Genie Pace was an American jazz and pop singer of the late 1950s and early 1960s. She and Doris Allen were signed by newly independent New York label Jade Records after its establishment.[1]

Pace was born in New York City. A roller derby player, she played for the New York Chiefs and Brooklyn Red Devils.[2]

Her first album Love in a Midnight Mood album on Jade was followed later the same year by a second album Here's Genie on Bright Records. In 1960 she released the single Just Counting Stars[3] In 1961, she was signed to Capitol Records, and at the height of the Pachanga dance craze in the US, released a version of Eduardo Davidson's archetypical Pachanga tune, La Pachanga. At the same time, other versions appeared by Hugo and Luigi and their children's chorus and in Europe by Audrey Arno.[4]

Recordings edit

Genie Pace recorded only two albums, Love In A Midnight Mood on the small Jade Records label in 1956, and Here's Genie for the Bright Records label in 1957. She also recorded an EP in 1961 for Capitol Records called La Pachanga, which at the time was a current dance craze.

Studio albums edit

Recorded Album Title Label Catalogue No. Release
1956 Love In A Midnight Mood Jade Records JLP-1001 LP
1957 Here's Genie Bright Records BRLP-1001
1961 La Pachanga Capitol Records EAP 1-20176 EP

Singles edit

Recorded Title Label Catalogue No.
1956 Ballin' The Jack Twist/I'll Never Be Free Jade Records J-1001 A/J1001-B
It Isn't So/51st And Broadway ZTSP-25834/ZTSP-25835
Storyland/A Kiss In A Bottle J-103
1957 Whispering Breeze/Lonesome Road ZTSP-26077/ZTSP-26078
Roaming Gigolo/Under The Full Moon ZTSP-26079/ZTSP-26080
1960 Just Counting Stars/Night Falls Derby Records DER-10013/DER-10014
1961 La Pachanga/Somebody Else Is Taking My Place Capitol Records 23505/23527

Reactions edit

Billboard covered several of Pace's recordings. It rated Just Counting Stars as having "Moderate Sales Potential", describing it as "Exotic ballad with Latin beat is chanted with rich sincerity."[3] "La Pachanga" was listed by Billboard as first on its list of "Pick Hits" (songs which its editors predicted would likely become hits) on March 20, 1960.[5]

"I'll Never be Free" and "Rolling the Jack Twist" were also deemed "Moderate Sales Potential".[6]

References edit

  1. ^ Billboard - 6 May 1957 - Page 20 MUSIC-RADIO THE BILLBOARD MAY 6, 1957 NEW YORK — NEW YORK — Jade Records, indie label headed by ex-Bethlehem exec, Jim Bright, is enlarging its artists roster and distribution. Last week the outfit inked two thrushes, Genie Pace and Doris Allen, for both singles and albums.
  2. ^ "Genie casts a musical spell". The Journal News. 6 August 1972. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  3. ^ a b Billboard. March 7, 1960. p. 44. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ Billboard - 1961 March 20 p99 "LA PACHANGA (Peer, BMI) GENIE PACE (1:54) Capitol 4552 AUDREY ARNO AND THE HAZY OSTERWALD SEXTET (2:36) DECCA 31238 HUGO AND LUIGI (2:15) RCA Victor 7868— A bright new dance craze from the Latins has resulted in these three good recordings."
  5. ^ "Pick Hits". Billboard. March 20, 1960. p. 108. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  6. ^ Billboard. March 10, 1960. p. 30. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)