Go Slow: The Life of Julie London

This biography is an overdue appreciation of a chanteuse capable of squeezing every bit of meaning and emotion out of ballads like her hit "Cry Me a River" with her whispery, sometimes raspy singing voice. Julie London (1926–2000) originally hoped to use her good looks to fashion an acting career and soon attracted the attention of a talent scout—and first husband, Jack Webb (Dragnet). Her marriage floundered and she began appearing in crime dramas and Westerns, in which she played "second fiddle to a horse." Her second husband, actor, singer, and songwriter Bobby Troup, saw her potential as a lounge singer. Her face and voluptuous figure were perfect for 1950s album covers. Despite her limitations as an actress, she continued to appear in films (including a role opposite Gary Cooper in 1958's Man of the West), while building a following in clubs and college campuses. When singing and acting opportunities dried up, Webb employed London and Troup in supporting roles in the hit 1970s TV series Emergency!