Portia Nelson (born Betty Mae Nelson; May , â€" March , ) was an
American popular singer, songwriter, actress, and author. She was best
known for her appearances in s cabarets, where she sang soprano.In ,
she portrayed the cantankerous Sister Berthe in the film version of
The Sound of Music; she also had a minor role as Sarah in the musical
Doctor Dolittle; on TV's All My Children Nelson played the
long-running role of nanny Mrs. Gurney. Her book of poetic musings,
There's a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery, became a
mainstay of twelve-step programs.The youngest of nine children, Nelson
was born in Brigham City, Utah. (The Danish family name of Nielsen had
been anglicized before her birth.) Her Mormon family owned a farm; her
father was also a railroad worker. At a young age, Nelson taught
herself to play piano; after two years at Weber College in Ogden, Utah
she quit school and moved to Los Angeles.[citation needed]While
attending an LDS Church service in L.A. in , Nelson met the King
Sisters, the popular swing-era vocal quartet, also from Utah. The
sisters were employed by bandleader Alvino Rey; and since Nelson
needed a job, they hired her to come on the road as their secretary.
In the months that followed, she took one of her first steps as a
musician by writing a few vocal arrangements for the group.[citation
needed]
American popular singer, songwriter, actress, and author. She was best
known for her appearances in s cabarets, where she sang soprano.In ,
she portrayed the cantankerous Sister Berthe in the film version of
The Sound of Music; she also had a minor role as Sarah in the musical
Doctor Dolittle; on TV's All My Children Nelson played the
long-running role of nanny Mrs. Gurney. Her book of poetic musings,
There's a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery, became a
mainstay of twelve-step programs.The youngest of nine children, Nelson
was born in Brigham City, Utah. (The Danish family name of Nielsen had
been anglicized before her birth.) Her Mormon family owned a farm; her
father was also a railroad worker. At a young age, Nelson taught
herself to play piano; after two years at Weber College in Ogden, Utah
she quit school and moved to Los Angeles.[citation needed]While
attending an LDS Church service in L.A. in , Nelson met the King
Sisters, the popular swing-era vocal quartet, also from Utah. The
sisters were employed by bandleader Alvino Rey; and since Nelson
needed a job, they hired her to come on the road as their secretary.
In the months that followed, she took one of her first steps as a
musician by writing a few vocal arrangements for the group.[citation
needed]
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