Personal Spotlight - Judy Garland

There are a lot of people who inspire me in this life. Some are famous, some are not. There are very few that really inspire me a great deal, and I'll be spotlighting those people as well.

This week I picked Judy Garland because I've been learning a bit more about her lately and I've been thinking of her lately, but there's no order or rhymn or reason to these spotlights but I will be doing one probably once a week. These spotlights are going to be just a few things I know about these people along with a few pictures. You'll probably be able to tell which people I am really interested and inspired by versus those who I just like.

• Judy Garland's real birth name was Francis Ethel Gumm
• She was a really big actress in the 40's more than any other time and really got started with The Wizard of Oz in '37 at the age of 15.
• Her last big movie Summer Stock (1950) is one of my favorites. Other movies include Meet me in St. Louis, For Me and My Gal, and The Harvey Girls.
• She was always self concious about her looks and talent and constantly had to be assured.
• She has 3 children.
• She died in '69 at the age of 47.

I personally love her voice. It's distinctive and I love listening to her whether it's in her movies or just a recording. I have a recording of her singing "Old Man River", a song I like very much and it's amazing. I think she was always beuatiful and she is my first spotlight. This Christmas Netflix or rent the movie Meet Me in St. Louis. It's such a good one for Christmas time, it's seriously such a great movie with great music and songs.