Toni Harper, born June 8, 1937 (also Toni Dunlap), is an ex-child singer who retired at 29. Harper began dancing under Maceo Anderson and was then cast in Christmas Follies by Nick Castle, a choreographer at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre. This production took place in 1945. Later, Harper performed on stage with Herb Jeffries as well as Cab Calloway. Harper recorded “Candy Store Blues” (which became a platinum recording) in 1946. She appeared twice on Toast of the Town in 1949 and 1950, respectively. Harper, a child-singer, recorded Toni for Verve Records with the Oscar Peterson trio in 1955. Marty Paich arranged her two additional albums Lady Lonely (1959), and Night Mood (1960), for RCA Victor. Harper toured Japan in 1963 with Cannonball Adderley and then appeared in the 1965 film How to Stuff a Wild Bikini. She retired in 1966.
