Jo Stafford's ascension to fame began with her tenure as a vocalist with the renowned big band of Tommy Dorsey, where she showcased her impressive vocal range by singing both as a solo artist and as part of her group, The Pied Pipers. After leaving Dorsey's ensemble in 1944, Stafford embarked on a successful solo career, ultimately accumulating an astonishing 93 hits over the course of the next 13 years.
This impressive discography included numerous chart-topping singles, such as "Candy" in 1945, "My Darling, My Darling" in 1948, "You Belong To Me" in 1952, and "Make Love To Me" in 1955. According to Joel Whitburn's esteemed Record Research, Jo Stafford and Dinah Shore were the two most prolific female hit-makers of the pre-rock era, with Stafford's impressive output ranking her among the top female artists of her time.
Furthermore, Stafford's remarkable success during the early 1950s earned her the distinction of being the sixth most successful hit-maker of the decade, a testament to her enduring talent and appeal. Despite her extensive music career, Stafford's film appearances were relatively limited, with her most notable roles coming in a handful of 1940s films featuring Dorsey and his band.