SINGER DOTTY TODD, 87, HIT NO. 6 IN 1958.

Byline: Holly Andres Staff Writer

ENCINO - Dotty Todd, who sang the hit song ``Chanson d'Amour'' with her husband, Art, died Tuesday. She was 87.

The duo of Art and Dotty had a hit with the romantic song in 1958. It peaked at No. 6 on April 21, 1958, on Billboard's Top 40 list and was on the list for 11 weeks.

``Wayne Shanklin stopped us one day and said, 'I've got a great song for you.' He had already written some big songs, 'Jezebel' and 'The Old Man and the Sea.' We were flattered that he wanted to give the song to us,'' said Art Todd. ``The airplay was just sensational. This was just at the beginning of rock 'n' roll and the old-time DJs hated rock 'n' roll and they jumped on our song.''

The popularity of the song led the duo to appear twice on both ``The Ed Sullivan Show'' and Dick Clark's ``American Bandstand.''

Doris ``Dotty'' Dabb was born on June 22, 1913, in Elizabeth, N.J. Her musical career began at an early age when she learned to play the piano. She studied with Rodney Saylor in Newark, N.J., and gave a piano recital at Carnegie Hall at the age of 13.

She began her professional music career as a concert pianist playing Broadway songs in clubs. She was performing at the Providence Biltmore Hotel when she met singer Art Todd. They were married in 1941.

Todd lived in Encino at the time of her death. She lived in Sherman Oaks from 1947 until she and her husband retired to Hawaii in 1980. Her later career included a nine-year performing engagement with her husband at the Dunes hotel in Las Vegas.

Todd is survived by her husband of 59 years, Art.

Viewing will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in the Church of the Hills, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles.

Donations in her memory may be made to Alzheimer's research.

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Photo:

Dotty Todd

'Chanson d'Amour'