Howard Keel
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Howard Keel is an American Vocal Singer and Theatre actor who rose to fame via his first single, "And I Love You So".
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About
Howard Keel or "Clifford Keel" in real life was born on April 13, 1919 in Gillespie, Illinois to "Homer Keel", a navy man turned coalminer and "Grace Osterkamp". His childhood was admittedly unhappy, his father being a hard-drinking coal miner and his mother a stern, repressed Methodist homemaker. When Keel was 11 his father died, and the family moved to California. At the age of 17, after graduating for Fallbrook High School, he took various odd jobs such as car mechanic. Finally, he settled at Douglas Aircraft in Los Angeles as a traveling representative.
The staff of his aircraft company discovered his naturally untrained voice and soon he was performing at various entertainments for the company's clients. In summer of 1941, he had his first public performance. He starred in Handel's oratorio Saul and David as Samuel.
He was inspired to sing professionally one day while attending a Hollywood Bowl concert. He was discovered by
Rodgers and Hammerstein during John Raitt's understudy auditions for the role of Billy Bigelow in Broadway's "Carousel." He was included in the cast of the Broadway Theatre, "Oklahoma" in 1947. Harold was hailed as the next great star and was the toast of the West End.
It was while in England that Howard made his film debut in a villainous role in The Small Voice in 1949. It was followed by MGM musicals such as Showboat in 1951, Lovely to Look At in 1952, Kiss Me Kate in 1953, Rose Marie in 1954, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers in 1954, Kismet in 1955 and Jupiter's Darling in 1955.
Howard appeared in more broadway theatres, musicals, TV show and movies. Because of this renewed fame, he landed his first solo recording contract with "And I Love You So" in 1983. He released his solo album, With Love in 1984. Additional Broadway hits include, "White Christmas in 2000, and "Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady" in 1996. He died November 7, 2004, six weeks after being diagnosed with colon cancer.
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Tours & Concerts
There are no current tour and concert schedules for Howard Keel.
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Discography
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Contemporaries
Trivia
- Howard was President of Screen Actors Guild (SAG) from 1958-1959.
- His third wife was 25 years younger than him.
- Due to his huge size, many of his petite leading ladies had to stand on boxes to be in the same frame.
- Was the original choice to play the lead in Singin' in the Rain. The part went to Gene Kelly instead.
