Carole Richards

Carol Swiedler (Stage name Carol Richards or Carole Richards), (born 6 June 1922 in Harvard, Illinois, died in Vero Beach, Florida, March 16, 2007) was an American singer, radio and television performer, remembered for her duet with Bing Crosby on the hit single "Silver Bells".
At the start of her career in her early 20s, Carol Richards won a Bob Hope talent contest, moved to Hollywood and appeared on numerous TV shows including I Love Lucy, Name That Tune, The Saturday Night Review, and variety shows hosted by Ralph Edwards, Dennis Day, Pinky Lee, Edgar Bergen, and Ezio Pinza. For four years (1953–1957), she was a regular cast member on the Bob Crosby Show. She was the movie singing voice for Vera Ellen in Call Me Madam, for Cyd Charisse in Silk Stockings, Brigadoon, Deep in my Heart, and It's Always Fair Weather, and for Betta St. John in The Robe. She worked frequently with Danny Kaye, Jerry Lewis, and Bob Hope, and sang with the Russ Morgan and Desi Arnaz Bands. In the 1960s after moving to Chicago, Richards performed at numerous club dates, and appeared frequently on Don McNeil's famous radio show, The Breakfast Club.
Following her performing career, Richards continued her work as an artist, completing numerous sculptures, pastels, and oil paintings as well as publishing a book Letters from the Cosmos with her husband.
Richards had 13 children, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was survived by her husband of 40 years, Edward B. Swiedler who died of lung cancer on August 9, 2007.