Kerr, Anita (1927—)

American singer, pianist, and musical arranger who formed the Anita Kerr Singers. Born Anita Jean Grilli in Memphis, Tennessee, on October 31, 1927; her mother hosted a local radio program in Memphis; married second husband, Alex Grob.

A major contributor to the Nashville country-pop sound of the 1960s, Anita Kerr grew up in music, performing on her mother's Memphis radio show as a child and leading her own trio in high school. She was first heard in Nashville on radio station WSM's "Sunday Down South," heading up the program's eight-member choir. In 1949, she organized the Anita Kerr Singers, which debuted on the Red Foley recording "Our Lady of Fatima" (1950) and made later appearances at the

Grand Ole Opry. During the early 1960s, Kerr provided arrangements and back-up for such country-pop singers as Jim Reeves ("He'll Have to Go" and "Welcome to My World"), Floyd Cramer ("Last Date"), Skeeter Davis ("End of the World"), and Bobby Bare ("Detroit City"). For some time, the Anita Kerr Quartet, including Gil Wright (tenor), Dottie Dillard (alto), and Louis Nunley (baritone), was one of the busiest vocal groups in Nashville. Kerr also did orchestral arrangement for RCA and produced several country records. Based in Hollywood after 1967, she made the charts with her LPs The Anita Kerr Singers Reflect on the Music of Burt Bacharach and Hal David and Velvet Voices and Bold Brass. She also wrote the instrumental music for several poetry albums by Rod McKuen. Her later work included television and film music, and the formation of yet another singing group, the Mexicali Singers. Kerr moved to Switzerland with second husband Alex Grob to compose music for films. Eventually, she returned to Memphis.