INDIA ADAMS

(8 March 1927-25 April 2020)

The American singer-actress India Adams, who has died aged 93, held a special place in Hollywood history. She was one of a small group of artists called ghost singers, voice doubles for actresses who had the looks but not the singing voices for movies. The most celebrated ‘ghost’ was Marni Nixon who sang for, among others, Marilyn Monroe, Deborah Kerr, Sophia Loren, Natalie Wood and Audrey Hepburn. Adams famously dubbed Cyd Charisse in The Band Wagon and Joan Crawford on Torch Song and Johnny Guitar. It was generally never revealed that famous stars were at times dubbed by others and contracts with gagging orders were issued to that effect. India Adams was, however, an actress in her own right, appearing in other films including, of late, Fake and Followed with John Savage. She also worked as a radio singer, recorded albums, played nightclubs and appeared on stage in Can-Can, Brigadoon and Mame. In 1990 she formed a quartet with other ghost singers Annette Warren, Jo Ann Greer and Betty Wand and they went on tour. India Adams has two sons, Brian and Zane, from her first husband, advertising executive Jack Stanley. After they divorced she married Quentin Rance.

MICHAEL DARVELL