Vocalist in "Edward & Mrs. Simpson"
I've recently been watching the 1978 TV miniseries "Edward & Mrs. Simpson." The vocalist that sings the recurring theme and other songs is listed as "Jenny Wren" but sounds quite a lot like Julie Andrews. You can listen to the theme song on YouTube. "Jenny Wren" is the name of a character in the Charles Dickens novel Our Mutual Friend. I can't find listings for "Jenny Wren" in any other productions or recordings. Did Julie Andrews use a different name when singing in "Edward & Mrs. Simpson" to avoid antagonizing the British Royal Family or for other reasons?
Best Answer
It would appear that the singer was indeed Jenny Wren (Real name Jenny Allen). Jenny recorded two records for Fontana; Chasing My Dreams All Over Town and The Merry-Go-Round Is Slowing You Down as well as providing the songs for the later TV show:
15 year-old Jenny Allen first came to notice in Wolverhampton in 1964 when she was backed by the group Les Jondors and apparently got her break when one of Fontana's A&R men, Jack Baverstock heard her.
in 1965 (whilst still a pupil at the Sir Gilbert Claughton School in Dudley) she changed her name to Jenny Wren and signed a recording contract with Fontana. She only released two records on Fontana, Chasing My Dreams All Over Town and The Merry-Go-Round Is Slowing You Down.
There's also a mention of her on this local history site.
It may interest you to know that she reinvented herself in the 1980s, teaching at Croydon College of Music, providing the vocals for Helen Mirren's "Painted Lady" and had minor success with a duet with Pat Benetar under the name Jenny Darren. Jenny Wren Allen Darren is still gigging to this day.
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