Although she was best known as an actress playing TV mom Carol Brady on The Brady Bunch, Florence Henderson, who recently passed away at the age of 82, was first and foremost a singer. Since I am a big time Bradyphile and it's been awhile since I last updated this blog, I thought I'd write a few words about Florence Henderson's music.
Before she was a Brady, Florence Henderson had been on Broadway and personally knew Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. After her auspicious beginning on the stage, she turned to the small screen, where she soon became known to people all over the world for her warm portrayal as Mrs. Brady, as well as her talk show on the former Nashville Network. Later, she became a hypnotherapist.
Here she is in 1967, before she became famous as a TV mom of six...
I am one of the chumps who purchased It's A Sunshine Day, which was a compilation album released in 1992 of Brady Bunch songs. To be very honest, I rarely listen to the songs from that album, mainly because most of them make me cringe. The Brady kids, by and large, were not good singers. Maureen McCormick and Barry Williams weren't bad, but the other four were not born with the gift of song. Florence Henderson was really the one true musician on the show, at least when it aired in the 70s.
"Flo" was also well-known for Wessonality!
Before she was a Brady, Florence Henderson had been on Broadway and personally knew Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. After her auspicious beginning on the stage, she turned to the small screen, where she soon became known to people all over the world for her warm portrayal as Mrs. Brady, as well as her talk show on the former Nashville Network. Later, she became a hypnotherapist.
Florence Henderson in the 1950s.
She really had a long and successful career, but she is also fondly remembered for being very professional and kind. I have read many tributes to Mrs. Henderson indicating that she was always very nice to her fans, co-workers, and guests on her talk show. Folk singer Christine Lavin even posted a great story about how, when she was a young folk singer, she was on Florence's talk show. Days after the show, Lavin received a handwritten thank you note from Ms. Henderson, thanking her for being on the show!
Christine Lavin's story about Florence Henderson.
Although 82 years is a long life and Ms. Henderson apparently lived it to the fullest until the very end, the world lost a bright light on Thanksgiving. I hope wherever she is right now, she's at peace. Godspeed, Mrs. Brady.
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