Gogi Grant, The Wayward Wind Singer, Dies at 91
Gogi Grant, the singer whose hit ballad “The Wayward Wind” took Elvis Presley off the top spot on the Billboard charts, died Thursday, her family announced. She was 91.
Grant, who recorded more than a dozen albums over her career, released “The Wayward Wind” in 1956, and it bumped Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel,” which had been No. 1 for eight weeks, to take the crown. Her version of the song was written by Stanley Lebowsky and Herb Newman.
“The Wayward Wind” would go on to stay at No. 1 for six weeks and sold more than one million copies. Billboard also voted Grant the most popular female vocalist of the year. Other acts to perform “The Wayward Wind” over the years include the Beatles, Patsy Cline, Tex Ritter and Sylvia.
Grant also sang the songs for Ann Blyth in 1957 biopic “The Helen Morgan Story,” and played a recording artist in 1958 movie “The Big Beat” alongside the Del-Vikings, Fats Domino, the Mills Brothers, the Diamonds and Harry James.
Grant’s other hits include “The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else,” “Suddenly There’s a Valley,” “Who Are We,” “When the Tide is High,” “The Sea,” “You’re in Love.” She also appeared on “The Nat King Cole Show” and “The Ed Sullivan Show.”
Popular on Variety
Grant was born Myrtle Audrey Arinsberg in Philadelphia and moved with her family to California when she was 12. She first recorded as Audrey Brown, then Audrey Grant, before producer Dave Kapp dubbed her Gogi.
She is survived by her daughter Jeri, son Joshua and two granddaughters.
Jump to Comments
More from Variety
How ‘Borderlands’ Failed Gamers Like Me
Life After ‘Deadpool’: Summer Movies Resurrection Begs Rethink of Long-Term Box Office Outlook
Why Sony Is Betting on ‘Palworld’ After the Early Hype
Most Popular
Australian Breakdancer Goes Viral as Sport Makes Its Olympic Debut
Robert Downey Jr. Turned Down Iron Man Cameo in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ After Reading Scene; Writers Also Had an Idea to Bring the Six Original…
Olympics Closing Ceremony: All the Highlights as Paris Hands Over Games to L.A., From Phoenix Rocking Out to Tom Cruise’s Epic Stunts
Tom Cruise Jumps Off Stade de France and Skydives to Hollywood Sign at Olympics Closing Ceremony, Handing Over Games to L.A.
Box Office: ‘It Ends With Us’ Scores $50 Million Opening Weekend, ‘Borderlands’ Flops With $8.8 Million
Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg and Red Hot Chili Peppers to Perform at Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony (EXCLUSIVE)
Inside the Olympics Closing Ceremony: Performances by Phoenix and Air, a ‘Science-Fiction’ Theme and More (EXCLUSIVE)
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Crosses $1 Billion at Global Box Office
‘Frozen 3’ Gets Icy First Look, Coming in 2027
‘Lilo & Stitch’ Live-Action Remake Gets First Look at CGI Stitch and 2025 Release
Must Read
- TV
COVER | ‘SNL’ Rising Star Marcello Hernández Is Using His Charisma to Conquer Comedy
- TV
COVER | Sadie Sink Found Her Voice Thanks to ‘Stranger Things’ and Taylor Swift
- TV
How Stephen Curry Got a Sitcom: Adam Pally and Ego Nwodim Talk 'Mr. Throwback’
- Music
Lauryn Hill Says U.S. Tour Was Called Off Due to Low Ticket Sales
Sign Up for Variety Newsletters
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Variety Confidential
ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXKCjqasrKGTZL2mu8%2BlnGamlazAcLPOoKBmn6KWu7V5w56YnWWknbJuw8CyrpqqlGLEqrrDZmhraGFsf3p8j3Bm