Chapter 11: Pop Music in the 1940s and 1950s
Doris Day (1922–2019) was one of the most successful and versatile entertainers of the mid-20th century with a career that spanned music, film, television, and activism. Born Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff in Cincinnati, Ohio, Day originally dreamed of becoming a professional dancer. However, a car accident at age fourteen left her with a badly broken leg and derailed her ambitions. During her long recovery, she began taking voice lessons, where her talent quickly became apparent. Her first professional singing job came with bandleader Barney Rapp, who suggested she change her name to “Doris Day,” inspired by her performance of the song “Day After Day.”
By the time she was sixteen, Day was performing with Bob Crosby’s band, and soon after, she joined Les Brown and His Band of Renown, one of the most popular big bands of the 1940s. With Brown, she recorded some of her biggest early hits, including:
“My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time”
“Sentimental Journey” — a 1945 anthem for returning World War II soldiers that became one of her signature songs
These recordings launched her into the national spotlight and paved the way for a highly successful solo career.
In 1948, Doris Day made her film debut in the musical comedy Romance on the High Seas, performing “It’s Magic,” a song that became a major hit and launched her long and prolific film career. She would go on to star in 39 movies, often playing the wholesome, all-American girl in romantic comedies and musicals. Her charming and witty screen presence made her one of the top box office draws of the 1950s and early 1960s. In the process, she helped establish the Hollywood stereotype of the blonde, bubbly leading lady: cheerful, approachable, and always ready to break into song.
One of her most famous performances came in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1956 thriller The Man Who Knew Too Much, in which she starred opposite James Stewart. The film featured her recording of “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)”, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and became her signature tune. The song’s reassuring message and catchy melody resonated deeply with audiences and has remained a cultural touchstone ever since. In addition to her music and film work, Day also starred in her own television show, The Doris Day Show (1968–1973), following the same vein as other entertainers like Rosemary Clooney and Perry Como.
Day’s personal life, however, was often more complicated than her public image suggested. She was married four times, and her only son, Terry Melcher, became a successful record producer, known for his work with the Byrds and other 1960s rock acts. Later in life, Day withdrew from show business and became a passionate animal rights activist, founding the Doris Day Animal Foundation and dedicating herself to advocacy work.