Lana Cantrell - Lana!

The Sound Of Silence/How Can I Be Sure/Baby Now That I've Found You/Honey/The Fool On The Hill/Can't Take My Eyes Of You/ For Me/Workin' On A Groovy Thing/Mine/The Music Played

By the time she was ten years old, Australian born musical prodigy, Lana Cantrell was already the "Boogie Baby" of her country, singing and playing the piano in jazz concerts at the Sydney Town Hall. She made her television debut on the first show ever to be shown in Australian and during the next four years was a regular on the two biggest variety shows in the country, Bandstand and In Melbourne Tonight.
Her American debut was even more auspicious. Coming to the States at age 19, Lana made 15 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show as well as numerous appearances on all of the top variety shows, including Kraft Music Hall and The Red Skelton Show. In 1966 she was selected to represent the U.S.A at the International Song Festival, held in Poland. Lana returned to America with the first prize, which was awarded to her for her unique rendition of "I'm All Smiles".
A top recording artist, Lana Cantrell has recorded seven albums for RCA Victor, numerous singles in Australia on the Festival Label, and her hit single, "Like A Sunday Morning" on the Polydor label. Lana has worked with many summer stock companies, including a summer co-starring with Alfred Drake. She played the role of Dorothy in the summer theatre production of The Wizard Of Oz.
1972 was a homecoming for Lana when she returned to Australia to open the Sydney Opera House. In 1975 she was honoured once again when she was named "International Woman of the Year" and was flown to Paris by the United Nations to sing at the Olympia. In 1978 she co-hosted the Greater New England Emmy Awards Show with Phil Donahue and in 1979 was a judge for the Miss Universe Pageant held in Perth, Australia.

Lana! was released in 1968 and is a slice of sixties pop with songs from Simon and Garfunkle "Sounds Of Silence" The Rascals "How Can I Be Sure" Beatles "Fool On The Hill" Bobby Goldsboro "Honey" 5th Dimenson "Working On A Groovy Thing" and my favourite on the album Matt Monro's "The Music Played" the whole album is a delight to listen to, her style has been likened to Liza Minnelli and Barbra Streisand but that's the Yanks for you always trying to pidgeon hole you.