Singer. She was best known to music fans as the lead singer of the famed 1950s and 1960s backup group the Anita Kerr Singers. Born Anita Jean Grilli, she moved to Nashville in 1948 with her first husband Al Kerr and formed a vocal quartet that became popular locally. They went on to back up popular country singers like Chet Atkins, Patsy Cline, and Jim Reeves. They later started recording songs and releasing their own albums and in 1965, won two Grammy Awards (Best Performance by a Vocal Group and Best Gospel or Other Recording for both "We Dig Mancini" and "Southland Favorites." In 1966, the group captured the Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Vocal Group again for "A Man and a Woman." Later in 1965, after divorcing her first husband, she went to Los Angeles and continued to backup many popular singers and served as the choral director for the Smothers Brothers' prime-time variety show's first season. In 1970, she moved to Europe and continued her recording career as a singer and arranger for several decades. She earned various honors and awards for her work in the music industry.
Singer. She was best known to music fans as the lead singer of the famed 1950s and 1960s backup group the Anita Kerr Singers. Born Anita Jean Grilli, she moved to Nashville in 1948 with her first husband Al Kerr and formed a vocal quartet that became popular locally. They went on to back up popular country singers like Chet Atkins, Patsy Cline, and Jim Reeves. They later started recording songs and releasing their own albums and in 1965, won two Grammy Awards (Best Performance by a Vocal Group and Best Gospel or Other Recording for both "We Dig Mancini" and "Southland Favorites." In 1966, the group captured the Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Vocal Group again for "A Man and a Woman." Later in 1965, after divorcing her first husband, she went to Los Angeles and continued to backup many popular singers and served as the choral director for the Smothers Brothers' prime-time variety show's first season. In 1970, she moved to Europe and continued her recording career as a singer and arranger for several decades. She earned various honors and awards for her work in the music industry.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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