Margaret Whiting Quotes

Powerful Margaret Whiting for Daily Growth

About Margaret Whiting

Margaret Whiting (September 3, 1924 – June 6, 2011) was an influential American pop singer and actress, known for her versatile voice and interpretive style that bridged the gap between jazz and popular music. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Whiting began her career at a young age, singing on radio stations in her hometown. In 1940, at the age of 15, she moved to New York City with her mother, where she landed a contract with Decca Records. Over the next two decades, Whiting released numerous hit singles and albums, including "It's Magic," "The Dogie in Me," and "Back in Your Own Backyard." Her music was a blend of traditional pop standards, jazz ballads, and contemporary hits, earning her a wide range of fans. Whiting's career took a dramatic turn when she signed with Capitol Records in 1948. Under the guidance of arranger Pete Chandler, she recorded several successful albums, including "The Romance of Margaret Whiting" (1950) and "Margaret Whiting Sings Songs from the Movies" (1952). During this period, she also acted in films, including "Duchess of Idaho" (1950) and "I'd Like to Be Ivy League" (1951). Throughout her career, Whiting was influenced by jazz legends such as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. She was known for her ability to imbue popular songs with a depth and emotion that transcended the simple lyrics. Whiting's impact on the music industry was significant, paving the way for future singers who sought to combine pop and jazz styles. After retiring from the spotlight in 1964, Whiting continued to perform occasionally and release albums. She passed away in 2011 at the age of 86. Today, Margaret Whiting is remembered as a talented singer and actress who left an indelible mark on American popular music.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I always knew I could sing. I just never knew I had a personality."

This quote by Margaret Whiting suggests that she was confident in her singing abilities but didn't recognize or appreciate her own charisma and personality until later in her career. It implies that sometimes people focus solely on their skills, forgetting the importance of their unique character traits in making them stand out. It serves as a reminder to embrace both talents and individuality to shine brighter.


"Music is something that gets into your soul and stays there. It's like a drug, it's addicting, and once you get that addiction, you can't live without it."

This quote suggests that music has a profound impact on an individual, penetrating deeply into their psyche, much like how a powerful drug affects the body. The "addiction" metaphor underscores the idea that once someone experiences the emotional resonance of music, they find it hard to live without it. Music becomes an essential part of their existence, providing a profound connection to emotions and experiences that can shape one's identity and worldview.


"You can't really judge a singer unless you hear them in person."

This quote by Margaret Whiting suggests that evaluating a singer's talent or performance is most accurate when done in-person, as opposed to through recorded media. The reasoning behind this is that live performances allow us to appreciate nuances such as vocal inflections, emotion, and connection with the audience that might not fully translate onto recordings. Therefore, personal experience plays a significant role in truly understanding a singer's talent.


"I learned very early the way to a man's heart is music."

This quote suggests that Margaret Whiting believed that an effective way to connect with, or win over, a man is through the shared appreciation of music. In essence, it implies that music can serve as a universal language for expressing emotions, building connections, and fostering relationships. This sentiment underscores the transformative power of music in bridging gaps between individuals and strengthening emotional bonds.


"I think every performer would like to be remembered for the work they did and the pleasure it gave people."

This quote by Margaret Whiting emphasizes a fundamental aspiration of all performers: to leave an indelible mark on their audience through their work, and in doing so, to be remembered not just as artists but also as sources of joy and entertainment for others. Essentially, she is expressing the desire for her performances to resonate with people, bringing them pleasure, and ultimately, to be celebrated for that impact long after she has left the stage.


Johnny Mercer was my father's best friend and became mine as well. And Harold Arlen, whom I would call Uncle Harry, and Harry Warren: those were ones who I really became close to.

- Margaret Whiting

Father, Uncle, Became, Johnny

The way I teach people to sing... I have them talk the lyric out until it sounds like something they really believe, like an actor with a monologue.

- Margaret Whiting

Teach, Like, Them, Monologue

We teach young kids from 8 to 14 or 15 about their musical heritage through great songs written by American songwriters. We don't do too many modern composers, although we include songs from Billy Joel and other writers like him.

- Margaret Whiting

Through, Other, Composers, None

So many schools have cut the music classes out of their curriculum. We're trying to fill that gap by teaching the teachers how to educate the kids about their musical heritage.

- Margaret Whiting

Cut, Musical, Classes, Curriculum

That's really what was wonderful for me growing up, since I got to know so many of the songwriters who liked me and thought I had talent. They would then tell me how to read a lyric and sing a song, and challenge me to try and find a different end to a song.

- Margaret Whiting

Thought, Tell, Songwriters, Lyric

I had years of experience that I still needed to accumulate and go through.

- Margaret Whiting

Through, Needed, Still, Accumulate

The musicians recommend that I sing a sing the way it is written the first time and then start to look for other notes that aren't in the melody.

- Margaret Whiting

Musicians, Other, Notes, Melody

Rosemary was a little nervous about going onstage, but she went on with us. I saw her at a party, and a couple of months later they called me about doing the act.

- Margaret Whiting

Doing, Couple, Months, Onstage

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.