by Sarah Todd

Created on: August 17, 2008   Last Updated: January 16, 2010

In 1929, when she was just 21 years old, Ethel Merman contracted a severe case of tonsillitis. For the young singer, who dreamed of singing professionally in the theatre, this was a great concern. Incredibly, and against all odds, Merman recovered. And her powerful mezzo-soprano voice was stronger than ever.

Ethel Merman's voice was renowned, not only for its raw, earthy tones and immense power, but also for its remarkable pitch and precise enunciation. In the early days of theatre stage performers didn't use microphones, so Merman's voice gave her a great advantage in the sometimes fickle world of show business. Incredibly, Merman never had a singing lesson in her life.

Born in her grandmother's house in Astoria, Queens in 1908, Ethel Agnes Zimmermann lived near the Famous Players-Lasky's studios. She used to watch the silent movie stars driving past her home in their large cars, and dream of joining their ranks when she was older. She began singing at her family's Episcopalian church, and before long she was singing at local concerts.

Ethel's parents were supportive of their daughter's musical aspirations, but were concerned at the unreliable nature of show business. They told her she needed to complete her education and train for secretarial work in case her dreams were never realised. After graduating, Ethel worked as a stenographer at a local factory during the day, supplementing her $28 weekly salary by singing at night at clubs and private parties. As her popularity increased, she was able to relinquish her secretarial work and concentrate on singing full time.

Despite being contracted at $200 per week by Warner Brothers, the studio was trying to adjust to the recent development of sound films. The lack of regular work frustrated Ethel, who negotiated an early release from the studio to concentrate on live performances. She also adopted a shortened version of her surname, because "Merman" fitted better than "Zimmermann" on theatre playbills and newspaper advertisements.

Merman's big break came in 1930. Legendary Broadway producer Vinton Freedley saw her performing at the Brooklyn Paramount Theatre. He immediately offered her a role in his next musical "Girl Crazy", conditional upon the approval of songwriters Ira and George Gershwin. At her audition Merman sang "Sam and Delilah" and "I Got Rhythm" for the brothers. When she finished George Gershwin, mistaking Merman's thoughtful expression as an indication of her disapproval of their songs, offered to

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