ABBA

Soprano whose career spanned five decades and made an indelible mark on popular culture, including movie musicals, television soundtracks, and even amusement park rides. She began as a model and radio show host and singer, and eventually wed WWII flying ace Norman Henry Price, who spirited her away to Panama City, Florida. They then made the great egress to L.A., where they raised a family and Loulie pursued session work. In the 1940's, she performed with Mel Torme as a member of the Mel Tones. Being in the movie capital of the world didn't hurt: She lent her vocal talents to a number of films, including The Big Hangover, Blue Hawaii, Brigadoon, Cinderfella, Dream Wife, G.I. Blues, Harvey Girls, Heidi's Song, Hit the Deck, Porgy and Bess, That's Entertainment! and Too Late for the Blues. Her most famous piece of soundtrack singing, however, is as the wordless voice on the theme from Star Trek. She performed similar duties on The Tokens' "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". Some of the artists with whom she recorded include Ann-Margret, Louis Armstrong, Eddie Cantor, Ray Charles, Rosemary Clooney, Nat King Cole, Ray Conniff, Sam Cooke, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Merle Haggard, Billie Holiday, John Ireland, Spike Jones, Stan Kenton, Henry Mancini, Dean Martin, Rod McKuen, Randy Newman, and Frank Sinatra. There was a playfully dark side to Loulie: In addition to playing Paul Frees's foil, Vampira, on a number of novelty records, she supplied the voice of the eerie phantomess-of-the-opera on Disney's "Haunted Mansion" theme-park ride. Loulie passed away in Studio City, California, on 2 August 2005. She was 92.

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