Marjorie Finlay
American coloratura soprano and television host.
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Marjorie Finlay was born Marjorie Moehlenkamp on October 5, 1928, in Memphis, Tennessee, and grew up in St. Charles, Missouri. Her father, Elmer Henry Moehlenkamp, came from St. Charles, and her mother, Cora Lee Morrow, was from Arkansas. Three of her father’s grandparents were German, and the family were devout Catholics. She earned a Bachelor of Music from Lindenwood University in 1949, and during her studies she sang as a soloist with the Lindenwood Vesper Choir at Mexico Senior High School in 1948. She was a member of the professional music fraternity Mu Phi Epsilon.
A coloratura soprano, Finlay performed concert and opera works. She sang with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s pop concert at Kiel Auditorium and also performed at a San Juan supper club. In 1950, while working as a receptionist at Boatmen’s National Bank in St. Louis, she won a talent contest on the ABC network show *Music With the Girls*, which earned her a radio spot and a 15-month tour with the program. During the summer of 1951, she studied at the Berkshire Music Center and later in New York City on the advice of musician Edwin McArthur. She then moved to Puerto Rico, where she hosted her own television program and performed in concerts, operas, and supper clubs, including a two-week engagement at the Caribe Hilton Hotel. She also served as mistress of ceremonies for *El Show Pan-Americano* on APA-TV in Santurce. Her Spanish was reportedly so poor that audiences found it funny. Her television show aired six nights a week for 17 months. In 1962, she performed at a Kiel Auditorium Pop Concert, singing pieces from *La rondine* and the “Jewel Song,” along with pop songs. She was active in the Pro Arte Societies, a civic music organization.
Finlay married Robert Finlay, president of Raymond Construction Company, on March 22, 1952, in Palm Beach, Florida. Robert was the son of Lancelot George Finlay, of Scottish descent, and Eleanor Mayer. After marrying, the couple moved to Havana, Cuba, where Robert’s office was located, then relocated to Puerto Rico due to political unrest. They later moved to Caracas before returning to Santurce, Puerto Rico, with their children. Her daughter Alison was born in 1957, and Andrea Gardner Finlay was born in 1958; Andrea later became the mother of Taylor Swift. American novelist William Faulkner was Finlay’s third cousin.
Quick Facts
- Birth Name
- Marjorie Moehlenkamp
- Birth Date
- 1928-10-05
- Birth Place
- Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
- Death Date
- 2003-06-01
- Death Place
- Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
- Education
- Lindenwood College
- Occupation
- Opera singer · dancer
- Years Active
- 1950–2003
- Spouse
- Robert Finlay (1952–2003)
- Children
- 2
- Relatives
- Taylor Swift (granddaughter) / Austin Swift (grandson) / William Faulkner (third cousin)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Marjorie Moehlenkamp was born on October 5, 1928, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Elmer Henry Moehlenkamp and Cora Lee Morrow. She was raised in St. Charles, Missouri, in a devout Catholic family. She earned a Bachelor of Music from Lindenwood University in 1949 and was a member of the Mu Phi Epsilon music fraternity. In 1948 she performed as a soloist with the Lindenwood Vesper Choir at Mexico Senior High School. In 1950, while working as a receptionist at Boatmen's National Bank in St. Louis, Finlay won a talent contest on the ABC network show *Music With the Girls*, which led to a 15-month tour on the radio show. She studied at the Berkshire Music Center and in New York City on the advice of musician Edwin McArthur. Moving to Puerto Rico, she had her own television program and performed in concerts, operas, and supper clubs, including a two-week stint at the Caribe Hilton Hotel. She served as mistress of ceremonies for *El Show Pan-Americano* on APA-TV in Santurce, and her reportedly "bad" Spanish amused audiences. Her television show ran six nights a week for 17 months. The couple lived in Havana, Cuba; Puerto Rico; and Caracas before returning to Santurce. They had two daughters: Alison (born 1957) and Andrea Gardner (born 1958), the latter becoming the mother of Taylor Swift. Finlay is also a third cousin of novelist William Faulkner. In the 1960s the family moved to Singapore, where in November 1968 Finlay performed as the soprano lead in *The Bartered Bride* at the Victoria Theatre. She died on June 1, 2003, in Reading, Pennsylvania, at age 74.
Reader's Guide
Marjorie Finlay's significance rests on her dual legacy as a mid-20th-century performing artist and as a posthumous muse for her granddaughter, Taylor Swift. As a coloratura soprano, Finlay built a career across radio, television, and live performance—touring with *Music With the Girls*, hosting her own show in Puerto Rico, and singing with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Her work in Puerto Rico, where she served as mistress of ceremonies for a Pan-American television program, demonstrated her versatility and appeal to Spanish-speaking audiences despite her imperfect command of the language.
Finlay's enduring cultural impact emerged decades after her death when Swift released the song "Marjorie" on her 2020 album *Evermore*. The track samples Finlay's own vocals, creating a direct musical link between grandmother and granddaughter. Swift has credited Finlay with inspiring her music career, and the character Swift portrayed in the "Wildest Dreams" music video was also inspired by Finlay. Fans of Swift have turned the song into a ritual during The Eras Tour, holding up photographs or phone flashlights. Through these tributes, Finlay's voice and image have reached a new generation, cementing her place in popular culture as both a performer in her own right and a cherished family figure.
Did You Know?
- She performed as the soprano lead in Bedřich Smetana's opera *The Bartered Bride* at the Victoria Theatre in Singapore in November 1968.
- Her Spanish was reportedly 'bad' enough to be funny to her audiences in Puerto Rico.
- Taylor Swift's 2020 song 'Marjorie' features sampled vocals from Finlay.
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