Dodie Stevens

Famed for her girl group-era novelty smash "Pink Shoe Laces," teen singer Dodie Stevens was born Geraldine Anne Pasquale in Chicago on February 17, 1946. Raised primarily in California's San Gabriel Valley, as a child she took singing and dancing lessons, and at age eight issued her debut single "Merry-Go-Round and Round," released on the Gold Star label and credited to Geri Pace. In the years to follow she appeared regularly on local television programs, and while performing on the show Strictly Informal was spotted by Crystalette Records president Carl Burns, who rechristened the 12-year-old Dodie Stevens. Her first single for the label, "Pink Shoe Laces," reached number three on the Billboard charts in March of 1959; distinguished from the competition thanks to its daffy spoken verses, the record made Stevens a star, and that same year she issued her self-titled debut LP on Dot and also co-starred in the Don Siegel film Hound-Dog Man. Two more LPs -- 1960's Over the Rainbow and 1961's Pink Shoe Laces -- followed, as did an appearance in the 1961 feature Convicts Four, but Stevens proved unable to maintain her early momentum and retired from performing at 16, getting married and living on a farm in Missouri. She returned to music in 1966, later singing with Sergio Mendes & Brasil '77 and touring as a backing vocalist behind Mac Davis. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide