Shirley Matthews
Shirley Matthews was a Canadian pop singer born in Harrow, Ontario in 1942.
Matthews sang in a church choir and at high school dances prior to embarking on a career in music. She worked in a Bell Telephone office while singing nights at the Club Bluenote in Toronto.[1] Her debut single, "Big Town Boy", was a major hit in Canada in 1964, selling over a million copies.[2] She won the RPM Gold Leaf Award for Female Vocalist of the Year in 1964.[1] Later singles failed to duplicate "Big Town Boy"'s success.
Big Town Boy debuted on 1050 Chum in Toronto on 2 December 1963, the same day as the Beatle's "She Loves You". [3]
In 1967, she married, taking the name Shirley Vedder, and quit the music industry, eventually becoming the CEO of a chain of racquetball and sports fitness clubs.[1]
On January 8, 2013 Shirley died in Toronto, Ontario.[4]
References
- 1 2 3 Shirley Matthews in the Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia
- ↑ Shirley Matthews at Allmusic
- ↑ http://www.las-solanas.com/surveys/CHUM/CHUM_1963-12-02_1.JPG
- ↑ http://www.wardfuneralhome.com/book-of-memories/1461966/Vedder-Shirley/obituary.php
