Ginny Gibson
Introduction
Ginny Gibson was the professional name of a prolific New York recording vocalist, Virginia Nelson (née Virginia Marie Shoemaker; 22 November 1924 Rochester, New York – 27 November 1998 Nyack, New York). Gibson recorded jingles and popular songs. Her married surname, beginning around 1946, was Nelson. In 1958, she married Richard Dennis Criger (1925–2001). She divorced Criger in 1976. Ginny Gibson also recorded under the alias "Ginny Blue."
Career
Virginia Shoemaker, as a performer, began singing at age 6 for WHAM radio in Rochester, New York. In 1950, Gibson signed a contract with MGM Records. She was the first to record the song s "Mr. Sandman," "If I Give My Heart to You," and "Dansero." Her recording of "Whatever Lola Wants" from Damn Yankees won national radio and jukebox play. Her manager while at MGM was Joan Javits (né Joan Ellen Javits; born 1931), who in 1953, co-wrote Santa Baby with Philip Springer (born 1926). The other co-composer, Tony Springer, listed in the 1953 Catalog of Copyright Entries, was a fictitious name. Joan was the niece of New York Senator Jacob K. Javits.
In 1954, Gibson recorded 966 new tunes for such songwriters that included Irving Berlin; Cole Porter; Pajama Game and Damn Yankees writers Jerry Ross and Dick Adler; Charles Tobias; and Pat Ballard.
Gibson also sang radio and TV commercials, including the famous "Chiquita Banana," "Hello, Bryers Calling," "Winston Tastes Good," "The Dodge Boys," "Wouldn't You Really Rather Have a Buick?" and "Pepsodent Toothpaste."
She was the off-stage voice on the Coke Time with Eddie Fisher television show, working with Doc Severinsen, Eydie Gormé, and Debbie Reynolds. She was also heard regularly on the Chicago radio show Don McNeill's Breakfast Club and television's The Halls of Ivy and Sky King.
Selected discography
M-G-M Records
Mercury Records
Voco Records (sub-label: Tops for Tots)
RCA Victor Records
Jubilee Records
ABC-Paramount Records
Forum Records (Charles Records)
Davis Records (Joe Davis)
Kama Records
Selected radio transcriptions
Family
Ginny Gibson's father, Wayne A. Shoemaker (1902–1962) had, at one time, been Public Relations Director of the Rochester Civic Music Association. Wayne Shoemaker was also a strong regional chess player — affiliated with the Finger Lakes Chess Society.
Death
Virginia M. Criger died November 27, 1998, in Nyack, New York. She was buried in Mount Repose Cemetery, Haverstraw, New York. Etched at the top of her tombstone are the words of the title song she once recorded, "You Pass This Way Only Once." And at the bottom are the words, "Our Beloved 'Ginny Gibson.'"
Selected compositions
- "What a Nervous Situation"
- Ginny Gibson (w&m)
- Dick Broderick (w&m)
- © Sikorski Music Corp., New York
- 31 January 1956; EP96565