Michele Ann Marie Fabares, commonly known as Shelley Fabares, was born in Santa Monica, California. She began acting at an early age and had her television debut at age 10; she appeared in several episodes, including “Letter to Loretta,” “Captain Midnight,” “Annie Oakley,” and “Fury.”
Moreover, she made appearances in the movies “The Bad Seed” and “Never Say Goodbye.” She was cast as Mary Stone in the well-known sitcom “The Donna Reed Show” in 1958, which catapulted her to popularity and cemented her reputation as a household celebrity.
She obtained a recording deal as a result of the show’s popularity, and in the 1960s, she released five studio albums.
“Johnny Angel,” which sold over a million copies and peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1962, was her biggest hit.
After leaving “The Donna Reed Show,” Fabares continued acting and made appearances in a number of movies and TV shows during the 1960s and 1970s.
She was nominated for two Emmys for her work as Christine Armstrong on the hit sitcom “Coach,” which is probably how modern audiences know her best.
Did Shelley Fabares really sing Johnny Angel?
Shelley Fabares’ first pop single is titled “Johnny Angel.” She recorded her cover of the song in the fall of 1961, and the Colpix label issued it in 1962. The song was featured on Fabares’ debut solo album Shelley!, which was produced and orchestrated by Stu Phillips. It was the album’s first single.