25 Fascinating Portraits of a Young and Beautiful Doris Day in the 1940s

Doris Day (born Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff; April 3, 1922 – May 13, 2019) was an American actress and singer. In the 1940s, she rose to fame as a big band singer before transitioning into a successful solo career.

Doris joined Barney Rapp’s band in 1939, where he suggested changing her last name to “Day” after the song “Day After Day.” In 1940, she moved on to Les Brown’s band, where she recorded hits like “Sentimental Journey” (1945), which became a wartime anthem for returning soldiers. Other hits with Brown included “My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time” (1945), showcasing her warm, expressive voice.

After her success with Les Brown, Day launched a solo career in 1946, signing with Columbia Records. She recorded popular songs like “It’s Magic” (1948), which was featured in her first film.

Day transitioned into acting almost by chance—songwriter Jule Styne introduced her to director Michael Curtiz, who cast her in Romance on the High Seas (1948). This marked the beginning of her film career, with subsequent roles in musicals like My Dream Is Yours (1949) and It’s a Great Feeling (1949).

By the end of the 1940s, Doris Day was already a beloved singer and a rising Hollywood star, setting the stage for her dominance in the 1950s.