Ann-Margret (born April 28, 1941) is a Swedish-born actress and singer. Born Ann-Margret Olsson in Valsjöbyn, Jämtland, Sweden, she moved to the United States when she was young, and grew up in Winnetka, Illinois. She attended Northwestern University, and was discovered singing in a nightclub by George Burns. She's known as a sex symbol and was often referred to as a sex-kitten. Ann-Margret was also compared to Elvis Presley for her energetic performances and aptly nicknamed the female Elvis. Ann-Margret started recording for RCA in 1961. Her recording career was not as successful as her movie career. She had a sexy singing voice which can be compared to that of Eartha Kitt or Nancy Sinatra, and RCA attempted to capitalize on her "Female Elvis" comparison by having her record a version of Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" and other songs similar in style to Presley's hits. She scored one minor hit, "I Just Don't Understand" (it entered the Billboard Top 40 the week of August 21, 1961 and stayed 6 weeks, peaking at #17.) Her only charting album is The Beauty and the Beard (1964) which she did with trumpeter Al Hirt. The contract with RCA ended in 1966. |
