Loyce Whiteman

American singer and songwriter.

Born: 1907 in Dallas, Texas, USA
Died: 3 July 1984 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (age 76)
Born in Texas, but her family moved to Glendale, California, when she was a little girl.
She got her start by winning a talent contest. While singing at L.A.'s KFWB AM radio station, she audtioned and won a job with Gus Arnheim And His Orchestra. A year before her 1931 signing, the Rhythm Boys, with Bing Crosby, had left Paul Whiteman to join the Arnheim band. Also part of that group were reed man Fred MacMurray and violinist/future crooner Russ Columbo. On her first Arnheim radio appearance, Loyce was very nervous, so Crosby walked her to the mic, held her hand and sang a half-chorus of her first number to calm the 18-year-old down. On May 1, 1931, Loyce made a record with Bing Crosby and the Gus Arnheim Orchestra called "Ho Hum!"
She married musician and songwriter Harry Barris in 1931, and filed for divorce in 1946. Singer/actress Marti Barris is their daughter. Later married police officer Ken Hubbard.
She wrote the lyrics to her daughter's first single "Scottish Fling", to which Marti provided a melody. Marti Music publishing was formed by Whiteman and her daughter. They also wrote songs together for others, including "Coffee Date," recorded by Ella Mae Morse.