It was at this time that Thompson first met and worked with Garland, developing a close personal friendship and professional association that lasted the rest of Garland's life. On an installment of Tune-Up Time in April 1939, 16-year-old Judy Garland was a guest. In 1939, she reunited with André Kostelanetz for Tune-Up Time (CBS), a show that was produced by radio legend William Spier (who later married Thompson in 1942). įor her motion picture debut, Thompson and her choir performed two songs in the Republic Pictures musical Manhattan Merry-Go-Round (1937). Thompson and Her Rhythm Singers joined André Kostelanetz and His Orchestra for the hit series The Chesterfield Radio Program (CBS, 1936), followed by It's Chesterfield Time (CBS, 1937) for which Thompson and her large choir were teamed with Hal Kemp and His Orchestra.

This led to a regular spot on The Fred Waring-Ford Dealers Show (NBC, 1934–35) and then, with conductor Lennie Hayton, she co-founded The Lucky Strike Hit Parade (CBS, 1935) where she met (and later married) trombonist Jack Jenney. Her first big break was as a regular singer on the Bing Crosby-Woodbury Show Bing Crosby Entertains (CBS, 1933–34).

Thompson began her career in the 1930s as a singer and choral director for radio. Thompson's siblings were: Blanche Margaret Hurd, George 'Bud' Fink, Jr. Thompson's parents were married on November 29, 1905, in East St. Louis, Missouri, in 1909, the second of the four children of Leo George Fink, a Jewish, Austrian-born pawnbroker and jeweler, and his American born wife, Harriet Adelaide 'Hattie' Tetrick, a Christian. Thompson was born Catherine Louise Fink in St. She became famous for creating the Eloise children's books and for her role in the movie Funny Face. Kay Thompson (born Catherine Louise Fink Novem – July 2, 1998) was an American author, singer, vocal arranger, vocal coach, composer, musician, dancer, actress, and choreographer. Hilary Knight's 1996 portrait of Kay Thompson for Vanity Fair

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