Ginny Simms

Who was Ginny Simms?

Ginny Simms was an American popular singer and film actress. She labeled with Dinah Shore, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Jo Stafford and others.

Born in San Antonio, Texas, she sang with big bands and worked as MGM contract player film actress. She appeared in 11 movies from 1939 to 1951, when she retired. She was married three times, to Hyatt Hotels founder Hyatt von Dehn from 1945 to 1951, to Bob Calhoun from 1951 to 1952, and to Don Eastvold from June 22, 1962 until her death on April 4, 1994. She originally considered studying to become a concert pianist, but enrolled instead at Fresno State Teachers College. While there, she began performing in campus productions, singing with sorority sisters and even forming a popular campus vocal trio.

Shortly afterward, she struck out on her own to establish a solo singing career and by 1932, she had her own program on a local radio station. Also in 1932, she became band vocalist for the Tom Gerun band in San Francisco, working together with other vocalists including a young Tony Martin and Woody Herman.