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Jane Powell (born Suzanne Lorraine Burce; April 1, 1929) is an American singer, dancer, and actress. Powell rose to fame as a singer in her home state of Oregon, and signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer while still in her teens. Once there, the studio used her vocal, dancing, and acting talents, casting her in such musicals as ''Royal Wedding'' with Fred Astaire, ''A Date with Judy'' with friend Elizabeth Taylor, and ''Seven Brides for Seven Brothers'' with Howard Keel. In the late 1950s, her film career slowed, only to be replaced with a busy theater and television career. As of 2013, Powell lived with her fifth husband, former child star Dickie Moore (until his death in September 2015), in Manhattan and Wilton, Connecticut, and is still active in television and theater. ==Early life== The only child born to Paul E. Burce (a Wonder Bread employee) and Eileen Baker Burce (a housewife) in Portland, Oregon, Powell began dance lessons at the age of two. Powell was born a brunette, with straight hair. In an attempt to liken her appearance to Shirley Temple, Powell's mother took her to get her first perm the same year she began dance lessons. She became a blonde when she starred in Technicolor pictures. At five, she appeared on the children's radio program ''Stars of Tomorrow''. She also took dance lessons with Agnes Peters, and there the Burce family met Scotty Weston, a talent scout and dance instructor. He convinced the family to move to Oakland for Powell to take dance lessons, in hopes of her being discovered. However, Weston's lessons were held in a large, dark, damp ballroom packed full of other starlet hopefuls, and after three months of living in a hotel room and eating meals cooked on a hot plate, the family moved back to Portland. Paul Burce had quit his job of 14 years to move to Oakland, and was unable to get it back when they returned. The family moved into an apartment building owned by friends, and Paul soon became the manager after the friends left. While there, and while helping her father take the garbage out, Powell would sing. Tenants insisted that Powell should take lessons, and after saving their money, began singing lessons for her. At 12, Powell had her career taken over by a local promoter, Carl Werner, who helped her get selected as the Oregon Victory Girl. She traveled the state for two years, singing and selling victory bonds. During this time, she first met Lana Turner. Powell presented her with flowers and sang for her. Years later, when they met again at MGM, Turner did not remember her. According to Powell, even after meeting her many times, Turner never remembered who she was.〔 During her time as the Oregon Victory Girl, Powell had two weekly radio shows. During the first, she sang with an organ accompaniment, and during the second, she sang with an orchestra and other performers.〔 She had attended Beaumont Grade School in Portland. In summer 1943, Paul and Eileen Burce took their daughter on vacation to Hollywood. There, she appeared on Janet Gaynor's radio show ''Hollywood Showcase: Stars over Hollywood''. The show was a talent competition, and among the other contestants were Kathie Lee Gifford's mother, Joan Epstein. Powell won the competition, and soon auditioned with Louis B. Mayer at MGM, as well as David O. Selznick. Without even taking a screen test, Powell was then signed to a seven-year contract with MGM.〔Thomas, Nick, "Wilton's Jane Powell, 80 years young", p 1B, ''The Wilton Bulletin'' (and other Hersam Acorn newspapers), September 10, 2009〕 Within two months, Powell had been loaned to United Artists for her first film, ''Song of the Open Road''. Powell's character in ''Song of the Open Road'' was named Jane Powell, and her stage name was taken from this.〔''Reel Memories: Jane Powell'', Turner Classic Movies, 1995 (included with the DVD release ''Classic Musicals Double Feature: Nancy Goes to Rio/Two Weeks with Love'' (Warner Home Video, 2008)).〕 In 1945, Powell sang "Because" at the wedding of Esther Williams and Ben Gage. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Jane Powell」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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