“You see, it was the wedding of my grandparents. To the Shaws was born a boy, James, and to the Stephensons, a daughter, Esther. James and Esther were sweethearts from childhood and like their parents before them, they too were married on a beach at midnight amid blazing torches. Is it any wonder I should have become a torch singer?” –Wini Shaw

Wini Shaw was born Winifred Lei Momi on February 25, 1907, in San Francisco, California, to James Edmonds Shaw and Esther Pua Kinamu Stephenson. She was of Hawaiian and Irish descent and the youngest of thirteen children.

Shaw began her time in the entertainment industry as part of her parents’ vaudeville act in 1915 during the San Francisco World’s Fair. The family had a hula act in which Shaw danced as a child. Once the act disbanded, Shaw pursued an independent career.

At 17, Shaw married Leo Cummins and had three children: Elizabeth, James, and John. They divorced in 1933.

Shaw performed in revues and as part of the Ziegfeld Follies of 1931. She also worked on radio and various short-lived Broadway plays and musicals.

Later, Shaw performed in several Warner Brothers musical films, for which she is best known. During this period, Shaw introduced “Lullaby of Broadway” in Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935). Her only commercial recording would be with Dick Jurgens and his Orchestra, which included “Lullaby of Broadway” and “I’m Goin’ Shoppin’ with You” from the film. Shaw also introduced “The Lady in Red” in In Caliente (1935).

By 1939, she left the film industry. During the World War II years, she toured service camps and Red Cross clubs as part of the USO alongside Jack Benny and Larry Adler.

Shaw performed on Broadway and in nightclubs before ultimately retiring in 1955. According to her family, Shaw married three more times, with her final husband being box office manager William “Bill” Joseph O’Malley. They were married in 1960. When Shaw suffered a stroke from which she did not fully recover, O’Malley remained devoted to her and assisted her throughout this time.

Shaw passed away on May 2, 1982, in New York. Shaw was buried at Calvary Cemetery in New York. Her epitaph credits her performances of “Lullaby of Broadway” and “The Lady in Red,” in addition to the phrase, “I will sing to my God a new song.” She was 75 years old.

In 1910, Shaw and her family resided at 210 N. Hoyt St., Portland, Oregon. The home no longer stands. In 1930, she resided at 111-26 177th St., Jamaica, New York, which stands.