Wendy Jane's Weekend Sounds: Mabel Mercer - Once In A Blue Moon

As it often happens, I learned about artist Mabel Mercer via social media--this time a posting on Facebook.  The post came from Donald King, former founder/Executive Director of Providence Black Repertory Theater, and now co-founder/owner of Fete, a truly hip and gorgeous live music venue that according to its website is "dedicated to providing innovative music programming to an audience as diverse as New England itself."I learned a bit about Mabel Mercer via the website, The Mabel Mercer Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving the legacy of Mabel Mercer, as well as supporting the art of popular song and cabaret.   Ms. Mercer was born in 1900 in Staffordshire, England, and at 14 left her convent school to go with her aunt on tour of the vaudeville and music hall circuit in Britain and Europe.  After the tour, her career in song soon flourished.  She was held in the highest regard in Paris, and throughout much of Europe, and later in New York, where she held court in esteemed hotels like the St. Regis and the Carlyle.  Frank Sinatra was even known to have said that everything he knew about song phrasing he learned from Mabel.Mabel Mercer was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House from President Reagan in 1983.  She passed away a year later on April 20, 1984.So, without further ado, here is Mabel Mercer singing Once In A Blue Moon. SOURCES: www.mabelmercerfoundation.orgwww.youtube.com, Mabel Mercer, Once In A Blue Moon, posted by MariaLauraIrene Photo Credit:  www.en.wikipedia.org