June Valli; TV, Recording Artist of ‘50s

June Valli, a singer who was popular on TV musical series of the 1950s but who had her biggest hit two months after she left “Your Hit Parade,” has died. She was 64.

Her husband, Jimmy Merchant, said Monday from their home in Ft. Lee, N. J., that Miss Valli, whose recording of “Crying in the Chapel” sold millions of copies, died Friday of cancer.

She was a co-star of “Your Hit Parade” from 1952 to 1953 with Giselle MacKenzie, Snooky Lanson and several others. In June, 1953, she recorded the song that was to become her signature.

Born in the Bronx, Miss Valli began her career as a winner on one of Arthur Godfrey’s “Talent Scouts” shows.

Her other TV shows included “Let’s Dance,” with the big bands of Ralph Flanagan and Art Mooney, and “Stars on Parade,” a 1953 variety show.

She later performed in concerts around the world, worked with Johnny Carson and Bob Hope, and was on a summer replacement show with Andy Williams in 1957.

Miss Valli also did voice-overs for commercials and for some time was the voice of Chiquita Banana.