Joni James, popular 1950s pop singer known as ‘Queen of Hearts,’ dead at 91

Joni James, a popular 1950s pop singer who topped the charts in 1952 with “Why Don’t You Believe Me?” died Feb. 20, her son said. She was 91.

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James died of natural causes in a hospital in West Palm Beach, Florida, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Her son, Michael Acquaviva, confirmed the death to The Washington Post but did not provide a cause of death.

Nicknamed the “Queen of Hearts,” James recorded more than 40 albums and sold more than 100 million records during her career, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

James was 21 when “Why Don’t You Believe Me?” became a No. 1 hit, the Post reported. The Chicago native’s hit reached No. 1 on the three Billboard charts in late 1952 and stayed there for weeks, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Her other hits during the decade included a version of Hank Williams’ “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” along with “Have You Heard,” “How Important Can It Be?” “There Goes My Heart,” “Mama, Don’t Cry at My Wedding” and “Little Things Mean a Lot.”

“Your Cheatin’ Heart” rose to No. 2 in 1953 on the Billboard charts and “How Important Can It Be” also reached No. 2 in 1955, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “Have You Heard?” peaked at No. 4, in 1953, the entertainment outlet reported. Other top-10 hits included “You Are My Love” (No. 6 in 1955), “My Love, My Love” (No. 8 in 1953) and “Almost Always” (No. 9 in 1953).

James’ 1960 album, “Joni James at Carnegie Hall,” featured a symphony and chorus conducted by her then-husband and musical director, Anthony “Tony” Acquaviva, the Post reported. It included standards such as “When I Grow Too Old to Dream” and “Let There Be Love.”

James, who was born Giovanna Carmella Babbo in Chicago on Sept. 22, 1930, was one of six children raised by a widowed mother during the Great Depression, the Post reported. She danced as a youth and studied ballet in New York, according to the newspaper.

James’ name also appeared in two “Peanuts” cartoons and she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1969, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

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