Ghost singer

A ghost singer is a professional singer who dubs the singing parts officially credited, or billed, to another person, usually the star or co-star of a musical or film, especially those whose specialty is dancing, acting or for non-musical performers such as celebrities cast in musicals.

Examples

Known ghost singers include:

• India Adams, who dubbed for Cyd Charisse in The Band Wagon (1953).^[1] That same year, she also dubbed for Joan Crawford in Torch Song.^[2]
• Bill Shirley, who dubbed for Jeremy Brett in Warner Bros. My Fair Lady (film).^[3]
• Jo Ann Greer, who dubbed for Rita Hayworth, Kim Novak, and Dorothy Malone.^[4]
• Marni Nixon, who dubbed for Ingrid Bergman in Joan of Arc, Deborah Kerr in The King and I, for Natalie Wood in West Side Story, for Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady (1963), and for Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953 film).^[5]
• Betty Wand, who dubbed for Leslie Caron in Gigi.^[5]
• Betty Noyes, who dubbed for Debbie Reynolds in "Singin' in the Rain"
• Annette Warren, who dubbed for Ava Gardner in Show Boat.^[5][6] and Lucille Ball in both Fancy Pants and Sorrowful Jones.^[7]
• Darlene Love ghost sang for girl group The Crystals, as acknowledged in the documentary 20 Feet From Stardom.
• Bill Lee provided the singing voice for John Kerr as Lieutenant Cable in South Pacific and for Christopher Plummer as Captain von Trapp in the film of The Sound of Music
• Yang Peiyi, who dubbed for Lin Miaoke at the 2008 Olympics opening ceremony in Peking

See also

• Lip-syncing
• Playback singer
• Ghostwriter

References