Nancy Ames

Nancy Ames (born Nancy Hamilton Alfaro on September 30, 1937) is an American folk singer and songwriter. She regularly appeared on the American version of the television series That Was the Week That Was. The TW3 Girl, as she was known, sang the show theme and special material.[1][2]

For the Canadian scientist, see Nancy Ames (scientist).
Nancy Ames
Nancy Ames 1964
Ames in 1964
Background information
Birth nameNancy Hamilton Alfaro
Born (1937-09-30) September 30, 1937
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Occupation(s)Vocalist, songwriter

Personal life

Ames was born in Washington, D.C., the granddaughter of Ricardo Joaquín Alfaro, who served as President of Panama from 1931 to 1932.[2]

The daughter of a physician, she grew up in Washington. She attended Holton-Arms School and Bennett College, both of them for girls. By 1964, she was married to Romanian hypnotist Triaian Boyer. By 1968, they had divorced.[3] After the divorce, she married Jay Riviere, a golf course designer. They had one child, a daughter, Nancy, but ultimately divorced.[4] Ames has resided in Houston, Texas since 1972.[5] She and her third husband Danny Ward are the co-founders of Ward & Ames Special Events.[6]

Career
Ames on Hootenanny in 1963

A folk singer with a partially Latin repertoire, Ames was signed to Liberty Records. Her first album was entitled Cu Cu-ru Cu-Cu La Paloma.[7][8]

She broke the top 100 twice in 1966; "He Wore the Green Beret", her answer song to Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler's Ballad of the Green Berets, hit number 89 before falling to 96, and later in the year Cry Softly also placed in the charts.[9][10]

She had a TV show which aired on KPRC-TV Channel 2 (the Houston area NBC affiliate) from 1972-77. She is listed as the co-writer of the theme song to The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour with Mason Williams per Williams' own 1969 LP entitled Music by Mason Williams. Ames and Williams also co-wrote Cinderella Rockefella, an international pop hit, in 1968.

In the late 70s, Ames moved to Houston, Texas. In 1982 she and her third husband, Danny Ward, founded Ward & Ames, an events and video-production firm.[11] Ames is also the co-founder of the Plumeria Society of America, and owned the jewelry company Alfaro, A Nancy Ames Collection.[12]

US discography (selective)

LPs
  • The Incredible Nancy Ames - Liberty – LRP-3276 - (1963)[13]
  • A Portrait of Nancy - Liberty – LRP-3299 - (1963)[13]
  • I Will Never Marry - Liberty – LRP-3329 - (1963)[13]
  • This is the Girl That is - Liberty – LRP-3369 - (1964)[13]
  • Let It Be Me - Liberty – LRP-3400 - (1965)[13]
  • As Time Goes By - Epic – BN 26197 - (1965)[14]
  • Latin Pulse - Epic – BN 26189 - (1966)[14]
  • Versatile Nancy Ames - Sunset Records – SUS-5109 - (1966)[14]
  • Spiced With Brasil - with Laurindo Almeida - Epic – LN 24238 - (1967)[14]

Live album
  • At The Americana - Epic – BN 26378 - (1968)[14]

Singles
7"
  • "Bonsoir Cher" / "Cu Cu Rru Cu Cu Paloma" - Liberty – F-55548 - (1963)
  • "Malaguena Salarosa" / "Cu Cu Rru Cu Cu Paloma" - Liberty 55737 - (1964)[15]
  • "The Funny Thing About It" / "Shake A Hand" - Epic – 5-9845 - (1965)[14]
  • "Let Tonight Linger On" / "It Scares Me" - Liberty – F-55762 - (1965)[16]
  • "I've Got A Lot Of Love (Left In Me)" / "Friends And Lovers Forever" - Epic 5-9874 - (promo) (1965)[15]
  • "He Wore The Green Beret" / "War Is A Card Game" - Epic – 5-10003 - (1966)[14]
  • "I Don't Want To Talk About It" / "Cry Softly" - Epic – 5-10056 - (1966)[14]
  • "Friends And Lovers Forever" (Billboard Hot 100 #123) / "Dear Hearts And Gentle" - Epic – 5-9885 - (1966)[14]
  • "Love's Like Wine" / "My Story Book" - Epic – 5-10149 - (1967)[17]
  • "Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart" / "On Green Dolphin Street" - ABC Records 11100 - (1968)[16]
  • "Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart" / "On Green Dolphin Street" - Silvercloud Records 1001 - (1968)[15]
12"
  • Mr. Bongo - "Soul Limbo" / Nancy Ames - "Eso Beso (That Kiss)" - Sony Music Entertainment (UK) – XPR 2213 - (1995)[14]

EP
  • "1-2-3", "A Taste Of Honey" / "Call Me", "The Shadow Of Your Smile" - Epic – EP 9053 - (1966)[16]

References
  1. Ess, Ramsey (May 18, 2012). "'That Was the Week That Was' Brings Political Satire to America". New York. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
  2. "That Was The Deb That Was". Life: 83-89. June 26, 1964. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
  3. Lowry, Cynthia (May 3, 1964). "The Year That Is for Nancy Ames". The Victoria Advocate. Associated Press. p. 5.
  4. Bennett, Ray (May 16, 1970). "Beauty with a beat". Montreal Gazette.
  5. "Nancy Ames". Second Hand Songs. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  6. "Nancy Ames". The Argotist. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  7. "Photo Caption: Illinois Gov. Otto Kerner". Billboard. August 17, 1963. p. 4.
  8. Ramsey, Doug (January 15, 2013). "When Harry James Met Nancy Ames". Rifftides.
  9. "Top Songs Of 1966 - Top40Weekly.com". top40weekly.com. 2013-11-29. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  10. "Cry Softly / Nancy Ames". billboard.elpee.jp. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  11. "Home". Ward & Ames. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  12. "Nancy Ames". Ward & Ames. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  13. Edwards, David; Callahan, Mike (April 26, 2003). "Liberty Records Discography, Part 1". Both Sides Now. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  14. "Nancy Ames". Discogs. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  15. "Nancy Ames Records". 45Cat. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  16. "Nancy Hamilton Alfaro". Discogs. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  17. "Nancy Ames". Discogs. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
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