'''Blossom Dearie''' (Amerikaanse swing, ballads). Haar stem wordt vaak omschreven als een beetje meisjesachtig.  

Als kind leerde ze piano spelen, maar dit was klassieke muziek. Toen ze tiener was, kreeg ze belangstelling voor jazz en ging ze deze muziek spelen. Na haar middelbare school trok ze naar New York om een muzikale carrière te beginnen. In de jaren veertig zong ze hier in meerdere jazz-groepen, waaronder the Blue Flames (met het orkest van Woody Herman en the Blue Reys (met de band van Alvino Rey). Daarna startte ze haar solo-carrière.

In 1952 ging ze naar Bach). Hiermee scoorde ze in 1954 een hit in Frankrijk met een franstalige versie van 'Lullaby of Birdland'. In Parijs ontmoette ze haar latere man, de Belgische fluitist en saxofonist Bobby Jaspar. Haar eerste solo-album verscheen in 1956, ze speelde hierop alleen piano. In 1956 keerde ze terug naar de V.S. en kreeg een platencontract bij Verve Records. Voor dit label nam ze in de late jaren '50 en begin jaren zestig zes albums op, meestal in de bezetting van een trio of kwartet (onder meer met bassist Ray Brown, gitarist Herb Ellis, gitarist Kenny Burrell). Ze werd bekender, mede door enkele tv-optredens op de Today Show.

Haar bekendste album nam ze in 1964 op voor Capitol Records, 'May I come in'. Het was een plaat waarop ze zingt en speelt met met een orkest onder leiding van Jack Marshall. Rond die tijd speelde ze regelmatig in 'supperclubs' in New York. In 1966 speelde ze voor het eerst in Ronnie Scott's Club in Londen, waar ze vaak en met succes zou optreden. In Engeland nam ze vier platen op voor het Fontana-label. Volgens Dearie begon haar professionele carrière pas echt in de jaren zestig. In deze jaren begon ze ook zelf songs te componeren en arrangeren. Eind jaren zestig trad Blossom Dearie op met Ramses Shaffy. 

In 1974 richtte Blossom Dearie haar eigen platenlabel op, Daffodil Records, waarvoor ze veel platen maakte. Tot voor kort trad ze regelmatig op, vooral in Londen en New York City, met songs van George Gershwin en Cole Porter tot en met haar eigen ballades. Enkele jaren geleden was ze van plan een autobiografische video te maken. Ze woont in Rochester (New York).

==Discografie==
'''EmArcy/Mercury Records'''

* ''The Blue Stars of France: Lullaby in Birdland and Other Famous Hits'' (1954)

'''Barclay Crecords'''

* ''Blossom Dearie Plays "April in Paris"'' (1956)

'''Verve Records'''

* ''Blossom Dearie'' (1957)
* ''Give Him the Ooh-La-La'' (1957)
* ''Once Upon a Summertime'' (1958)
* ''Blossom Dearie Sings Comden and Green'' (1959)
* ''My Gentleman Friend'' (1959)
* ''Soubrette Sings Broadway Hit Songs'' (1960)

'''Hires Root Beer/DIW Records'''

{{Infobox musical artist
|Img=Replace this image female.svg <!-- only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people - see WP:NONFREE --> |  <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| Name                = Blossom Dearie
| | Img_capt            = 
| Background          = solo_singer
| Birth_name          = Blossom Dearie
| Alias               =  
| Born                = <br> <small>East Durham, U.S.</small>
| Died                = 
| Genre               = swing, traditional pop
| Occupation          = Vocalist
| Years_active        = 1952&ndash;present
| Label               = Verve, Daffodil, Barclay
| URL                 =
}}

'''Blossom Dearie''' (born American jazz singer and pianist, often performing in the bebop genre. Dearie is known for her "distinctive, girlish voice" <ref>http://wc09.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:jifixqt5ldke~T1 allmusic.com bio</ref>.

==Early career==
Dearie was born in East Durham, New York.<ref name=MySpace/> As a child, she studied classical Woody Herman Orchestra) and the Blue Reys (with Alvino Rey's band) before launching her solo career. 

In 1952, she moved to Belgian flautist and saxophonist Bobby Jaspar. On her first solo album, released two years later, she plays the piano but does not sing.

One of her most famous songs from that period is "The Riviera", written and composed by Joseph McCarthy Jr. in 1956.

==Late 1950s and 1960s==
After returning from France, Dearie made her first six American albums as a solo singer and pianist for Verve Records in the late 1950s and early 1960s, mostly in a small trio or quartet setting. Dave Garroway, host of the Today show and an early fan of Dearie, featured her several times, increasing her exposure to the popular audience. In 1962, she recorded a song for a radio commercial for Hires Root Beer. As it proved very popular, the LP ''Blossom Dearie Sings Rootin' Songs'' was released as a premium item that could be ordered for one dollar and a proof of purchase. 

In 1964, she recorded her best known album for Capitol Records, ''May I Come In?'', recorded, atypically for her, with an orchestra. During this same period Blossom performed frequently in New York supper clubs and honed her own distinctive style. In 1966, she made her first appearance at Ronnie Scott's club in London and quickly became a popular act. She went on to record four albums in England, released on the Fontana label, in the 1960s.

==1970s and later==
In 1974, Dearie established her own label, Daffodil Records, to allow her full control in the recording and distribution of her albums. Dearie has also appeared on television throughout her career, most notably giving her voice to the children's educational series ''Schoolhouse Rock!'' Many of her pieces in this series were written by her good friend, the jazz singer and composer Bob Dorough. Her voice can be heard on "Mother Necessity", "Figure Eight" and "Unpack Your Adjectives".

Her distinctive voice and songs have been featured on the soundtracks of many films including ''Kissing Jessica Stein'', ''My Life Without Me'',''The Squid and the Whale'' and ''The Adventures of Felix''. She has also recorded with various musicians, including Bob Dorough and Lyle Lovett.