On January 10, 2011, iconic standards singer Margaret Whiting died at 86 years old in Englewood, New Jersey. Margaret made a name for herself in the 40’s & 50’s singing golden-age pop songs and warm renditions of standards like “That Old Black Magic” and “Come Rain or Come Shine.” Her father, Richard Whiting was a famous composer and as a young child Margaret began singing many of his songs. Shortly after her father passed away in 1938, family friend Johnny Mercer signed Margaret to one of Capitol Records first recording contracts. She went on to become a very successful singer recording a dozen gold records and charting pop hits throughout the 1940’s and 1950’s.
Margaret Whiting also made numerous appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show performing medleys of pop songs and classic standards. Here is a 1956 Ed Sullivan Show performance by Margaret, and her sister Barbara Whiting, of their fathers’ song “Ain’t We Got Fun.”
Barbara Whiting is survived by her daughter, Deborah.