Joan Fry Flory; Was Big Band Singer Joan Durell

Joan Fry Flory, 71, who worked in the 1950s as a big band singer under the name Joan Durell. Born in Toronto, Flory was a runner-up Miss Canada in 1949. She sang with the orchestras of Art Mooney, Claude Thornhill and Ray Anthony and appeared at the first Monterey Jazz Festival in 1958. She married alto saxophonist and band leader Med Flory in 1952, and retired from performing in 1960, returning to the stage briefly in the ‘80s to lead a nine-piece band, Joanie and Her Nighthawks. A musical tribute in her memory will take place at 1 p.m. today at the Church of the Hills on Forest Lawn Drive, Hollywood Hills. Performers will include Med Flory and Supersax, and singers Sue Raney and Pinky Winters. On Dec. 29 of Parkinson’s disease at her home in North Hollywood.