Evelyn Knight, 89; versatile singer had two No. 1 hits in 1949

Evelyn Knight, 89, a popular recording star of the 1940s and early ‘50s, died Sept. 28 of lung cancer at a nursing home in San Jose.

A versatile singer known for her sophisticated, witty style, Knight had 13 top-40 hits between 1944 and 1951.

“A Little Bird Told Me,” which sold more than 2 million copies, was a No. 1 hit for seven weeks in early 1949, the same year Knight had another No. 1 hit, “Powder Your Face With Sunshine.”

“My Heart Cries for You,” a duet with country singer Red Foley that was released in 1951, was the final hit for the blond, statuesque singer.

Born Dec. 31, 1917, in Reedville, Va., Knight began her singing career in Washington nightclubs. After moving to Los Angeles in the late ‘40s, she headlined at Ciro’s and the Cocoanut Grove.