Herbie Mann.

Before becoming a solo artist, Marlene gained experience working as a vocalist for bands such as those led by Charlie Spivak, Tommy Dorsey, and Tex Beneke. She also made a significant mark as a studio vocalist for commercial jingles during the 1960s and 1970s. She recorded ample jingles, including the well-known Campbell's Soup "M'm M'm Good" song and "Nationwide is on your side" for Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

In her extensive career, she served as a backup singer for notable artists like Tony Bennett, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, and Mel Torme while also making a name for herself internationally as a cabaret singer. Specializing in the Great American Songbook, Marlene VerPlanck was admired for her interpretations of works by Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer, Cole Porter, and Richard Rodgers.

In 1983, VerPlanck contributed to the all-digital recording of the music of Glenn Miller by the Glenn Miller Orchestra in the album, In the Digital Mood. Marlene VerPlanck passed away on January 14, 2018, leaving an impressive legacy in American music history.