Jill Corey, born Norma Jean Speranza on September 30, 1935, in Avonmore, Pennsylvania, was an American singer known for her contributions to pop music and traditional pop. She began her singing career as a teenager, imitating Carmen Miranda at local events and winning a talent contest sponsored by the Lions Club, which led to her own radio show. Jill Corey's breakthrough came when she recorded a demo of "Since My Love Has Gone" by Tony Bennett, catching the attention of Mitch Miller, then A&R chief at Columbia Records. She was signed to Columbia in 1953 and released her first single, "Minneapolis / Robe Of Calvary", that same year. Jill Corey's career flourished with hits like "I Love My Baby (My Baby Loves Me)" (1956), which reached number 21 on the charts, and "Love Me to Pieces" (1957), which peaked at number 11. She appeared on numerous television shows, including Stop the Music, The Ed Sullivan Show, and Your Hit Parade. In 1958, she starred in the Columbia Pictures musical film Senior Prom alongside James Komack and Moe Howard. Jill Corey took a hiatus from music after her marriage in 1961 but returned to performing in theater productions such as Annie Get Your Gun, Sweet Charity, and Gypsy. She performed at Carnegie Hall on October 20, 1989. Jill Corey passed away on April 3, 2021, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
