13 Facts About Hildegarde

Hildegarde Loretta Sell, known as Hildegarde was an American cabaret singer, who was well known for the song "Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup".

Hildegarde was born Hildegarde Loretta Sell in Adell, Wisconsin, and raised in New Holstein, Wisconsin, as a Roman Catholic in a family of German extraction.

Hildegarde trained at Marquette University's College of Music in the 1920s.

Hildegarde worked in vaudeville and traveling shows throughout her career, appearing across the United States and Europe.

Hildegarde was known for 70 years as The Incomparable Hildegarde, a title bestowed on her by columnist Walter Winchell.

Hildegarde was nicknamed the First Lady of the Supper Clubs by Eleanor Roosevelt.

Hildegarde was once referred to as a "luscious, hazel-eyed Milwaukee blonde who sings the way Garbo looks".

Hildegarde's recordings sold in the hundreds of thousands, and her admirers ranged from soldiers during World War II to King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden and the Duke of Windsor.

Hildegarde wore elegant gowns and long gloves: "Miss Piggy stole the gloves idea from me", she once said.

Hildegarde is credited with starting a single-name vogue among entertainers.

Hildegarde sang a presidential nomination campaign song for Margaret Chase Smith's unsuccessful 1964 campaign for president; the song was called "Leave It to the Girls", and was written by Gladys Shelley.

Hildegarde was the business partner and good friend of Anna Sosenko, an aspiring songwriter whom she met at a boarding house in Camden, New Jersey, at the beginning of her career.

Hildegarde died at the age of 99 in a Manhattan hospital on July 29,2005, of natural causes.