Dorothy Collins(1926-1994)

Although known primarily as the lead singer on the long-running TV show, Your Hit Parade (1950), Dorothy Collins was also featured on the TV show, Candid Camera (1960), where she displayed a lively flair for comedy. Her best work, however, was in the musical theater, where she starred in the original cast of what has become a legendary Broadway musical, Stephen Sondheim's "Follies". For her work, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 1971, losing the award to her cast mate Alexis Smith. Her work in various musical programs on television in addition to Your Hit Parade (1950) showed her to be one of the finest vocalists of her era. She and her first husband, Raymond Scott, had their own record label; Collins surprised her fans with a number of critically-well-received jazz performances. She also was quite successful with night club engagements.