Shore, Dinah (Frances Rose) (1917–1994)

US pop singer, actor, and television talk-show hostess. She was one of the best-selling female vocalists of the 1940s, with hits including ‘The Gypsy’ (1946), ‘Doin' What Comes Natur'lly’ (1946), and ‘Buttons and Bows’ (1948). She also appeared in a number of musical films, but became best known as a television personality over a 40-year period from 1951.

Her Dinah Shore Show 1956–63, sponsored by the US car company Chevrolet, made her one of television's most popular personalities of the time, known for her upbeat demeanour and southern charm.

Shore was born in Tennessee and began her career singing on radio in New York in 1938. She had her first hits with ‘Yes, My Darling Daughter’ (1940) and ‘Blues in the Night’ (1941). Her film debut was in Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943), playing herself; this was followed by parts in such films as the comedian Danny Kaye's debut Up in Arms (1944); Till the Clouds Roll by (1946), based on the life of the composer Jerome Kern; and Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick (1951), a film whose lack of success caused her to give up Hollywood until 1977, when she appeared in a comedy called Oh God!.