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Marni Nixon

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Not to be confused withMarti Noxon.

Marni Nixon
Nixon at the Metropolitan Room, New York City (2009)
Born
Margaret Nixon McEathron

(1930-02-22)February 22, 1930
Altadena,California,U.S.
DiedJuly 24, 2016(2016-07-24)(aged 86)
New York City,U.S.
Occupation(s)Singer, actress
Years active1942–2009
Spouses
  • ​
    ​
    (m.1950;div.1969)​
  • Lajos Fenster
    ​
    ​
    (m.1971;div.1975)​
  • Albert Block
    ​
    ​
    (m.1983; died 2015)​
Children3, includingAndrew Gold

Margaret Nixon McEathron(February 22, 1930 – July 24, 2016), known professionally asMarni Nixon,was an Americansopranoandghost singerfor featured actresses inmusical films.She was the singing voice of leading actresses on thesoundtracksof several musicals, includingDeborah KerrinThe King and I,Natalie WoodinWest Side Story,andAudrey HepburninMy Fair Lady,although her roles were concealed from audiences when the films were released.[1]Several of the songs she dubbed appeared onAFI's 100 Years...100 Songslist.[2]

Besides her voice work in films, Nixon's career included roles of her own in film, television,operaandmusicalsonBroadwayand elsewhere throughout the United States, performances in concerts with majorsymphony orchestras,and recordings.

Early life

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Born inAltadena, California,to Charles Nixon and Margaret Elsa (née Wittke) McEathron, Nixon was a child film actress who also played the violin and began singing at an early age in choruses, including performing solos with theRoger Wagner Chorale.[1][3]She went on to studysingingand opera with, among others,Vera Schwarz,Carl Ebert,Boris GoldovskyandSarah Caldwell.[1]In 1947, having adopted the stage name "Marni Nixon", she made herHollywood Bowlsolo debut inCarmina Buranawith theLos Angeles Philharmonicunder conductorLeopold Stokowski.[4]

Career

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Early films and musicals

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Nixon's career in film started in 1948 when she sang the voices of the angels heard byIngrid BergmaninJoan of Arc(1948). The same year, she did her firstdubbingwork when she providedMargaret O'Brien's singing voice in 1948'sBig Cityand then 1949'sThe Secret Garden.She sang forJeanne CraininCheaper by the Dozen(1950) and dubbedMarilyn Monroe's high notes in "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend"inGentlemen Prefer Blondes(1953). Also in 1953, she sang forIda LupinoinJennifer.Nixon appeared onBroadwayin 1954 inThe Girl in Pink Tights.[1][5]

In 1956, she worked closely withDeborah Kerrto supply the star's singing voice for the film version ofRodgers and Hammerstein'sThe King and I;Kerr broke with Hollywood convention by publicly crediting Nixon's singing.[6][7]In 1957 Nixon again worked with Kerr to dub her voice inAn Affair to Remember.[1]That year, she also sang forSophia LoreninBoy on a Dolphin.In 1960, she dubbedJanet Leigh's voice inPepe[1]and had an on-screen chorus role inCan-Can.[8]In 1961'sWest Side Story,the studio kept her work on the film (as the singing voice ofNatalie Wood's Maria) a secret from Wood,[9][10]and Nixon also dubbedRita Moreno's singing in the film's"Tonight" quintet.She asked the film's producers for, but did not receive, direct royalties from her work on the film, butLeonard Bernsteincontractually gave her ¼ of one percent (0.25%) of his personal royalties from it.[11]After a court case, she received royalties from sales ofthe soundtrack albumand spoke out for the rights of ghost singers.[6]In 1962, she also sang Wood's high notes inGypsy.[8][12]ForMy Fair Ladyin 1964, she again worked with the female lead of the film,Audrey Hepburn,to perform the songs of Hepburn's character Eliza.[9]Because of her uncredited dubbing work in these films,Timemagazine called her "The Ghostess with the Mostest".[13][14]Nevertheless, the public did not know Nixon's face; she appeared onTo Tell the Truththe same year, where two members of the panel were fooled.[15]

Nixon made guest appearances with Leonard Bernstein'sYoung People's Concerts,including in 1960, singing "Improvisation sur Mallarmé I" fromPli selon plibyPierre Boulez,[3]and on April 9, 1961, in a program entitled "Folk Music in the Concert Hall", singing three "Songs of the Auvergne" byJoseph Canteloube.[16]BeforeMy Fair Ladywas released in theatres in 1964, Nixon played Eliza in a revival of the musical atNew York City Center.[8]Nixon's first onscreen appearance was as Sister Sophia in the 1965 filmThe Sound of Music.In the DVD commentary to the film, directorRobert Wisecomments that audiences were finally able to see the woman whose voice they knew so well.[17]In 1967, she was the singing voice of Princess Serena in a live action and animated version ofJack and the Beanstalkon NBC. Especially in the 1960s, but also earlier and later, Nixon made concert appearances, specializing in contemporary music as a soloist with theNew York Philharmonic,and gave recitals atCarnegie Hall,Alice Tully HallandTown Hallin New York City.[1][18]

Later work

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Nixon taught at theCalifornia Institute of the ArtsinMontecitofrom 1969 to 1971 and joined the faculty of theMusic Academy of the West,Santa Barbara, in 1980, where she taught for many years.[19]In the late 1970s and early 1980s, she hosted a children's television show inSeattleonKOMO-TVchannel 4 calledBoomerang,winning fourEmmy Awardsas best actress, and made numerous other television appearances on variety shows and as a guest star in prime time series.[20][21]Nixon's opera repertory included Zerbinetta inAriadne auf Naxos,Susanna inThe Marriage of Figaro,both Blonde and Konstanze inDie Entführung aus dem Serail,Violetta inLa traviata,the title role inLa Péricholeand Philine inMignon.Her opera credits included performances atLos Angeles Opera,Seattle Opera,[11]San Francisco Operaand theTanglewood Music Festivalamong others.[8]In addition to giving recitals, she appeared as an oratorio and concert soloist with the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, theCleveland Orchestra,Toronto Symphony Orchestra,theLondon Symphony Orchestraand theIsrael Philharmonic Orchestraamong others.[19][20]

Nixon also toured withLiberaceandVictor Borgeand later in her own cabaret shows.[1][3]On stage, in 1984, she originated the role of EdnaOff-BroadwayinTaking My Turn,composed byGary William Friedman,receiving a nomination for aDrama Desk Award.She also originated the role of Sadie McKibben inOpal(1992), and she had a 1997 film role as Aunt Alice inI Think I Do.[5][20][22]Under her own name, beginning in the 1980s, Nixon recorded songs byJerome Kern,George Gershwinand various classical composers.[1][3]She was nominated for twoGrammy Awardsfor Best Classical Performance, Vocal Soloist, one for her Schönberg album and one for her Copland album.[20]

In the 1998DisneyfilmMulan,Nixon was the singing voice of "Grandmother Fa". She then returned to the stage, touring the United States as Fraulein Schneider inCabaretin 1997–1998.[20]She eventually sang on more than 50 soundtracks.[4]In 1999, she originated the role of Mrs. Wilson in the premiere ofBallymore,an opera by Richard Wargo atSkylight Opera Theatrein Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which was taped for PBS.[23]In regional theatre and Off-Broadway, she played Nurse inRomeo and Julietand appeared in productions ofThe King and IandThe Sound of Music.[18]She also continued to teach voice and judge vocal competitions.[20][23]

In 2000, after nearly a half century away, she returned to Broadway as Aunt Kate inJames Joyce's The Dead.[5][18]In 2001, Nixon replacedJoan Robertsas Heidi Schiller in the Broadway revival ofStephen Sondheim'sFollies.[1]She played Eunice Miller in70, Girls, 70in a 2002 production in Los Angeles.[18]In 2003, she was again on Broadway as a replacement in role of Guido's mother in the revival ofNine.[24]Her autobiography,I Could Have Sung All Night,was published in 2006.[11]She performed in the 2008 North American Tour ofCameron Mackintosh's UK revival ofMy Fair Ladyin the role of Mrs. Higgins.[25][26]She then appeared as Frau Direktor Kirschner in the 2009Encores!production of the musicalMusic in the Airat New York City Center.[27]

Personal life and death

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In 1950, Nixon married the first of her three husbands,Ernest Gold,who composed the theme song to the movieExodus.They had three children, including singer and songwriterAndrew Gold.[28]They divorced in 1969. She was married to Lajos "Fritz" Fenster from 1971 to 1975, and towoodwindplayer Albert Block from 1983 to his death in 2015.[11][18][29]

Nixon survivedbreast cancerin 1985 and 2000 but died from the disease on July 24, 2016, in New York, aged 86.[1][4]

Honors

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On October 27, 2008, Nixon was presented with the Singer Symposium's Distinguished Artist Award in New York City.[20]She was also an honorary member ofSigma Alpha IotaInternational Women's Music Fraternity.[30]

In 2011, Nixon was the recipient of theGeorge Peabody Award for Outstanding Contributions to American Music.[31]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1942 The Bashful Bachelor Angela Abernathy
1950 Cinderella Soprano Soloist (vocals) Song: "Cinderella" (uncredited)[citation needed]
1951 Alice in Wonderland Singing Flowers (vocals) Uncredited[citation needed]
1953 Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Lorelei Lee (vocals) Song: "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend"[high notes] (uncredited)
1956 The King and I Anna Leonowens (vocals) 4 songs (uncredited)[citation needed]
1956 Dance with Me, Henry Shelley (vocals) Song: "Libiamo ne' lieti calici"
1957 An Affair to Remember Terry McKay (vocals) 3 songs (uncredited)[citation needed]
1961 West Side Story Maria (vocals) 7 songs (uncredited)[citation needed]
1964 Mary Poppins Geese (vocals) Uncredited[citation needed]
1964 My Fair Lady Eliza Doolittle (vocals) 10 songs (uncredited)[citation needed]
1965 The Sound of Music Sister Sophia Song: "Maria"[14]
1997 I Think I Do Aunt Alice
1998 Mulan Grandmother Fa (vocals) Song: "Honor to Us All"(uncredited)[citation needed]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1967 Jack and the Beanstalk Princess Serena (vocals) TV movie; various songs
1969 The Mothers-in-Law Herself Episode: "The Not-So-Grand Opera"
1977–1981 Boomerang Herself KOMO-TV,Seattle
1984 Taking My Turn Edna Movie
2001 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Edna Dumas Episode: "Redemption"

References

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Notes

  1. ^abcdefghijkFox, Margalit."Marni Nixon, the Singing Voice Behind the Screen, Dies at 86",The New York Times,July 25, 2016
  2. ^"AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs",AMC Filmsite, June 2004, accessed August 24, 2020
  3. ^abcdIvri, Benjamin."Remembering Marni Nixon, the Greatest Ghost Singer",The Forward,July 26, 2016
  4. ^abcSavage, Mark."Marni Nixon: Hollywood's 'invisible voice' dies aged 86",BBC News, July 25, 2016
  5. ^abcMarni Nixon,Internet Broadway Database, accessed July 26, 2016
  6. ^abSchumach, Murray."Plea for Credits by 'Ghost Singer'; Marni Nixon of Film Musicals Condemns Concealment",The New York Times,February 6, 1962, p. 26, accessed January 5, 2021
  7. ^Crowther, Bosley."Screen:The King and I,The New York Times,June 29, 1956, p. 15, accessed January 5, 2021
  8. ^abcdRuhlmann, William."About Marni Nixon",MTV, accessed November 24, 2014
  9. ^abLawson, Kyle."6/17-22: Marni Nixon inMy Fair Lady"ArchivedMay 21, 2021, at theWayback Machine,AZCentral.com, June 10, 2008, accessed December 23, 2011
  10. ^Prial, Frank J."Voice of the Many, but Rarely Herself",The New York Times,March 6, 2007, accessed December 23, 2011
  11. ^abcdBargreen, Melonda."From shadows to spotlight: Acclaimed soprano Marni Nixon, 76, writes her memoir",The Seattle Times,November 3, 2006, accessed July 19, 2017
  12. ^Miller, Frank.198696&name=GypsyGypsy[permanent dead link],TCM.com, accessed November 24, 2014
  13. ^"Hollywood: Instant Voice",Timemagazine, February 7, 1964
  14. ^abLunden, Jeff."'Ghost' Soprano Marni Nixon, Who Voiced Blockbuster Musicals, Dies at 86",NPR.org, July 25, 2016
  15. ^Roberts, Maddy Shaw."Who was Marni Nixon, the 'ghost singer' behind Hollywood’s famous actresses?",ClassicFM, May 15, 2018, accessed July 10, 2022; andCBS."To Tell the Truth – Human football scoreboard; Movie dubber; Faclon trainer (Dec 7, 1964)",YouTube, November 17, 2016, accessed July 10, 2022
  16. ^Bernstein, Leonard.Leonard Bernstein's Young People's Concerts.Amadeus Press (1962), pp. 349–350ISBN1-57467-102-2
  17. ^Kenrick, John."Musicals on DVD 8",Musicals101.com, John Kenrick, 2007, accessed November 30, 2011
  18. ^abcde"Marni Nixon Biography (1930–)",Film Reference.com, accessed November 24, 2014
  19. ^abBernheimer: "Marni Nixon",Grove Music Online
  20. ^abcdefg"The Singer Symposium 2008 Distinguished Artist Award"ArchivedFebruary 5, 2018, at theWayback Machine,Singer Symposium, October 25, 2008, accessed February 20, 2013
  21. ^Nixon and Cole, p. 223
  22. ^Taking My TurnArchivedOctober 21, 2012, at theWayback Machine,Lortel Archives, accessed January 28, 2013
  23. ^abJones, Kenneth."Marni Nixon Warms Up in Milwaukee for Friel-Based Opera Ballymore, Jan. 29 – Feb 14"ArchivedDecember 2, 2013, at theWayback Machine,Playbill,January 29, 1999, accessed February 20, 2013
  24. ^Hernandez, Ernio."Voice of" My Fair Lady "and" West Side Story "Joins Nine on Broadway, Oct. 7"ArchivedDecember 13, 2011, at theWayback Machine,Playbill,September 15, 2003, accessed December 23, 2011
  25. ^Zeka, Rita"Eliza Doolittle and love of hats bring actors together",Toronto Star,May 24, 2008, accessed December 23, 2011
  26. ^"My Fair Lady(Cast Biographies) "ArchivedJanuary 19, 2012, at theWayback Machine,Center Theatre Group, 2008, accessed December 23, 2011
  27. ^Brantley, Ben."Inside the Big, Bad City, Temptations by the Score",The New York Times,February 6, 2009
  28. ^Leigh, Spencer."Andrew Gold: Musician and songwriter whose collaborators included Ronstadt, Garfunkel and Cher",The Independent,June 8, 2011, accessed July 26, 2016
  29. ^"Albert Block",Riverside Memorial Chapel,August 17, 2015, accessed March 13, 2016
  30. ^"Honorary Member"ArchivedJanuary 11, 2011, at theWayback Machine,Sai-national.org, accessed July 25, 2016
  31. ^"Marni Nixon's 'Loverly' Former NYC Apartment, Studio on the Market",BroadwayWorld, April 17, 2017, accessed December 19, 2019

Bibliography

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