Trudy Richards Explained

Gertrude Richards Moreault (April 25, 1920 – April 4, 2008)^[1] was an American, Manhattan-born, 1950s jazz and swing singer.

She originally did background singing, and soon became lead vocalist with the Charlie Barnet band, with whom she recorded such songs as "Gloomy Sunday", "Easy Living" and "Ill Wind".^[2] She was signed by Decca Records as a solo artist, recording such songs as Nashville Blues and Blacksmith Blues with Sy Oliver.^[3] She also recorded for Derby Records, MGM Records and Jubilee Records.^[4] She was signed as a solo artist on Capitol Records and released the album Crazy In Love! with Billy May's orchestra in 1957.^[5]

She worked with such musicians as Doc Severinsen, Maynard Ferguson, George Barnes, Pete Rugolo, Artie Shaw, and Dave McKenna, and performed at clubs including Freddy's, Jan Wallman's and La Chansonette. Following her marriage to Henri Moreault, she relaunched her career as Trudy Richards Moreau for a second series of albums on such labels as Musicor Records, Black Swan, and Beekman Place.^[6]

Her recording of "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" was used in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. She died on April 4, 2008, and was pre-deceased by her son Richard Shore.^[7] A CD compilation of her recordings was released in 2016.^[8]

Songs

The following is a list of songs recorded as singles by Richards.^[9]

• "Nashville Blues" with Sy Oliver, Decca 24840
• "Hawaii" / "Wha'd'ya Say?", MGM 10728
• "I'll Never Love You" / "Somewhere, Somehow, Someday", MGM 10804
• "I'm Afraid to Love You" / "Winter Waltz", MGM 10831
• "I Am Loved" / "Where Oh Where", MGM 10863
• "I'll Be All Smiles Tonight" / "That's How Our Love Will Grow", MGM 10922
• "Blacksmith Blues" / "Any Time" with Sy Oliver, Decca 27972
• "I Never Loved Anyone But You" / "I Don't Mind" with Sy Oliver, Decca 28084
• "I May Hate Myself in the Morning" / "I Waited a Little Too Long", Decca 28190
• "I'm Never Satisfied" / "Some Folks Do and Some Folks Don't", Decca 28389
• "A Fool" / "Go 'Way From My Window", Decca 28564
• "The Breeze" / "Can't Love You Anymore", Derby 45-823
• "Bye Bye Blackbird" / "I Believe What I Feel", Derby 45–830
• "Sugar-Loaf Junction" / "T'aint Nobody's Bizness", Derby 45-847
• "The Song is You" / "It's Been So Long" with Pete Rugolo, Arco 1221
• "Temptation" / "Travelin' Home", Capitol 3481
• "Paradise" / "Once Upon a Dream", Capitol 3555
• "Next Time" / "All of My Life", Capitol 3614
• "Wishbone" / "Hangin' Around", Capitol 3694
• "I Want a Big Butter and Egg Man" / "Weaker Than Wise", Capitol 3729
• "The Night When Love Was Born" / "Somebody Just Like You", Capitol 3946
• "Don't Rush Me" / "Promises, Promises", Jubilee 5197
• "Mercy (Have Mercy)" / "Strangers", Jubilee 5209
• "I Want You to Be My Baby" / "I'll Never Stop Loving You" with Vincent Lopez, 18 Top Hits 159
• "24 Hours a Day", Ronnex 1140
• "My Boy Flat Top", Ronnex 1141

Albums

The following is a list of albums recorded by Richards.^[3]

• Crazy in Love, with Billy May, Capitol T838, rel. 1957
• Trudy, with Jimmy Wisner, Musicor MUS-2503, rel. 1977
• Trudy Richards Sings, with Dave McKenna, Black Swan BS-100, rel. 1984
• Manhattan Serenade, with Frank Owens, Jay Leonhart and Grady Tate, Beekman Place BPR-1001, rel. 1990
• Charlie Barnet—The Capitol Big Band Sessions (reissue), Capitol Jazz CDP 7243

Notes and References

1. Web site: Gertrude Moreault. Fold3. May 8, 2020.
2. Web site: | PointCulture. Pointculture.be. February 4, 2020.
3. Web site: Trudy Richards. Discogs.com. February 4, 2020.
4. Web site: TRUDY RICHARDS. CBACK. Forum. Rocknroll-schallplatten-forum.de. February 4, 2020.
5. Down Beat – Volume 24, Issues 21–26 – Page 87 1957 CRAZY IN LOVE! Trudy Richards' dynamic rhythm and warmly personal phrasing, combined with Billy May's big band sound, in happy-to-be- in-love songs.
6. Web site: Trudy Richards - Manhattan Serenade. Discogs.com. 1990 . February 4, 2020.
7. Web site: Paid Notice: Deaths MOREAULT, GERTRUDE (TRUDY RICHARDS). Query.nytimes.com. February 4, 2020.
8. Web site: TRUDY RICHARDS SELECTED SINGLES CD (2 CD Set) . www.mymusicboutique.com . 14 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160726234830/http://www.mymusicboutique.com/product/TRH101-8989335 . 26 July 2016 . dead.
9. Web site: Trudy Richards - 45cat Search. 45cat.com. February 4, 2020.