Nancy Ames (born Nancy Hamilton Alfaro on September 30, 1937) is an American folk singer and songwriter. She regularly appeared on the American version of the television series ''

That Was the Week That Was ''That Was the Week That Was'', informally ''TWTWTW'' or ''TW3'', is a satirical television comedy programme that aired on BBC Television in 1962 and 1963. It was devised, produced, and directed by Ned Sherrin and Jack (aka John) Duncan, and pr ...

''. The TW3 Girl, as she was known, sang the show theme and special material. Ames is the founder and creative director of the Houston, Texas based event and production company, Ward & Ames, which she founded in 1982.

Personal life

Ames was born in Washington, D.C., the granddaughter of Ricardo Joaquín Alfaro, who served as

President of Panama This article lists the heads of state of Panama since the short-lived first independence from the Republic of New Granada in 1840 and the final separation from Colombia in 1903. Free State of the Isthmus (1840–1841) Republic of Panama ...

from 1931 to 1932. The daughter of a physician, she grew up in Washington. She attende
Holton Arms School
and Bennett College, both of them for girls. By 1964 she was married to Romanian hypnotist Triaian Boyer. By 1968, they had divorced. After the divorce, she married Jay Riviere, a golf course designer. They had one child, a daughter, Nancy, but ultimately divorced. Ames has resided in

Houston, Texas Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 i ...

since 1972. She and her third husband Danny Ward are the co-founders of Ward & Ames Special Events.

Career

A folk singer with a partially Latin repertoire, she was signed to Liberty Records; her first album was entitled ''Cu Cu-ru Cu-Cu La Paloma''. She broke the top 100 twice in 1966; "He Wore the Green Beret", her answer song to Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler's "Ballad of the Green Berets", hit number 89, and later in the year "

Cry Softly "Cry Softly" is a song written by Buddy Killen, Billy Sherrill, and Glenn Sutton. It is based on '' Liebesträume'' by Franz Liszt. Nancy Ames originally recorded the song in 1966 Her version reached No. 95 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Cove ...

" also placed in the charts. She had a TV show which aired on

KPRC-TV KPRC-TV (channel 2) is a television station in Houston, Texas, United States, affiliated with NBC and owned by Graham Media Group. Its studios are located on Southwest Freeway (I-69/US 59) in the Southwest Management District (formerly Greater ...

Channel 2 (the Houston area NBC affiliate) from 1972-77. She is listed as the co-writer of the theme song to ''

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour ''The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour'' was an American comedy and variety show television series hosted by the Smothers Brothers and initially airing on CBS from 1967 to 1969. The series was a major success, especially considering it was sc ...

'' with

Mason Williams Mason Douglas Williams (born August 24, 1938) is an American classical guitarist, composer, singer, writer, comedian, and poet, best known for his 1968 instrumental "Classical Gas" and for his work as a comedy writer on ''The Smothers Brothers ...

per Williams' own 1969 LP entitled ''Music by Mason Williams''. Ames and Williams also co-wrote "

Cinderella Rockefella "Cinderella Rockefella" is a novelty song written by Mason Williams and Nancy Ames. It was originally recorded and released by Israeli folk duo Esther & Abi Ofarim on their 1967 album '' 2 in 3''. It became an international hit single in 1968. ...

", an international pop hit, in 1968. In the late 70s, Ames moved to Houston, Texas. In 1982 she and her third husband, Danny Ward, founded Ward & Ames, an events and video-production firm. Ames is also the co-founder of the Plumeria Society of America, and owns the jewelry company Alfaro, A Nancy Ames Collection.

US discography (selective)

LPs

* ''The Incredible Nancy Ames'' - Liberty – LRP-3276 - (1963) * ''A Portrait of Nancy'' - Liberty – LRP-3299 - (1963) * ''I Will Never Marry'' - Liberty – LRP-3329 - (1963) * ''This is the Girl That is'' - Liberty – LRP-3369 - (1964) * ''Let It Be Me'' - Liberty – LRP-3400 - (1965) * ''As Time Goes By'' - Epic – BN 26197 - (1965) * ''Latin Pulse'' - Epic – BN 26189 - (1966) * ''Versatile Nancy Ames'' - Sunset Records – SUS-5109 - (1966) * ''Spiced With Brasil'' - Epic – LN 24238 - (1967) * ''At The Americana'' - Epic – BN 26378 - (1968)

Singles

;7" * "Bonsoir Cher" / "Cu Cu Rru Cu Cu Paloma" - Liberty – F-55548 - (1963) * "Malaguena Salarosa" / "Cu Cu Rru Cu Cu Paloma" - Liberty 55737 - (1964) * "The Funny Thing About It" / "Shake A Hand" - Epic – 5-9845 - (1965) * "Let Tonight Linger On" / "It Scares Me" - Liberty – F-55762 - (1965) * "I've Got A Lot Of Love (Left In Me)" / "Friends And Lovers Forever" - Epic 5-9874 - (promo) (1965) * "He Wore The Green Beret" / "War Is A Card Game" - Epic – 5-10003 - (1966) * "I Don't Want To Talk About It" / "Cry Softly" - Epic – 5-10056 - (1966) * "Friends And Lovers Forever" (Billboard Hot 100 #123) / "Dear Hearts And Gentle" - Epic – 5-9885 - (1966) * "Love's Like Wine" / "My Story Book" - Epic – 5-10149 - (1967) * "Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart" / "On Green Dolphin Street" - ABC Records 11100 - (1968) * "Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart" / "On Green Dolphin Street" - Silvercloud Records 1001 - (1968) ;12" * Mr. Bongo - "Soul Limbo" / Nancy Ames - "Eso Beso (That Kiss)" - Sony Music Entertainment (UK) – XPR 2213 - (1995)

EP

* "1-2-3", "A Taste Of Honey" / "Call Me", "The Shadow Of Your Smile" - Epic – EP 9053 - (1966)

References

External links

Ward and Ames Special Events
*
Nancy Ames at Discogs
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ames, Nancy 1937 births American folk singers Singers from Washington, D.C. American people of Panamanian descent Spanish-language singers of the United States Epic Records artists Liberty Records artists Living people