Dory Previn

Dory Previn, a notable yet often overlooked figure in the confessional singer/songwriter scene, transitioned from a lyricist to a solo artist in the 1970s with a series of witty, embittered albums. Born into a troubled New Jersey household, she began as a chorus girl and model before moving to Los Angeles in the late '50s. There, she met her husband, Andre Previn, and found success as a lyricist for MGM. Her struggles with schizophrenia and a tumultuous personal life, including a divorce from Previn, influenced her music. In 1970, she released her first personal album, On My Way to Where, gaining attention with "Beware of Young Girls." Her music, influenced by pre-WWII jazz, featured acoustic guitar and orchestral accompaniment. By 1976, she had remarried and her music reflected a happier tone. In the '80s, she published two autobiographies and toured smaller venues in the U.S., Ireland, and the U.K.